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Angeboten wird „Platine vinyle - Thorens PRESTIGE (sold without tonearm)“ von Thorens als Gebrauchtgerät aus der Kategorie „Plattenspieler, Tonarme, Systeme...“ bei audio-markt.de - dem Online-Marktplatz für High-End. Das Inserat mit der Nummer 3480699783 endet am 08.09.2026 um 14:26 Uhr.
At €13,000, this Thorens Prestige base is astronomically overpriced compared to the typical used market, where the median sits at €834 and even the 75th percentile only reaches €2,578. You would pay nearly five times the top-end comparable asking price for a unit missing its tonearm, making this a poor value proposition unless it is a verified museum-grade relic with documented provenance that justifies such rarity.
The Prestige itself is a celebrated 1983 anniversary model, qualitatively equivalent to the legendary TD 124, offering exceptional mass and a robust chassis that excels in stability and low resonance. However, buying opportunity status requires a fair price; without a tonearm, you face an immediate €1,000–€3,000+ addition for a high-quality arm like an SME or Ortofon to make this system playable. This listing is not a deal but a cautionary example of aspirational pricing on a incomplete vintage high-end turntable.
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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