Cartridge Alignment


After making a maple plinth for my Thorens TD 145, I've purchased a Grado low output Statement Sonata 1 mono and am anticipating that it will arrive soon. Anyhow, I'm trying to mount this onto a TP-16 MK 1 and as cheaply as possible (with good results). My record collection is mostly 1958-ish LP's so I recently purchased a mono test record of the same vintage from Discogs.
I also bought a small ceramic anti-static/anti-magnetic screw driver and a digital stylus force gauge. I have instructions that tell me that I need to have a pair of tweezers. And I printed out a paper templet (including instructions) for the TP-16 that includes Baerwald, Stevenson, Loefgren and Manufacturers specs. I've currently have that taped onto a record.
Any advice is welcome, especially where it pertains to the Thorens TD 145 (1974 vintage).
Best,
GF
goofyfoot

Showing 6 responses by goofyfoot

I looked at the tonearms which Mint services and no Thorens TP 16 MK1. Besides the $110.00 is out of my reach at the moment. I have considered a universal AVID which is $60.00. Nevertheless, thanks Andrew9405, I may contact Mint concerning my tonearm. Additionally, I do have a Carson lupe and a Zeiss T-Star monocular.
Cleeds, I was told differently by the manufacturer of the amp and phono stage so that's why I grounded it that way. Nevertheless, having the cable and ground fixed seems like the better solution.
The Mint is just outside of my range due to repairing a Quad ESL. I thought initially that I could purchase a Dr. Feickert protractor but that was before I arched a speaker panel.
I've read in many places that the Geodisc just roughed in the null points but doesn't have it right on. Any thoughts about this?
I received news that I'm getting a Statement Sonata 2 Mono as they are now making Series 2 cartridges but here are the specs for the series 1 stereo.

Grado Spec's,

Frequency Response: 10Hz - 60kHz
Principal: MI
Channel Separation at 1KHz: 40dB
Input Load: 47K
Output: 0.5mV
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5Gms
Stylus Type: Elliptical
Inductance: 2mH
Resistance: 2Ω
Compliance CUs: 20
Stylus Replacement: Factory
Mounting: Standard
Weight: 6.5g
Warranty: 1 year

I found a Thoren's TP 16 MK 1 template online as a PDF and it is thorough, so I'll likely try it first. Here's a view;

https://audiomarkoni.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/thorens-red-protractor.pdf
I'm going to have to take my table to an expert as I'm getting a supreme amount of hum. I lined up the cartridge but the table needs attention. And my intuition tells me that a Jelco 750 D tonearm in place of the stock TP-16 MK 1 will resolve my current issues.
If I were to attempt doing all of this myself, then I'll need the Dr. Feickert Protractor but I would rather trust a professional.
First, let me add that the Grado mono I'm now using is an upgrade from the Grado ME+ mono that was on there before. My thought is that a wood cartridge body should produce less hum than a plastic cartridge body so blaming the current Grado doesn't really seem all that plausible.
And, I know Lew from our earlier chats on this forum and without a doubt, he knows a lot more about Hi Fi in general, so I never doubted him nor have I doubted anyone else on this post.
As far as the ground Bifwynne, I believe the ground wire got yanked from its connection. I did however run a copper wire from the Thorens top plate screw to the extra black speaker terminal on my ASR Emitter II Exclusive amp but the hum is exponentially louder than it has ever been. I am by the way using an ASR Mini Basis Exclusive phono amp so the two should produce a balance when coupled together?
Now a quick history about the tonearm wiring; when I first bought the TD 145, I had it serviced and I let the technician rewire the tonearm from the back. In the process, he rewired the ground as well. After the rewire, he aligned the Grado ME + and everything sounded just as one could expect.
I don't however know how secure those cable connections really are and being without a dominate side, well I goofed and I stepped on the cable while moving it, duh. I assumed however that if I grounded it from the top plate, that this would produce enough ground to eliminate any possible hum but what I didn't take into account is that it isn't grounded to the phono amp. In addition, I potentially could have yanked the tonearm cable/s though the cartridge was equally balanced while playing a record.
So yes, I'm clumsy and inept where it pertains to electronics. But I'm able to understand simple explanations and I greatly appreciate everyone's generosity where it pertains to their posting on this forum.
Thanks Again All!