TD 309 - Turntable THORENS - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL TD 309 THORENS

OPERATING YOUR UNIT! This product was tested and complies with all the requirements for the CE Mark. CAUTION To reduce risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover (or back). No user-serviceable parts inside. WARNING TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

EXPLANATION OF GRAPHICAL SYMBOLS

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert you to the presence of uninsulated ‘dangerous voltage’ within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute an electric shock to persons. The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert you to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

This symbol on the product or on its packaging indicates that this product must not be disposed off with your other household waste. Instead, it is your responsibility to dispose of your waste equipment by handing it over to a designated collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. The separate collection and recycling of your waste equipment at the time of disposal will help to conserve natural resources and ensure that it is recycled in a manner that protects human health and the environment. For more information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling, please contact your local city office, your household waste disposal service or the shop where you purchased the product. Unpacking Carefully remove the turntable and all accessories from the box. Check that the following items are included: 1 x base with sub-platter and tonearm 1 x Thorens drive belt 1 x platter 1 x felt mat 1 x balance weight 1 x tonearm counterweight 1 x plug-in power supply and power cable 1 x RCA phono cable 1 x earth wire 1 x adapter for 7-inch records 1 x stylus balance 1 x spirit level Please keep the packaging for future transport. Always replace the transit screws before re-packing and shipping. Fig. 1 The three transit screws inside the sub-chassis feet need to be removed before the turntable can be set up. ➔ Fig. 1 The suspension in each sub-chassis foot is factoryadjusted and will not need to be readjusted unless the weight of the turntable is altered (e.g. through the use of stabilisers or heavy platter mats). ➔ Page 27

Setup and Assembly Place the turntable on a rigid support and use the supplied spirit level to make sure that it is perfectly horizontal. If necessary, readjust the suspension system. ➔ Page 27 Thorens turntables are relatively resistant to vibration. However, vibration can have adverse effects on any turntable, particularly if a high-quality pick-up cartridge is used. You should therefore place the turntable on a sturdy piece of furniture, ideally at some distance from the loudspeakers. older houses with beam floors, however, this may not be enough to properly isolate the turntable from vibrations. In this case we recommend placing the turntable on a wall shelf that is attached to a supporting wall.

When siting the turntable, make sure that it is at a reasonable distance from any existing electronic equipment (such as amplifiers, receivers or CD players) so as to avoid electromagnetic interference in the pick-up cartridge, which could cause a hum in the signal. The same applies to the cable connecting the turntable to the amplifier. You can detect and eliminate electromagnetic interference by changing the position of the turntable with respect to other pieces of equipment. Setup and Assembly Loop the drive belt around the sub-platter and then around the motor pulley. ➔ Fig. 2 Avoid oil or grease coming into contact with the belt, pulley or sub-platter. If necessary, these parts can be cleaned with glass cleaner or pure alcohol and a lintfree cloth. The belt tension is factory-adjusted. If it needs to be readjusted (e.g. to compensate for gradual belt stretch), loosen the locking screw of the eccentric motor support ring and carefully rotate the ring. ➔ Fig. 3 Fig. 2 If the belt tension is changed, the motor speed will need to be reset. ➔ Page 27 The drive belt should be replaced every few years. Thorens replacement belts are available from any Thorens dealer or distributor. Fig. 3

Setup and Assembly Place the glass platter onto the sub-platter (frosted side down). ➔ Fig. 4 Then place the felt mat on the platter. The soft mat prevents slippage during playback and minimises wear and tear on your records. Fig. 5 Place the balance weight on the base so that it sits exactly above the front left sub-chassis foot (this is its default position). Move the balance weight for fine adjustment, determining the best position through listening tests. ➔ Fig. 5 Fig. 4

This almost completes the assembly of the turntable. The only part missing now is the tonearm counterweight. ➔ Page 30 Turntable adjustments The suspension in each sub-chassis foot can be adjusted from above with the help of a 5-mm hex key (➔ Abb. 6). The inner cylinder of each foot should protrude by 2 mm at position X. ➔ Fig. 7 The suspension system is factory-adjusted. It should be readjusted if the weight of the turntable is altered (e.g. through the use of stabilisers or heavy platter mats) or if the supporting surface is not perfectly level. Fig. 6 The platter speed can be adjusted by turning the adjustment screw to the left or right of the speed switch (for 33⅓ and 45 rpm, respectively). ➔ Fig. 7 Fig. 7 The platter speeds are factory-adjusted. Any readjustment of the speeds should be checked with the help of a test record or a strobe disc. Please also refer to “Belt Tension” ➔ Page 25

Connections The turntable comes with a universal plug-in power supply that will accommodate all common mains voltages. Plug the low-voltage connector of the power supply into the appropriate socket on the turntable and then plug the power supply into the mains socket. ➔ Fig. 8 If the turntable is to be powered by mains voltages other than those specified, it may be necessary to use an adapter. Please contact your Thorens dealer or distributor for further advice.

Fig. 8 Connections Use the supplied RCA phono cable to connect the turntable output to the phono input of your amplifier. Check that all plugs are connected with the correct polarity. ➔ Fig. 9 Fig. 9 In accordance with RIAA standards, vinyl records are cut with pre-emphasis. The operation of a turntable therefore requires the use of a phono stage for equalisation. If your amplifier does not have a phono input, you will need to connect a dedicated phono stage such as the Thorens MM 001 or MM 005 between the turntable and the amplifier. Please contact your Thorens dealer or distributor for further advice. The earth wire is used to establish an electrical connection to earth. Connect the wire to the earth screws on the turntable (➔ Fig. 9, indicated by an arrow) and the amplifier. If your amplifier does not have an earth screw, you can attach the wire to the side of an unused input socket. If you can hear a hum in the speakers that increases as you increase the overall volume, then the earth connection may be faulty. Make sure that the earth wire is firmly connected. If the problem persists, try connecting the wire to a different spot.

Tonearm and Pick-Up Cartridge Your Thorens TD 309 turntable is delivered with a preinstalled TP 92 tonearm and an AT-95 B pick-up cartridge. ➔ Fig. 10 The tonearm is factory-adjusted; however, to avoid damage, the tonearm counterweight is removed for shipping. Screw the counterweight onto the rear end of the tonearm and adjust the tracking force. ➔ Page 31 The TP 92 tonearm can accommodate most pick-up cartridges with a distance of 12.5 mm (½ ”) between the mounting holes. To connect the pick-up cartridge, push the four colourcoded cartridge tags onto the cartridge pins. If the cartridge pins are not colour-coded, connect them as follows:

right channel (signal) ➔ red right channel (earth) ➔ green left channel (signal) ➔ white left channel (earth) ➔ blue Fig. 10

Tracking Force The tracking force can be adjusted by rotating the tonearm counterweight (➔ Fig. 11). The closer the counterweight is to the cartridge, the higher the tracking force. The correct tracking force can be set with the help of the stylus balance. Lower the tonearm lift, move the tonearm out over the platter and carefully lower it until the stylus of the pick-up cartridge comes to rest on the stylus balance. The stylus guard must be removed for this procedure. Great care should be taken to avoid damaging the stylus. The recommended tracking force range for the TP 92/ AT-95 B combination is 18 to 20 mN (which corresponds to a weight of 1.8 to 2.0 g). Fig. 11 Do not move the ring that sits around the middle of the tonearm tube (➔ Page 30, Fig. 10). It serves as a vibration damper and is effective only at its original position.

Anti-Skating Force (Bias) The interaction of stylus friction and cartridge bearing forces produces a force which pulls the tonearm towards the centre of the record (referred to as skating force). This force can be offset with the help of anti-skating force, which, in the case of the TP 92, is produced by a magnet incorporated into the tonearm. The anti-skating force is factory-adjusted. If necessary, it can be readjusted with the help of an adjustment screw. ➔ Fig. 12 Turn the adjustment screw anti-clockwise to increase, and clockwise to decrease the anti-skating force. The white dot above the adjustment screw indicates the setting. The amount of anti-skating force required depends on the type of pick-up cartridge used. If you change the cartridge for a different type, use a test record to determine how much anti-skating force is required.

Fig. 12 Further Tonearm Adjustments The tonearm headshell allows an overhang adjustment of ± 2,5 mm to be made. To adjust overhang, loosen the screw holding the headshell and move the headshell as required. ➔ Fig. 13 A screw at the rear of the tonearm allows a further overhang adjustment of ±3 mm as well as an azimuth adjustment of ±5°. The screw is recessed into the top of the bearing housing and can be loosened with a 2-mm hex key. ➔ Fig. 14 The vertical tracking angle (VTA) can be adjusted by raising or lowering the tonearm. ➔ Page 34 Fig. 13 Fig. 14 Take care not to over-tighten the screws after making adjustments.

Further Tonearm Adjustments The vertical tracking angle (VTA) can be adjusted by raising or lowering the entire tonearm. Loosen the lock nut on the underside of the turntable with a 22-mm jaw spanner; then turn the adjustment ring above the base to raise or lower the tonearm as required. ➔ Fig. 15 Fig. 15 If the VTA is changed, the tonearm lift will need to be to be readjusted. Loosen the locking screw on the tonearm lift with a 1.5-mm hex key and carefully raise or lower the entire lift. ➔ Fig. 16 The tonearm tube should be parallel to the platter surface. Small adjustments of the VTA or the tonearm lift height can have a large effect. After making any changes, you should therefore always check whether there is enough clearance (at least 1 mm) between the cartridge and the record (when the lift is engaged) and between the tonearm lift pad and the tonearm tube (when the lift is disengaged).

Fig. 16 Operation The on/off switch is located near the front left foot underneath the base of the turntable. This switch is also the speed selector. There are two speeds: 33 ⅓ rpm (for LPs) and 45 rpm (for singles). The middle position is the “off” position. ➔ Fig. 17 To play a record, first start the turntable by selecting the appropriate speed. Then engage the tonearm lift (➔ Fig. 18) by lifting its lever, position the pick-up cartridge over the run-in groove or the desired track and lower the tonearm lift. Fig. 17.1 Fig. 17.2 The TD 309 does not feature an automatic shutoff mechanism. Therefore, as soon as the stylus has reached the run-out groove, engage the tonearm lift and switch the turntable off. Fig. 18

Technical Specifications Dimensions Weight Manual Belt drive (flat belt around sub-platter) Servo-controlled DC motor 33 ⅓, 45 rpm ±5 % Electronic 12” / 2.3 kg (glass) External plug-in power supply, 12 V DC/AC, 6 W min.; consumption when off: 0.5 W max. 470 x 125 x 430 mm (W x H x D)

23.6° (fixed) approx. 18 g Mode of operation Drive system Motor Speeds Adjustment range Speed change Platter Power supply Technical specifications subject to change without notice. Made in Germany.

Customer Service Your Thorens dealer or distributor will be happy to assist you if you have any questions regarding your new turntable or experience any problems. For a list of Thorens distributors, please visit ➔ www.thorens.com or contact us directly: ➔ www.thorens.com/contact Register your product with Thorens to receive up-todate information and special offers. You can use the registration card included with the product or visit our website: ➔ www.thorens.de/register

Printed in Germany · UM309-1109-A