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Oliviercool
Published on 10/27/09 at 09:38
I got this Thorens with the intention of improving the digitization of my 33 rpms. Before, I had an HTE HT-910Q with Ortofon Concorde cartridge and you could hear the noises of the belt. When I was recording, I couldn't even move because you could even hear the steps when played back with this turntable. Indeed, walking produces vibrations in the ground that are transmitted to the table, the turntable, the tone arm, and the cartridge or via the turntable's platter. So imagine if I put my cup of tea on the table... That's not really my cup of tea.
On this level, at least, this Thorens is revolutionary. Like all Thorens, it features a suspended platter system. The platter has a system that dampens vibrations and the fulcrum is mounted with the platter, so that both (platter - armboard) move together when the turntable receives vibrations from the outside. Phew, I can finally breathe when I'm recording! ^^
Regarding the sound quality, the sound is reproduced with more delicacy and warmth. I guess it's a matter of taste, but I think the sound lacks some punch in the upper and lower ranges. The sound is somewhat choked, lacking breadth. And the surface noise is always present (signal / noise ratio: between 30 and 40 dB... ). In some cases you can even hear some lisping in the high end and, what disappointed me most, is that you can hear two or three times as many crackles as before with the same album. Further, the output is weak, so I have to crank the preamp gain quite a bit.
Although I have to admit it has the original cartridge and tonearm. I'm thinking about which cartridge and tonearm I should get for my Thorens, in order to significantly reduce the crackles. If that also allows me to reduce the surface noise, it's more than welcome. Ideally, the signal-to-noise ratio should reach, at least, 50 or 60 dB. At my local store they have recommended me the Rowen MC 06 (which costs about $350). As for the tonearm, I am right now (October 2009) trying to determine whether it's worth changing or not. I hope it improves, otherwise I'll start missing my old turntable with the Ortofon cartridge, which I unfortunately couldn't recover for my Thorens.
On this level, at least, this Thorens is revolutionary. Like all Thorens, it features a suspended platter system. The platter has a system that dampens vibrations and the fulcrum is mounted with the platter, so that both (platter - armboard) move together when the turntable receives vibrations from the outside. Phew, I can finally breathe when I'm recording! ^^
Regarding the sound quality, the sound is reproduced with more delicacy and warmth. I guess it's a matter of taste, but I think the sound lacks some punch in the upper and lower ranges. The sound is somewhat choked, lacking breadth. And the surface noise is always present (signal / noise ratio: between 30 and 40 dB... ). In some cases you can even hear some lisping in the high end and, what disappointed me most, is that you can hear two or three times as many crackles as before with the same album. Further, the output is weak, so I have to crank the preamp gain quite a bit.
Although I have to admit it has the original cartridge and tonearm. I'm thinking about which cartridge and tonearm I should get for my Thorens, in order to significantly reduce the crackles. If that also allows me to reduce the surface noise, it's more than welcome. Ideally, the signal-to-noise ratio should reach, at least, 50 or 60 dB. At my local store they have recommended me the Rowen MC 06 (which costs about $350). As for the tonearm, I am right now (October 2009) trying to determine whether it's worth changing or not. I hope it improves, otherwise I'll start missing my old turntable with the Ortofon cartridge, which I unfortunately couldn't recover for my Thorens.