![Thorens MM-008 Phono Preamp (Silver) [DEMO]](https://rvb-img.reverb.com/i/s--mZ7OYkkA--/quality=medium-low,height=800,width=800,fit=contain/8b6ebf3b-d15f-4952-a316-969326b93d2d.jpg)
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Phono preamp in excellent condition ( demo store)With original package
Compared with a plain budget phono stage at this money, US$266 for a Thorens MM-008 is not a bargain-basement score, but it is still within sensible used territory for a well-made MM/MC preamp that reviewed at about £220 new, which puts it roughly in the mid-US$200s on original pricing. For the standard MM-008, that makes this ask look fair to slightly firm rather than cheap; I’d only call it a clear win if the listing includes the power supply, cables, and is known-good.
What makes it worth considering is the Thorens’ reputation for quiet, competent gain and flexible loading, so it can slot into a serious analog setup without fuss. The real upside is convenience: if this is clean, complete, and from an owner who kept the original accessories, you’re buying a tidy upgrade piece instead of a disposable starter stage. I’d just verify the exact variant and confirm everything works, since the MM-008 family also includes ADC versions and accessory bundles that can affect value.
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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