Another Vintage Turntable Offering

Thorens TD-166 MKII w/Dustcover, Mods, & Shure V-15 Series III Cartridge

Why spend more to buy a refurbished Thorens turntable from Vinyl Nirvana?

Buying vintage electronic equipment on eBay can be a gamble. To better your chances at winning, you want two things: 1) Plenty of information about the auction item; and 2) A seller you can trust. When a Thorens turntable is refurbished by Vinyl Nirvana, it undergoes a multi-step inspection and tuning regimen. Ask another seller of a Thorens table on Ebay these questions and see if you can get a response...

Is the motor running silently? Any unhealthy bearing noise?

Is the spindle straight? Was the spindle cleaned of old belt residue, which can cause rumble?

Does the belt properly interface with the spindle on both 33 and 45 rpm?

Is the belt new or in near mint condition?

Is the proper length belt installed? (Differences of less than an inch can result in speed changes.)

Is the proper width belt installed? (Differences can result in belt slippage or faulty change of speed.)

Has the platter bearing been inspected? Is it straight, true, and without significant wear?

Has the platter bearing well been inspected? Was it cleaned of old grease and contaminants? Was it properly lubed with appropriate oil?

Is the tonearm functioning properly? Any significant side-to-side motion, which can adversely affect tracking? Is range of motion appropriate? Is anti-skate functioning? Is appropriate tonearm weight installed?

Is cueing adjusted properly?

Were electrical connections cleaned and inspected? Headshell leads? Tonearm recepticle? RCA plugs? (Dirty connections can contribute to hum problems.) Are all connections tight? ( I use Dexoit products, highly recommended.)

Are transport screws intact? Are they functioning properly?

Are dust cover spindles intact and not stripped?

Was all wiring beneath the turntable inspected? Were worn solder joints re-soldered?

What is the condition of the AC cord? The interconnect cable?

Are springs in good working condition? Have worn springs been replaced? Has spring suspension been tuned? (This is an art learned through having set up dozens of these tables.)

Was the speed checked by strobodisc at 33 and 45 rpm?

Was headshell inspected? Is the "sled" intact? (The sled allows for proper adjustment of overhang.) Is there any stripping? Do the cartridge screws hold tight? Are the leads brittle? Do the prongs interface properly with the tonearm? Is the attachment to the tonearm strong and true?

Is the tonearm rest original? Is it functioning properly?

Is the proper 45 rpm adaptor installed? (If it’s not a Thorens, an lp won’t sit flat on the platter.)

Is the proper mat installed? (If not, you may have difficulty playing 45s.)

Is the base intact? Are the rubber feet intact?

If a Thorens table fails to pass any of the above inspections, Vinyl Nirvana corrects the problem before it gets listed. If the turntable is unsellable due to too many defects, it becomes a parts unit to be used in the restoration of other Thorens units. In addition to this multi-step inspection, each turntable is thoroughly detailed with appropriate cleaners. The average cleaning takes up to two hours. Though the tables Vinyl Nirvana sells will vary cosmetically, they will always be clean. Can you trust Vinyl Nirvana as a seller? Please read our ebay feedback (username ddarch44)regarding sales of turntables. Notice references to item exactly as described. Notice references to excellent packing. Notice references to our service and committment after the sale. And, just for fun, read about our two negative feedbacks...it takes all kinds.

This Week's Thorens TD-165

Let me start out by saying I love working on vintage audio equipment, but nothing gives me as much enjoyment as bringing a vintage turntable back to life. The Thorens TD-16X & 14X series has a special place in my heart because it is the first true "audiophile" turntable I owned. Before this table, I never knew how truly great vinyl could sound. It took me a while to learn the ins and outs of the table, and other Thorens I have owned, but I feel now I know what it takes to get truly wonderful sound from them.

On to the turntable...cosmetically, this table is an 7.5 on a scale of 1-10. (I'm a hard rater.) The real wood veneer is in very good shape. On one rear corner there is a small "ding". The metal plinth is in very good shape. (see pic.) Lettering is vibrant. The Thorens anti-skate weight is intact. The dust cover is in very good condition also, however each hinge has a broken part. Fortunately, this does not hinder the opening or closing of the unit, nor does it affect it staying in the open position.

As outlined above, this unit passed a multi-step inspection and cleaning process. Anything that needed to be replaced, adjusted, or cleaned was accomplished. Notice in the pictures to follow that a brand new heavier MDF base has been installed. As noted at www.theanalogdept.com , no other Thorens tweak results in as dramatic a sound improvement as a heavier base. In addition, while upgrading the base I installed several sheets of damping to the base and under-plinth. This has resulted in an incredibly low noise floor. Lastly, new gold-plated rcas were soldered in place to upgrade the often troublesome original Thorens rcas. All of these mods have brought this table to a new level of play.

A photocopy of the owner's manual will be provided.

The Shure Cartridge

A used Shure V-15 Series III cartridge has been mounted and professionally aligned on this unit, The V-15 is one of the most revered cartridges of all time. This particular cartridge has a broken cantilever, but using the Shure replacement stylus program, youc an have a brand new one for just fifty dollars. Do a Google search on the Series III and see what others have to say. Recent cartridges on eBay have all sold for over two hundred dollars. Though the cantilver is broken, I stil managed to align the cartridge...when you receive the new stylus from Shure, it will take less than ten second to be enjoying fantastic sound.

The Details

In regards to shipping, this table will be packed like it is a fragile pane of glass. I simply care too much for these tables to just shove them in a box. I will carefully pack the table in extra sturdy boxes. and bubble wrap. I prefer Fedex Ground. Lastly, I am truly not in this for the money. What I love best is introducing someone new to the joys of vinyl, getting someone back into vinyl who left it for the "superiority" of cds, or helping someone else who does appreciate it to "move up." In that regard, I do what few sellers do...if the buyer needs it, I can supply up to one hour of help by phone with set up. (At a mutually arranged time.) In general, most buyers don't need it, but if there IS a problem, I am there.

Some recent comments from buyers....

"Outstanding & dedicated craftsman. Helpful hints. Personal attention."

"The best! A great communicator who goes above and beyond in the service dept."

"If you want an excellent reconditioned vintage turntable, Dave's the Man! Thanks"

"When eBay was invented, nobody dreamed there'd be a seller as great as Dave!!"

Email me if you are interested in purchasing this turntable or another one I have slated for restoration.