Custom Thorens TD-160 BC MKII in African Mahogany w/ Infinity Black Widow Tonearm,

Another Turntable Offering:

Custom Thorens TD-160 BC MKII in African Mahogany

w/ Infinity Black Widow Tonearm, $1295 plus shipping. SOLD

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 an 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.)

Is transport screw intact? Is it functioning properly?

Are dust cover hinges 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 there any stripping? Do the cartridge screws hold tight? Are the leads brittle?

Is the tonearm rest original? Is it functioning properly?

Is a proper mat installed?

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 vinylnirvana3345)regarding sales of turntables. See our testimonial page.

This Week’s Thorens TD-160 BC MkII in Custom African Mahogany Plinth, with Infinity Black Widow Tonearm, $1295 plus shipping

What makes this week’s offering EXTRA special is the custom plinth in solid African Mahogany.  I just love the depth and coloring of this exotic hardwood.  As gorgeous as this looks in the photos, it is even more so in person.  The BC version of the TD–160 came without a stock tonearm, so there is no this vestigial cueing lever.  A nice clean look!

Cosmetically, this table is a solid 9.0 on a scale of 1-10. (Those who follow my sales know I rarely use a 9.0 rating.) The African Mahogany plinth is brand new with not a single blemish to report.  The metal portion of the plinth is in excellent condition, with some nicks in the area BENEATH the custom armboard, not visible with the armboard in place. The new custom set-on style dust cover is included. You can choose from smoked acrylic (pictured) or clear.  Finally, the Bren record weight is also included.

The custom African Mahogany plinth was crafted by a finish carpenter/cabinet maker with over thirty years of experience. It was finished in mulitiple coats of Tung oil finish.  The custom plinth is substantially more dense and heavy than the MKII plinth.

The Infinity Black Widow Tonearm

The Black Widow has always been one of my favorite vintage arms.  It has looks that demand attention!  The machining on these arms is true industrial art. Cosmetically, the arm is in very good to excellent condition.  There are light scratch marks near each of the four mounting holes.  Also, it appears the arm was rewired at some point…note the extra long wires at the headshell.  (Certainly plenty of wire to spare if you ever need/want to replace the headshell clips!)

Cartridge Choices!

The pictured cartridge is not included.   If the new owner would like, I am happy to make cartridge recommendations for you. The Black Widow is extremely low mass, so we want to match that with a high compliance cartridge.  I have some vintage suggestions (such as the Stanton in the photos, or ADC XLM III)  or we can go new. One thing is for certain, if I mount and align the cartridge for you, it makes set-up in your home much easier, and you have the peace of mind it was done correctly.