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Thorens TD 145 MK 1 ; How Many Tonearm Options Are There?

I have a Thorens TD 145 MK 1 with the original TP 16 tonearm. I set the tracking weight via the tonearm weight and leave the dial at 0. The arm lift no longer operates. I've done much to Frankenstein this table, i.e. thick hard maple plinth and plywood bottom, sub chassis and partial chassis dampening, Herbie's record mat. And, given that I like my Audio Technica AT 33 mono cartridge, the next logical step would seem to be a tonearm swap out. Of course, the most obvious choices for a new tonearm would be an SME, Rega, Mission, Jelco, Linn. However, my curiosity tells me that there may be some unexpected tonearms that would also fit nicely, like an Origin Live or a Thomas Schick tonearm.
The second part of this question would be whether adding a new tonearm to this Thoren is worth the trouble, or should I abandon it and allocate the money towards a Rega P 6 instead?
goofyfoot

Showing 1 response by mattmiller

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mattmiller
1,479 posts
 
It sounds to me like you really like that Thornes table after all the work you have put into redoing the plinth. Any tonearm would be a huge up grade over that TP16, so I would throw a different tonearm on it and keep it. The RP6 is a great table for sure, and you can upgrade it as well. Either one you use, you will up grade. Your choices for cartridges in the future should be considered, the Rega will play well with most med compliance whereas depending on the tonearm you use on the Thornes you could use a Higher or lower compliance one. Also, I found the Grado reference Sonata woodbody to work very well with the TP16 tonearm for what its worth.


Matt M
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