Description

Method of transmissionand: transmissionand with belt

Motor: 16-pole AC synchronous

Deck: 300mm, 2,7kg

Speed: 33 and 45 rpm

Wow and flutter: 0.05%

Fumble: 75dB

Size: x 430 360 150 mm x

Weight: 8 kg

Review
A classic suspended sub-chassis with a clear, stable sound, and no special features. It's unlikely to make any enemies - TD 166 mkV £240 HiFi Choice 1992

It offers a good tonearm, a stable motor, good environmental isolation, and a well-balanced performance - What HiFi

Refined and articulate sound with well-focused imaging, suitable for good economical MM or MC cartridges

Specifications

Traction	belt
Speed (RPM)	33
Head included	Grade X+
Integrated phono stage	MM+MC
Weight	8 kg
Dimensions (WxHxD)	430 x 360 x 150 mm
Piatto	300 mm, 2.7 kg
Wow & flutter	0.05%

About the brand

A story born in Switzerland

Thorens is one of the oldest names in sound reproduction. The family business was registered in 1883 by Hermann Thorens in Sainte-Croix, in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, where music boxes and clockworks were produced. The first phonographs arrived in 1903, and an electric-powered turntable in 1928. From there, the brand continued throughout the 20th century, linking its name to some of the most beloved turntables among enthusiasts. After the difficulties of the late 1990s, in 2018, the company was led by Gunter Kürten, formerly a manager at Denon and Elac, who moved the headquarters to Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.

The models that have set a precedent

The TD 124, produced between 1957 and 1965, remains a benchmark for construction and stability. In 1965, the TD 150 introduced the suspended subchassis with a belt-driven internal platter to a mass-produced turntable, a solution adopted from the 1972 TD 160 and the entire family that followed. This design isolates the tonearm and platter from external vibrations and explains why these designs remain a benchmark to this day.

Current production reinterprets this legacy with modern solutions. The TD 124 DD replaces the transmissionThe TD 1600 and TD 1601 feature a subchassis suspended on three conical springs and the Helmut Thiele-designed TP 160 tonearm with a knife-edge bearing; the TD 1601 adds electric arm lift and automatic stop. The TD 1500 is a contemporary homage to the TD 150, while the DD series (TD 402 DD, TD 403 DD, TD 404 DD) offers direct drive at various levels of engagement.

What you find at Audiocostruzioni

Among the new turntables available are the TD 124 DD, the TD 1600 TP 160 and TD 1601 TP 160, the TD 1500, the TD 402DD, TD 403DD and TD404DD, as well as the simpler TD 101 A, TD 102 A automatic, TD 202 and TD204. For the cartridge there is the SPU TD 124, made with Ortofon for pairing with the TD 124 DD. As for phono preamps, we carry the MC 1600 balanced for MM and MC cartridges, the MM 008 ADC with USB output, the MM 008 and the MM002. The offer is completed by the TAB1600 Absorber base and the Stabilizer.

How to choose

If you're looking for a turntable you can plug in right away and use without a care, an automatic model like the TD 102 A or a DD with a built-in preamp like the TD 402 DD is the most convenient choice. Those looking for a leap in quality and the ability to swap cartridges over time will look at the TD 403 DD, the TD 1500, or the TD 1600 and 1601, which require a good external preamp. The TD 124 DD and the TD 404DD are designed for high-end systems, where the tonearm and cartridge become part of an overall design.

Buy Thorens from Audiocostruzioni

In our Carpi showroom, you can listen to turntables in the listening room, compare direct-drive and suspended subchassis designs, and get advice on matching them to your system. If you can't come to the store, you can order turntables online at audiocostruzioni.com with shipping, and before choosing, you can ask us for advice via email. We'll also consider trading in your current turntable.

Explore Thorens