TD 1500 - Turntable THORENS - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL TD 1500 THORENS

РУКОВОДСТВО ПОЛЬЗОВАТЕЛЯ 使用手册28 CONTENTS Contents Page Contents 28 Dear Customer 29 Warranty 30 Safety instructions 31 Thorens TD 1500 32 Unpacking and setting up 33 Tonearm and cartridge system 35 The TD 1500 subchassis 37 Connection to the mains 39 Connection to the amplifier 40 Operation 41 Maintenance 42 Expert settings 43 Technical Data 4829DEAR CUSTOMER Dear Customer, We are very pleased with the confidence you have shown in us by purchasing the Thorens TD1500 precision turntable. In this document we describe in detail how to set up the unit so that you can enjoy your valuable records for many years. Please read this manual carefully before using the unit and do not hesitate to contact your author- ised Thorens dealer if you have any further questions. With musical regards, Your Thorens Team30 WARRANTY Warranty Statutory warranty and guarantee regulations apply without restriction. In case of a defect during this period, please contact your Thorens dealer and discuss the further procedure with him. In the event of transport or shipment, please ensure that the sensitive device is securely packaged and preferably use the original packaging. If this is no longer available, your dealer will provide you with replacement packaging. The Thorens warranty covers the turntable, tonearm, motor including control electronics and power supply. Cartridges are the responsibility of the respective manufacturer. If a defect is due to misuse or transport damage, this damage is not covered by the Thorens warranty. In case of doubt, always contact your local dealer. WARNING! Never operate the unit in a damp environment or in the rain. Before switching on, make sure that all electrical connections have been made safely and that the voltage at the power supply unit corresponds to the local mains voltage.31SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Safety instructions32 THORENS TD 1500 Thorens TD 1500 The Thorens TD 1500 is the reinterpretation of the legendary 1965 Thorens TD 150 with 21st century technol- ogy. A classic suspended sub-chassis on three adjustable conical springs, combined with the precise TP 150 tonearm and an electronically controlled DC motor, brings the traditional Thorens belt drive into our time. This leaves room for many years of musical enjoyment.33 Unpacking and setting up Carefully remove the record player and acces- sories from the packaging.

Warning: various accessories, such as the ex-

ternal power supply and the dust cover hinges, are inserted in their own areas of the polysty- rene inserts. Place the turntable on a level surface and re- move the two transport securing screws on the top board to the right and left of the platter axle (Fig. 1). They fix the sub-chassis and prevent it from swinging uncontrollably and possibly being damaged during transport. Place the drive belt around the inner platter (Fig 2), place the platter on the centre axle and then place the belt through one of the two large holes in the platter around the drive pulley of the motor to the left of the centre axle (Fig 3). This completes the installation of the drive. Fig. 1 Fig. 3 Fig. 2 UNPACKING AND SETTING UP34 UNPACKING AND SETTING UP The TD 1500 can be operated with or without the dust cover. If you do not wish to use the cover, skip the following section. Carefully unpack the dust cover, lay it flat on top and slide the two hinges (Fig. 4) with the open side over the recesses on the back of the cover (Fig. 5). Then carefully slide the dust cover with the hinges into the receptacles at the back of the frame of the TD 1500 (Fig. 6). Fig. 4 Fig. 6 Fig. 535TONEARM AND CARTRIDGE SYSTEM Tonearm and cartridge system For the correct operation of the TD 1500, a few adjustments have to be made to the tonearm. The supplied Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge is pre-installed and does not need to be adjusted. First, the counterweight is installed and then the tracking force and anti-skating are adjusted. The counterweight of the tonearm has been packed separately for transport. For the correct adjustment of all necessary values, please follow the steps listed below:

1. Screw the counterweight onto the back of the end of the tonearm (picture 7).

2. Slide the anti-skating adjustment weight (picture 8) in the arm base as far back as possible towards the

3. Fold the lift lever forward so that the lift bench is lowered.

4. Remove the needle guard on the pick-up and loosen the tonearm lock.

5. Carefully move the tone arm towards the turntable with the finger lever so that it can swing freely up and

down. Make sure that the needle does not touch the platter or the chassis.

6. Turn the counterweight until the tone arm floats freely and swings back into a straight line by itself. If the

arm is up, turn the counterweight slightly counterclockwise, if it is down, turn it in the opposite direction until it is balanced.

7. Put the tone arm back on the support and fix it.

8. On the counterweight there is a ring with a scale for the tracking force in Pond, which can be moved inde-

pendently of the weight. Now turn this ring alone, without turning the whole weight, until the 0 at the top is opposite the mark on the bearing block of the tone arm.

9. To set the desired tracking force, now turn the counterweight as a whole until the corresponding number

is at the top. The Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge supplied requires between 1.4 and 1.7 pounds of tracking force. Recommendation 1.5 pond.36 TONEARM AND CARTRIDGE SYSTEM

10. Then move the weight for the anti-skat-

ing in the slot between the tonearm base at the back and the arm support at the front to the same value. On the scale, the long lines, seen from behind, indicate an increase of 0.5. To adjust the value, it is best to use a small screwdriver or the pin supplied with the tone arm height adjust- ment. Important: the basic position at the base of the arm specifies the value 0.5, i.e. the other values are based on this. Please carry out all these steps very carefully so as not to damage the delicate needle! Fig. 7 Fig. 837THE TD 1500 SUBCHASSIS The TD 1500 subchassis The Thorens TD 1500 has an invisible suspended sub-chassis to neutralise mechanical disturbances caused by vibrations of the sub-floor and resonances generated by the motor. This sub-chassis hangs from three conical springs adjustable from above below the topboard. This specially shaped sub-chassis is made of reso- nance damping Alucobond and supports both the turntable and the arm board with the mounted Thorens TP 150 tonearm. To prevent the sub-chassis from rocking, the cone springs also contain a damping element, like a shock absorber in a car. This ensures that all moving parts are isolated from the rigid elements and the motor. The sub-chassis is tuned by changing the spring tension by twisting it relative to the fixed parts of the drive. On the one hand, so that it vibrates evenly in a purely vertical direction and, on the other hand, so that the top board and tonearm board form a plane without any dierence in height. It is also important to ensure that there is an even gap between the tone arm board and the frame to ensure that the springs do not give the sub-chassis a twist. The correct adjustment of the sub-chassis is already done at the factory. However, you should check the vibration behavior after using the TD 1500 for some time and retighten the springs if necessary. Details on this can be found below in the chapter Expert Settings.38 THE TD 1500 SUBCHASSIS Installation Although the Thorens TD 1500 is insulated from vibrations by its sub-chassis, you should still follow a few rules to achieve trouble-free operation with the best sound quality over years of use. In contrast to heavy mass-pro- duced turntables, which must be placed on as solid a base as possible, turntables with sub-chassis such as the Thorens TD 1500 require a lighter but very stable base. This could be a small table or a light chest of drawers. These are exactly the conditions for the sub-chassis, which is tuned to a certain frequency, to work perfectly. Weight is less important than stability and torsional rigidity. In addition, a set-up in the balance is important. A spirit level can serve as a check.39CONNECTION TO THE MAINS Connection to the mains The Thorens TD 1500 is supplied with a 12 V plug-in power supply unit that provides the electrical voltage required for operation. The connector for the appropriate plug of the power supply is located on the back of the turntable next to the power switch (Fig. 9). Please ensure that the plug is firmly seated in the socket. Fig. 940 CONNECTION TO THE AMPLIFIER

CONNECTION TO THE AMPLIFIER

There are two pairs of sockets on the rear panel for connecting the TD 1500 to an amplifier. One pair of RCA sockets for a normal unbalanced connection to a phono amplifier and one pair of XLR out- puts that allow the signal to be output balanced when using an MC cartridge. In the latter case, the phono preamplifier used should also allow balanced signal processing. Parallel operation of the two pairs of outputs is not intended and may damage the equipment used.41OPERATION Operation The Thorens TD 1500 is a purely manual record player with no automatic functions and no limit stop.

01. place a record on the platter.

02. To start the motor, move the front left

switch (fig. 10) from the centre position to the left or right, depending on the desired speed. The platter starts to rotate immedi- ately, and your record can be played. For small 45 singles you need the single puck supplied.

03. Unlock the tone arm and make sure the

lift is up (picture 11).

04. Move the tone arm over the record with

your hand so that the needle hovers over the desired position and lower it with the lift (picture 12).

05. Playback begins.

06. When playback is finished, raise the arm with the lift and move it back to the support.

07. To switch o the drive, turn the switch back to „0“. The motor stops and the plate remains stationary.

08. if not in use for a longer period, switch o the power supply at the back with the switch and place the

needle guard on the pick-up. The drive electronics allow the speed to be switched directly without stopping the platter first. Fig. 11 Fig. 13 Fig. 1242 MAINTENANCE

REPLACING THE STYLUS

The following applies to the Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge supplied and the other models in the 2M series.

• Put on the needle guard, loosen the headshell cap nut and pull it o the tonearm tube.

• Remove the needle guard again and pull the needle carrier o to the front.

• Slide the new needle carrier onto the system body.

• Replace the needle guard and fix the headshell to the tonearm again.

• It is not necessary to change the settings on the tone arm if it is a replacement needle of the same type. The needle should be checked after approx. 500 hours of operation and replaced if necessary. If you are unsure about this, leave the replacement of the pick-up to your dealer or another competent person. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION Clean your valuable records regularly with a commercially available antistatic brush or use a record washing machine. Make sure that the scanning diamond is clean, using the small brush supplied to carefully sweep the diamond from back to front.

TRANSPORT OF THE TURNTABLE

It is best to use the original packaging of the unit for transport. Put on the needle guard and lock the tone arm in its support. For longer transport or for shipping, loosen headshell and pull it o. Then remove the rear counterweight and set the anti-skating value to zero. Then re- move the turntable and stow it on the bottom of the box. Lift the dust cover o its hinges and pack it securely. MAINTENANCE43 EXPERT SETTINGS

REPLACING THE CARTRIDGE

To replace the complete cartridge with another model, please follow the steps below.

• Put on the needle guard, unscrew the headshell and pull it o the tone arm tube.

• Pull o the four colored cables from the pins on the cartridge and unscrew it.

• Screw the new pick-up into the headshell and connect the cables. Do not tighten the screws yet.

• Move the pick-up in the headshell until the overhang and zero crossings fit. You will need an adjustment template for this.

• Tighten the screws. Wiring diagram of the colored cables: Red = signal right Green = ground right White = signal left Blue = ground left If you replace the complete catridge, the tone arm must be readjusted as described above.

EXPERT SETTINGS44 EXPERT SETTINGS

CARTRIDGES WITH DIFFERENT INHERENT

WEIGHTS The counterweight of the TP150 tonearm is made of two parts in order to balance cartridg- es with dierent weights. The two parts are connected with two screws that can be easily loosened (Fig 13). However, it is advisable to adjust the weight so that it is as close as possi- ble to the bearing of the tone arm in order to minimize the leverage eect on the arm. There- fore, always check first whether the arm can be balanced with the two weights connected. If this is not possible, unscrew the rear part of the weight. If both weights are in combination, pickups up to approx. 30 g own weight can be balanced. Fig. 1345

ADJUSTMENT OF THE AZIMUTH

The azimuth is the correct vertical angle of the diamond needle into the grooves of the record, i.e. seen from the front, the diamond must be exactly perpendicular to the record. The easiest way to check this is to use a mirror onto which the pick-up head is lowered. The pick-up system and the image must form a line without any kinks. Alternatively, it is advisable to use a transparent stencil with a line grid, through which a slanted position of headshell and pick-up becomes directly visible. You may also be able to use a commercially available set square for this purpose. To correct a possible deviation from the correct position, the tone arm can be turned. To do this, loosen the cover of the arm base (Fig 14) with a small flat-blade screwdriver and then slightly loos- en the cross-head screw (Fig 15) (1) located centrally underneath. CAUTION: please only loosen slightly, never unscrew! After loosening the screw, the arm tube can be turned a few degrees in both directions. When doing so, al- ways check the current position with a mirror or template. Make sure never to move the arm lengthwise, but only sideways. Fig. 14 Fig. 15 EXPERT SETTINGS46

ADJUSTMENT OF THE TONE ARM HEIGHT

Replacing a pick-up may require a correction of the arm height. As a rule of thumb, when playing a record from the side, the arm should be parallel to the surface of the record. If this is not the case, because the new cartridge is either higher or lower, the arm height must be adjusted accordingly (Fig 16). A normal Phillips screwdriver (Ph2) and the metal pin supplied are needed for this. For checking purposes, a triangle or a transparent template with parallel lines printed on it are suitable. First, carefully loosen the screw (1) a little. Then use the pin (2) to turn the ring in the necessary direction until the tone arm has reached the desired height. Then tighten the screw (1) again. In some cases, the lift may also need to be adjusted afterwards because the arm sits on the lift bench even when it is lowered or cannot be raised far enough. After loosening the screw (3), the lift height can be adjusted. Fig. 16 EXPERT SETTINGS47

ADJUSTMENT OF THE SPRING TENSION

The sub-chassis should be evenly aligned and vibrate absolutely vertically. Neither wobble nor dier in height. To check and correct this, proceed as follows. 1:

01. push the turntable slightly downwards at the centre axis. This

stimulates the sub-chassis and it should vibrate evenly.

02. Check the height of the tone arm board and the top board.

Both should be exactly the same height, no jump in height when you run a finger over them.

03. Check the distance between the lower edge of the plate and

the topboard. This distance should be the same around the entire circumference of the plate.

04. If both the height and the vibration behaviour are as described, everything is in order.

05. If, on the other hand, the sub-chassis wobbles and swings or the plate is not parallel to the topboard, the

spring tension must be corrected.

06. Take the rubber mat o the turntable and turn it until you can see the three adjustment screws for the

springs through the large holes. These are located in a triangular arrangement below the platter but can be reached through the holes in the platter (Fig. 17, Fig. 18).

07. Now adjust the spring tension of the three conical springs with a 2.5mm Allen key that fits into the groove

of the nut visible through the plate. Turning clockwise increases the tension, lowering the sub-chassis at this point, turning the other way releases the tension, raising the sub-chassis at this point. Always check the vibration behavior in between.

08. The correct setting is achieved when the sub-chassis moves exactly vertically and the distance between