Thorens TD 160B MkII running fast?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Make sure you buy an original Thorens belt. I've had two TD150's and I now own a TD160. Clean the inside of the platter is a good move. My current TD160 had a horrid black ring on the inner platter. Cleaning with meths improved speed stability by 0.1rpm, not much but I'm quite sensitive to pitch stability and I could tell. The biggest improvement came from belt replacement. Thakker belts are quite good and improve on platter speed stability I've noted bewteen a 0.1 to 0.3rpm improvement in platter stability in the three examples I've owned. The best belts IMHO are original Thorens and these seem to be the best for speed stability improvements. You may also want to get a cheap laser tachometer from ebay, you can get them now for <£30 with the ability to track speed stability to two decimal points, or failing that an app on your phone. Timing things with a stop watch isn't that accurate.

[walpurgis]

My current TD160 had a horrid black ring on the inner platter

They all get like that eventually if you don't keep them clean. Not just Thorens either.

[struth]

im saying nowt

anyway as i said 1 rev a min isnt much to worry about unless you can hear it

[smg1965uk]

Make sure you buy an original Thorens belt. I've had two TD150's and I now own a TD160. Clean the inside of the platter is a good move. My current TD160 had a horrid black ring on the inner platter. Cleaning with meths improved speed stability by 0.1rpm, not much but I'm quite sensitive to pitch stability and I could tell. The biggest improvement came from belt replacement. Thakker belts are quite good and improve on platter speed stability I've noted bewteen a 0.1 to 0.3rpm improvement in platter stability in the three examples I've owned. The best belts IMHO are original Thorens and these seem to be the best for speed stability improvements. You may also want to get a cheap laser tachometer from ebay, you can get them now for <£30 with the ability to track speed stability to two decimal points, or failing that an app on your phone. Timing things with a stop watch isn't that accurate.

A Thakker belt is on the way, hopefully will test tomorrow.

Thanks,
Steve

[Wakefield Turntables]

You could always try and clean the belt you have. Try soaking it in mild warm water with some fairy liquid for 20-30 minutes and then gently pat it dry with paper towel. It may make some difference. I remember going bonkers when I tried to figure out the various variables which affect speed stability in these decks. It's usually the belt!

[trevisan22]

Hi, Are you checking with a record and the arm down

[walpurgis]

Hi, Are you checking with a record and the arm down

Good point.

[smg1965uk]

Hi, Are you checking with a record and the arm down

That is a good point. Recently acquired the deck without an arm and considered whether that drag would affect it that much. A friend had already showed me the app and the reading was the same either way, though his was a direct drive turntable.

[Barry]

You could always try and clean the belt you have. Try soaking it in mild warm water with some fairy liquid for 20-30 minutes and then gently pat it dry with paper towel. It may make some difference. I remember going bonkers when I tried to figure out the various variables which affect speed stability in these decks. It's usually the belt!

I would also lightly dust it with talcum powder. I would also concur that it is best to get an original Thorens belt rather than a Thakker alternative (I replaced the belt on one of my TD124s with a Thakker and after only a couple of months it had stretched.)

[Barry]

There is littlepoint in trying to achieve an absolute speed accuracy of better than 0.1%. The 'just noticable difference' in pitch depends on the pitch and on the waveform: for sine waves < 500Hz it is 3Hz, or 0.6%; for tones > 1,000Hz it is 0.1% for non-sinusoidal waveforms and 0.6% for sine waves.

However it is important to try to limit the speed stability (wow and flutter) to better than 0.1%.