View Full Version : Replacing the RCA cables and earth wire on a Thorens TD280 IV
Hi everyone. I want to replace the RCA cables and the earth wire on my Thorens TD280 Mk IV. Has anyone out there done this, if so, is there anything special I need to consider? I don’t want to solder the RCA plugs themselves, just the cut end which will enter the TT, therefore I suppose I will be looking for a decent RCA – RCA and snip one end. Thanks in advance for helpful pointers.
The Barbarian
02-02-2015, 21:54
just a direct swap. solder off the PCB with the old on with the new, i would not use anything to bulky tho. ive seen these with the original arms removed.
just a direct swap. solder off the PCB with the old on with the new, i would not use anything to bulky tho. ive seen these with the original arms removed.
Thanks Barbarian. I'll get myself some nice quality RCAs with slender cables. Not quite sure what you meant by the last bit - did you mean the Thorens TD280 tonearm removed (presumably for a better one?)
By the way, how weird is this: the Dragonfly record which has your avatar on it is sitting right in front of me.....I pulled it out of a box yesterday where it had been sitting for about 6 months.....:stalks: (cue Twilight Zone music)
OK, I have opened up the Thorens TD280, hoping to see two nice blobs of solder ready to un-blob. But that would have been far too easy of course. What I see is the 4 splits of the RCA wires disappearing underneath the PCB, which will require me to unscrew the whole board and associated parts, several of which will no doubt drop off/ ping off, never to be seen again, or simply fall to bits. https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/117220040985842197265/albums/6111655170339363921/6111655219490289810?pid=6111655219490289810&oid=117220040985842197265
Not liking this - should I quit now and admit soldering defeat???
There's supposed to be a pic there, but it won't upload from Google + it seems. How do I get pics up? Can't do it direct from my Mac.....
walpurgis
03-02-2015, 16:36
No, keep at it. You'll sort it. :thumbsup:
Thanks Geoff. I admire your confidence in my complete lack of anything resembling DIY skills.
I will now reduce this nice turntable to a pile of unrelated parts (I take full responsibility).
Ok! That wasn't too traumatic - the PCB does come off with enough slack to turn it over. (Wish I could upload the pics, they might be helpful to anyone else trying to do this?). Have stopped for now, while I gather together all the other parts....more in a while.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7IWSkNHFJOc/UC8lMhAMD1I/AAAAAAAAD6Y/uh41tEGMuPk/s1600/ssss.jpg AHHH!!!
WHY DOESNT MINE LOOK LIKE THAT :eyebrows: https://31.media.tumblr.com/c0f35f5b7d223a65ed956c5cd360b298/tumblr_inline_ncwk9a8Fpc1sxttwf.jpg
:lol:
The Barbarian
03-02-2015, 17:18
Thanks Barbarian. I'll get myself some nice quality RCAs with slender cables. Not quite sure what you meant by the last bit - did you mean the Thorens TD280 tonearm removed (presumably for a better one?)
By the way, how weird is this: the Dragonfly record which has your avatar on it is sitting right in front of me.....I pulled it out of a box yesterday where it had been sitting for about 6 months.....:stalks: (cue Twilight Zone music)
Ive Seen 'TD280's with the arms completely replaced with a new arm, the Cue mech disabled.
You mean you have 'Order Odonata 4' LP?
:thumbsup:
Ive Seen 'TD280's with the arms completely replaced with a new arm, the Cue mech disabled.
You mean you have 'Order Odonata 4' LP?
:thumbsup:
OK. I guess that means the plinth isn't too bad. And yeah, it is Order Odonata 4! What are the chances.....:eek:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7IWSkNHFJOc/UC8lMhAMD1I/AAAAAAAAD6Y/uh41tEGMuPk/s1600/ssss.jpg AHHH!!!
WHY DOESNT MINE LOOK LIKE THAT :eyebrows: https://31.media.tumblr.com/c0f35f5b7d223a65ed956c5cd360b298/tumblr_inline_ncwk9a8Fpc1sxttwf.jpg
:lol:
:lol::lol::lol:
OK, I can't seem to find a very slim cable but with a nice gold RCA on the end. If I don't want the hassle of soldering the plugs themselves, looks like I'm going to have to go with bog standard moulded plugs....doesn't really seem like an upgrade...:scratch: I'm having a last minute look online, but nothing as yet. Maybe I'll have to solder some nice plugs onto some slim wire myself.
Just curious - do all turntables come with plastic moulded RCA plugs? There's all kinds of debate about interconnects, but doesn't seem to be any about the cable that actually carries the signal from the TT....is it me, or is that strange?
The Barbarian
03-02-2015, 21:12
Silver plated 3.65mm diameter per run
http://www.van-damme.com/16a.html
These will take 3.5mm - 6.1mm diameter cables
http://www.rean-connectors.com/en/products/phono/phono-plugs/nys373
Neutrik gold plugs coming up
http://www.audiospares.com/product.php?productid=1731&cat=375&page=1
...or some nice solder free plugs
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321643309380?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
The Barbarian
03-02-2015, 21:18
Neutrik gold plugs coming up
http://www.audiospares.com/product.php?productid=1731&cat=375&page=1
No good the cable is too thin for the large entry in the back of that Plug. The reason i linked to the other plug as it tightly accomodates the thin cable..
Great, thanks so much for the recommendations guys. I like the look of the solder-free ones but decided on the Neutrik NYS373 as they are better value and closer to home. The Van Damme cable looks fine too, have just ordered 4 metres of that (2 metres for each plug). Will continue with the experiment shortly.....
Silver plated 3.65mm diameter per run
http://www.van-damme.com/16a.html
Er.....this cable has 3 wires, red, green and surround. But the wiring instructions for RCA only specify 2 wires. Can I just ignore one of them or have I got the wrong cable?
The Barbarian
05-02-2015, 21:07
Diagram attached & don't forget to buy some wire for your flying ground
So 3 hours later, with burned fingers, sore back and eyes and having spent about £45 on cable, plugs and a new Thorens belt I now have a turntable which emits no sound. Actually to be accurate, it emits a tiny little distant sound. Probably my (lack of) soldering skills. I kind of guessed this would be the end result. So....off with the new Denon cartridge, break the Thorens into bits for spares on ebay and off to search for a new turntable. One with RCA ports in the back if such a thing exists, allowing for sensible connection of quality interconnects, like every piece of audio equipment on the planet (other than f**king turntables).
Diagram attached & don't forget to buy some wire for your flying ground
Thanks, but a) didn't see your post until I was done, and b) I don't get it anyway. Ground end is what, the turntable? 3 wires on one end and 2 on the other??
What happens to the 3rd one at one end?
Can a moderator PLEASE explain how I upload pictures so I can show what's going on here...it would be so much easier. I'm doing it from a URL (Google +) but that's not working. Thanks
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?34611-****-A-simple-step-by-step-guide-showing-how-to-include-pictures-in-your-ads-****
:)
Marco.
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