This listing is for a cartridge sled only. The headshell in the photo is not included. The cartridge sled is custom designed to fit the Best Audio manufactured Empire 98, and Best Audio Rek-O-Kut headshells, and the Best Audio manufactured AR XA headshell which accepts a sled.
This listing is for a cartridge sled only. It is custom designed to fit the Best Audio Rek-O-Kut and Best Audio Empire 98 headshells. The Best Audio Rek-O-Kut and Best Audio Empire 98 headshells are sold with a sled, so this item is considered an extra sled for those listeners who wish to pre-mount cartridges and swap them.
Brand new cartridge alignment overhang gauge for the Thorens TP-60 headshell, and a pair of hinge reinforcements! The gauge is an exact replica of the Thorens originals which have lasted 40+ years, and it allows you to properly align the cartridge/stylus while establishing the correct overhang distance. Unlike other sellers, we chose clear acrylic – far more challenging to manufacture but it provides unmatched clarity and uniform dimensions for your precision alignment. A dirty secret of 3D printed gauges such as the gray type sold by others is that the dimensions of the gauge can change depending on the printing run. We measured several 3D prints and found a variance of .2mm between prints. This is due to the positioning of the piece as the print run is initiated. If the 3D printer makes “one extra pass”, which is common in the world of 3D prototyping, the print head deposits and extra .2mm of plastic grains. Acceptable for a prototype, but never acceptable for a true production item. We offer a lifetime guarantee – if your item alignment gauge ever breaks, return it to us for a free replacement. Use the Best Audio brushed aluminum reinforcements to restore a broken plastic dustcover, or, as a preventative measure. An inexpensive repair/addition to an expensive piece of classic audio equipment – and an elegant touch to a gorgeous table. We recommend Loctite Plastic Bonding epoxy, but other plastic bonding adhesives should work as well. You can find Loctite Plastic Bonding epoxy for sale on eBay for approximately $7 … order at the same time and everything will arrive at your door within days. This type of adhesive sets within five minutes. The hinge reinforcement will be permanently bonded – and we mean that, literally. Carefully align the aluminum reinforcement with the edge of your dustcover before bonding. Use masking tape as a temporary adhesive to check your work, and check your alignment. It’s important that the pins extruding from the plinth are making contact with the aluminum edge of the hinge reinforcement – this will transfer the weight of the dust cover to the aluminum itself. Once ready to bond, and after making sure you have test fitted to get a clear look at how the hinge reinforcement is to be positioned, you are ready to use the plastic bond. Some owners suggest a light sanding on the plastic to provide a better surface for the plastic bond, we are not sure this is necessary – the bonding glue is extremely strong. After applying the bond clamp the reinforcements into place with finger pressure – clamping force does not need to be extremely strong – just enough to allow for sufficient contact between the smooth aluminum and the dust cover plastic. If you do not want to use finger pressure, consider a clothes pin, or a heavy black paper binding clip. The bond is nearly instantaneous, which is why we caution you to perform a test fit first. Follow the adhesive instructions for safety precautions, and clean-up. We recommend latex gloves, and eye protection when working with any type of adhesive. The repair should take less than 5 minutes. Please note you are buying two aluminum hinge reinforcements only. One pair. Other images such as the plinth’s hinge pin, dustcover, turntable, or the bonding adhesive are shown for reference only, and are not included. Your restored dust cover will shine anew. Please note the Thorens headshell shown for display only, it is not for sale. To our European and International friends – Please be aware: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying. Merci beaucoup.
Brand new cartridge alignment overhang gauge for the Thorens TP-60 headshell – designed exclusively by Best Audio of Menlo Park, California. Please look closely at the photos. The gauge is an exact replica of the Thorens originals which have lasted 40+ years, and it allows you to properly align the cartridge/stylus while establishing the correct overhang distance. Unlike other sellers, we chose clear acrylic – far more challenging to manufacture but it provides unmatched clarity and uniform dimensions for your precision alignment. A dirty secret of 3D printed gauges such as the gray type sold by others is that the dimensions of the gauge can change depending on the printing run. We measured several 3D prints and found a variance of .2mm between prints. This is due to the positioning of the piece as the print run is initiated. If the 3D printer makes “one extra pass”, which is common in the world of 3D prototyping, the print head deposits and extra .2mm of plastic grains. Acceptable for a prototype, but never acceptable for a true production item. We offer a lifetime guarantee – if your item ever breaks, return it to us for a free replacement. Make the clear choice – Best Audio. Please note the black/silver Thorens branded headshells are shown to demonstrate a precision fit, for display purposes only, and are not for sale. This listing is for the clear acrylic gauge only. To our European and International friends – Please be aware: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying. Merci beaucoup.
TP-63 Overhang Alignment Gauge for the Thorens TP-63, TP16 Isotrack tonearm. Also fits TP-70. Exclusively designed at our Menlo Oaks lab in Menlo Park, California, this gauge has been engineered and fabricated with precision to accurately align the cartridge and stylus on your Thorens turntable. The gauge is designed to the same standards as the original. Unlike other sellers, we chose acrylic as the material of choice – more challenging to manufacture but it offers unmatched visibility. We offer a lifetime guarantee – if your item ever breaks, return it to us for a free replacement. Make the clear choice – Best Audio. Thorens black colored arm wand with cartridge is shown for reference only, it is not for sale. To our European and International friends – Please be aware: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying. Merci beaucoup.
Sadly, we are aware of a Thorens restoration service that uses 3D printed hinges. Seriously?. Why put a 3D printed product anywhere near a Thorens table. Best Audio TD-165 Dustcover Hinges for Thorens models such as the TD-165, TD-145,TD-146 MK 5 and more.
See our youtube video, search for “Best Audio Parts”. In addition to material deficiency, 3D prints cast a purplish hue due to the dyes used in the printing process. Our injection molded sled, complete with the center vertical line, blends smoothly with the other components of your classic turntable keeping your system as authentic as possible.
Best Audio Tracking Angle Shim for Dual tonearms using the TK12 Cartridge Holder such as the Dual 1019, 1009SK, 1009F, 1010, 1015, and others. Our design matches the dimension and weight of the original and sets the proper stylus tracking angle for many cartridges when playing a single record as recommended by Dual engineers. International Buyers Please Note Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.
Step up to the highest quality available and the #1 restoration cart sled on the market, engineered to match the original parts on your classic turntable. Beautiful red color! Not an granular sprayed 3D print like the one offered by other sellers. The Best Audio cart sled is injection molded. Examine the photos closely to see the incredibly sharp detail, and smooth texture – carefully designed to complement your table. Notice the reflection of the audio pins against the plastic. Standard on all of our parts are permanently sealed gold plated spring pins for a pure audio signal, silver plated stranded copper wires with color matching insulation “to the tips”, and solid copper split-barrel clips. To attenuate any sound killing audio interference and/or hum, like the Dual original, our cartridge sled has a solid copper EMI shield extending up the sides of the cart sled. We can’t help but notice another seller literally cut corners with respect to this original feature and he left the interior sides exposed. We matched the material weight and physical dimension to the original Dual engineering design. Our shield further acts as a ground, via connection to the middle (ground) pin on the sled. Why copper? Although more expensive to source than the stamped brass seen on other pieces, our etched copper acts as an RFI shield. Why shield against radio waves? Because homes are surrounded by the radio waves we call Wi-Fi, not to mention your cellphone is actually a sophisticated radio – every incoming text or email is a radio wave transmission. Most homes are bombarded with both electromagnetic and radio waves, and we’ve neutralized both. In this regard, the Dual engineers were ahead of their time with respect to shielding, and we recreated their design. You will love this TK12 cart sled, you’re getting the best value for a quality piece or audio artwork. Our cartridge holder should also fit: 1009-F, 1009-SK, 1010, 1010-F, 1015, and 1015F. Please note this cartridge holder will not fit the original 1009. You are buying one cartridge holder, the Dual OEM turntable and cartridge is shown for reference only and to demonstrate the precise fit. You have a choice, choose the best. Best Audio. Photos showing cartridge sled mounted are for illustration purposes only. To our European and International friends – Please be aware: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.
Our sled will fit Dual turntables with the following model numbers Counterfeit sleds have a brass spring inside the signal pin – this is a sound killer. Best Audio uses only gold plated internal springs on our signal pins.