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Thorens TD 160 Super Turntable and Tonearm Package ***PRICE REDUCTION*** Thorens TD 160 Super with SME Series 111 tone arm in excellent condition. Superb swiss engineering. Cartridge not included. Condition: Excellent Payment Method: EFT, Cash, Paypal Region/State: (VIC) Victoria/Australia By David Bugbee 2 Comments AUD $1,890 Date: May 10, 2025May 10
Compared with the obvious alternative at this price point — a clean vintage deck or a newer entry-level turntable — this is ambitious in AUD at A$1,890 versus a comparable used median of A$1,148 and a 75th percentile of A$1,334. It’s not just a little rich; it sits well above the top of the recent local market, so I’d only call it sensible if this example is unusually complete or heavily upgraded.
The appeal is the Thorens formula: a classic suspended-chassis design with excellent isolation, musical timing, and the kind of easy, unfussy presentation that still wins fans. If it’s truly excellent and comes with the right arm, lid, platter, and a healthy bearing/suspension, there is genuine enthusiast value here. At this ask, I’d want confirmation of originality, service history, and any included accessories before paying up.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Thorens traces its origins to 1883 in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland, where Hermann Thorens founded the company in the Jura mountains to craft music boxes and mechanical musical devices. Pioneering audio technology soon followed, with early cylinder phonographs, horn gramophones, and record players that established Thorens as an innovator predating the modern vinyl record. By the 1920s, breakthroughs like electric gramophone motors and magnetic pickups propelled international success, employing over 1,200 workers and embodying Swiss precision engineering. Ownership shifts, including a 2018 acquisition by Gunter Kürten, former Elac head, have revitalized the brand while honoring its 140-year heritage.
Thorens remains synonymous with high-quality turntables, its core focus since iconic idler-drive models like the TD-124 and TD-160 defined the golden age of analog playback. Vintage enthusiasts prize these for their robust plinths, precise motors, and timeless performance, while modern lines such as the 900 series introduce air-suspended sub-chassis for superior isolation. Brief forays into receivers, cassette decks, and speakers in the 1970s yielded to an unwavering commitment to vinyl reproduction, encompassing both LP and 78rpm formats.
Positioned as a high-end analog specialist, Thorens commands respect among discerning audiophiles and vintage collectors for its blend of historical pedigree and contemporary refinement. No longer strictly Swiss-manufactured but retaining that ethos, it occupies a niche boutique space—elevating turntables beyond entry-level to precision instruments that rival top competitors. Under Kürten's stewardship, Thorens thrives in the vinyl resurgence, delivering musical authenticity that serious hi-fi buyers demand.
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