Thorens TD124 overhaul

[chumlie]

Great job. Looks brand new.

[nspindel]

Great job! So how does it sound?

[Kenneth Swauger]

Thanks, I appreciate the comments.
I've listened to the setup on the basement gear and was mostly working to get a feel for the operation of the table. It has a unique platter clutch mechanism that allows the main platter to keep spinning while the upper, thiner platter is stationary. This makes changing records easier and keeps the motor/belt/pulley assembly spinning. Also the cuing lever on the tonearm is a bit finicky combined with the repair I had to do meant I was mostly interested in how things were moving. Kind of similar to working on a car, you want to make sure it starts and runs okay before a serious test drive.
The measurements were: cartridge output: 3.4mV both channels within 0.1dB, channel separation: 29.1dB (left minus right) and 18.2dB (right minus left), tracking ability: 80um (both channels), frequency response was within 1.0dB from 1-12kHz with a 4.5dB peak at 15kHz (180pF load, 47kOhm). The table was exactly 33.3 rpm, vertical resonance below measurement, lateral resonance 8Hz (with Shure stabilizer down).
I plan on listening to it on the main system as soon as I have finished listening to a Fisher 400-C preamp and Fisher direct drive turntable combination I want to play for a few days.

[Keiko]

WoW! Awesome job, Ken.

[SCompRacer]

Outstanding job Ken! My old Tektronix 466 flat lined, won't trace. You don't by chance fix them too?

[Kenneth Swauger]

Ah, probably the vertical amplifier. I use a venerable H-P 1740A that I've had forever, now they're 1/4 the size and price.

[DON73]

Beautiful work Ken. Wonderfully simple elegant mechanism.

[Speedskater]

I recall a couple of years ago, another Kevin on another forum had a very technical TD124 thread that went on for some hundreds of posts!

Are they really going for good money on e-bay? I have an old one in storage.