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Thorens 160b sme improofd arm nieuwe blank eiken plint heeft uitgebreide restauratie gehad en is als nieuw pickering xv15 element zgan naald deze draaitafel is te beluisteren wordt geleverd met 1/2 ja
Thorens TD 160B with an SME arm is a classic suspended deck, but at €1,295 this sits well above the local used market. Against your benchmarks, it clears the 75th percentile of €1,000, so this is an ambitious ask rather than a fair-market bargain.
What makes it worth attention is the combination of strong Thorens engineering and the SME arm, which is often the part that carries real value and keeps these tables desirable. If the plinth and suspension are tidy and the arm is properly serviced, there’s genuine upside here for someone who wants a plug-and-play vintage deck; still, at this level I’d want confirmation of the exact arm model, service history, and condition of the bearing, belt, and suspension 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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