Idler wheel Thorens td 124, td 135, td 224, td 121, td 184 (round profile)
Standard version with round O-ring.
The idler-wheel is supplied with a pre-installed liquid silicone O-ring and 1 set of spare O-rings. Customers can choose which O-ring to install. When positioned correctly, the O-ring allows for almost perfect roundness, as shown in the attached video..
Audiosilente is pleased to introduce the new version of the idler wheel for the Thorens TD124 Mk1-MK2, TD 135 Mk1-Mk2, TD 121, and TD 184.
From the very beginning our commitment was to create an idler-wheel quieter than the original, yet offering more grip and therefore more torque. We have never conceived our wheel as a simple replacement of the original (whether used or NOS still in its packaging, it makes no difference), but as a means of increasing the performance and reliability of the turntable in every listening session. These features have been increasingly refined over time through constant revision cycles. Moreover, an in depth study of materials led us to favor liquid silicone as the material for the outer ring, manufactured to Audiosilente specifications, to ensure both torque and quietness.
On the market for about 20 years, version 3.0 features significant improvements:
- New design and identical weight to the Thorens original wheel: the Audiosilente wheel is now manufactured with the latest generation of CNC machines to ensure both flawless finish and tight tolerances
- Completely redesigned sintered bronze bushing to accommodate an oil-impregnated felt pad: the newly introduced felt acts as a real oil reservoir for the sintered bushing and ensures the constant presence of an oil film enveloping the rotation shaft
- The radius of curvature of the groove has been redesigned to ensure better coupling with the o-ring, which, when positioned correctly, allows for almost perfect roundness, as shown in the video.
Made of Avional aluminum, the new design comes with an increase in weight, now identical to that of Thorens original wheel, which improves rotational stability. The bushing housed inside is machined from sintered bronze cylinders pre-impregnated with oil. Moreover, each bushing is bored using reamers manufactured to Audiosilente specifications and finally polished with special ceramic brushes that allow for a perfect finish of the bore.
Particular care has been taken in the lubrication. In fact, after careful studies, a new bushing has been designed to allow a laser-cut natural wool felt pad to be mounted on top of it. The felt pad embraces the bushing and serves as an oil reservoir, ensuring the constant presence of a lubricating film in the micro-gap between the bushing and the rotating shaft.
It is therefore sufficient to periodically (every 6 months or when needed) load the felt pad (which is supplied without oil) with 2 or 3 drops of oil (synthetic oil, not mineral oil, with a density of 0W-15W is recommended) to ensure constant and long-lasting lubrication. Please note that a lack of oil will eventually cause wear of the bushing and lower the turntable's performance.
Particular care has also been taken addressing the wheel support surface (i.e., the part touching the thrust washer at the base of the shaft), which is made from the bushing itself and has a slim profile to reduce friction. This area is inspected through microscopic magnification to ensure no imperfections or abrasions that could prevent it from running silently are found.
Last but not least, every single wheel is tested after production and before being shipped.
What are the advantages of liquid silicone O-rings?
This type of liquid silicone O-ring, manufactured to Audiosilente specifications, provides much greater grip than normal black rubber and therefore more torque.
It should also be noted that the wheel inevitably transmits not only the rotation of the motor but also the mechanical vibrations generated by the rotating components of the turntable, so the choice of the material is crucial. Silicone transmits less vibration than rubber.
Another fundamental parameter is durability. Silicone has a much longer life than rubber and polyurethane (which is part of the plastics category) and is more resistant to ultraviolet rays and high temperatures even for prolonged use.
The silicone O-ring remains unchanged over time, anyway after several years of use you can request new silicone spares to restore the wheel to “like new” condition. Made in Italy by Audiosilente
Standard version with round O-ring.
The idler-wheel is supplied with a pre-installed liquid silicone O-ring and 1 set of spare O-rings. Customers can choose which O-ring to install. When positioned correctly, the O-ring allows for almost perfect roundness, as shown in the attached video.
Audiosilente is pleased to introduce the new version of the idler wheel for the Thorens TD124 Mk1-MK2, TD 135 Mk1-Mk2, TD 121, and TD 184.
From the very beginning our commitment was to create an idler-wheel quieter than the original, yet offering more grip and therefore more torque. We have never conceived our wheel as a simple replacement of the original (whether used or NOS still in its packaging, it makes no difference), but as a means of increasing the performance and reliability of the turntable in every listening session. These features have been increasingly refined over time through constant revision cycles. Moreover, an in depth study of materials led us to favor liquid silicone as the material for the outer ring, manufactured to Audiosilente specifications, to ensure both torque and quietness.
On the market for about 20 years, version 3.0 features significant improvements:
- New design and identical weight to the Thorens original wheel: the Audiosilente wheel is now manufactured with the latest generation of CNC machines to ensure both flawless finish and tight tolerances
- Completely redesigned sintered bronze bushing to accommodate an oil-impregnated felt pad: the newly introduced felt acts as a real oil reservoir for the sintered bushing and ensures the constant presence of an oil film enveloping the rotation shaft
- The radius of curvature of the groove has been redesigned to ensure better coupling with the o-ring, which, when positioned correctly, allows for almost perfect roundness, as shown in the video.
Made of Avional aluminum, the new design comes with an increase in weight, now identical to that of Thorens original wheel, which improves rotational stability. The bushing housed inside is machined from sintered bronze cylinders pre-impregnated with oil. Moreover, each bushing is bored using reamers manufactured to Audiosilente specifications and finally polished with special ceramic brushes that allow for a perfect finish of the bore.
Particular care has been taken in the lubrication. In fact, after careful studies, a new bushing has been designed to allow a laser-cut natural wool felt pad to be mounted on top of it. The felt pad embraces the bushing and serves as an oil reservoir, ensuring the constant presence of a lubricating film in the micro-gap between the bushing and the rotating shaft.
It is therefore sufficient to periodically (every 6 months or when needed) load the felt pad (which is supplied without oil) with 2 or 3 drops of oil (synthetic oil, not mineral oil, with a density of 0W-15W is recommended) to ensure constant and long-lasting lubrication. Please note that a lack of oil will eventually cause wear of the bushing and lower the turntable's performance.
Particular care has also been taken addressing the wheel support surface (i.e., the part touching the thrust washer at the base of the shaft), which is made from the bushing itself and has a slim profile to reduce friction. This area is inspected through microscopic magnification to ensure no imperfections or abrasions that could prevent it from running silently are found.
Last but not least, every single wheel is tested after production and before being shipped.
What are the advantages of liquid silicone O-rings?
This type of liquid silicone O-ring, manufactured to Audiosilente specifications, provides much greater grip than normal black rubber and therefore more torque.
It should also be noted that the wheel inevitably transmits not only the rotation of the motor but also the mechanical vibrations generated by the rotating components of the turntable, so the choice of the material is crucial. Silicone transmits less vibration than rubber.
Another fundamental parameter is durability. Silicone has a much longer life than rubber and polyurethane (which is part of the plastics category) and is more resistant to ultraviolet rays and high temperatures even for prolonged use.
The silicone O-ring remains unchanged over time, anyway after several years of use you can request new silicone spares to restore the wheel to “like new” condition.