Thorens TD-160 Audiophile Turntable

This beautiful TD-160 has been serviced and comes with a Shure M97 Moving Magnet cartridge. A great match to a unit operating at this level. Plinth is in excellent condition and the cover has been polished.

Description

The famed Thorens TD-160 is pretty much unparalleled when it comes to classic vintage turntables models. The Swiss clock company first launched its phonograph division back in 1903 when much of the world didn’t even know what a turntable was. That changed in 1928 when Thorens produced their first electric (motor-driven) record player and quickly became one of the most heralded phonograph machine manufacturers in the world.

Honing their craft over the years, the company went on to develop an entire range of audiophile record players in the 50’s and 60’s. In 1965, building on the suspension chassis design of Acoustic Research’s XA model, they created their first suspended table, the Thorens TD-150. The entry level TD-160 would be introduced in 1972 and go on to become the company’s most popular seller, with its manufacturing and production continuing pretty much nonstop for the next two decades. It was the apex of the 1970’s hi-fi boom and there was no shortage in demand for these specialized audiophile units.

Design / Construction

A lot of thought went into the stability within the design of this machine, making it an exceptionally quiet playing unit. At the basic level, the TD-160 is in fact a minimal yet stylistically handsome record playing machine. With its sturdy (usually) wooden-framed plinth and stance, it exudes stability and commands respect as part of any hi-fi set up based on its aesthetics alone.

Simple in theory but technical in its construction, the Thorens TD-160 is a belt driven turntable with a floating sub-chassis suspended by three adjustable springs. The sub-chassis carry the main bearing via a mounting platform for its pickup arm. Which means that the turntable platter and arm are both rigidly coupled to a common sprung chassis, making them entirely independent of the plinth. When adjusted correctly, this innovative design ensures exceptional isolation from feedback and plays a vital role in the fidelity of the deck.

The sub-chassis and suspension construction allows a lower center of gravity, and because the mass stabilization of the sub-chassis and outer frame are so well balanced, the entire system is untethered from almost anything that might make noise and vibrations. The build quality on these things is fantastic. If properly maintained and cared for, a Thorens can last a lifetime or two of pure listening enjoyment.

We provide 6 months warranty for this unit.