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Our Thoughts RADAR AI

At £89, this is a strong bargain: it sits well below the £280 25th-percentile price from 145 comparable listings, versus a £541 median and £858 upper quartile. Assuming it is complete and working, the asking price is attractive enough to justify prompt interest rather than extended haggling.

The MM-005 is a compact, properly versatile phono stage with switchable MM and MC support, offering 40 dB MM and 60 dB MC gain, housed in a solid metal case with an external power supply. It is a sensible upgrade for an amplifier lacking a phono input and gives useful cartridge flexibility, especially at this money. Check that the power supply is included, the underside cartridge switches are intact, and both channels are quiet; otherwise, this looks like an unusually good low-cost buy.

Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.

About Thorens

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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