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Seller's Description

New plinth New springs and dampeners New Thakker belt New feet New dust cover No cartridge included

Our Thoughts RADAR AI

At £500, this is ambitious against your recent comp set: it sits well above the £417 75th percentile and far over the £326 median, so it’s not priced like a bargain. For a used TD 160 in excellent condition, I’d still expect the seller to be leaning on the cosmetic/state premium or on especially complete provenance to justify that ask.

That said, it’s a well-regarded suspended-subchassis deck with real timing, isolation, and long-term enthusiast appeal, so a clean, original, well-serviced example can still be worth stretching for. The upside is strongest if it comes with a good cartridge setup, proper dust cover, and evidence of recent attention to the bearing, suspension, and belt; without those, I’d want room to negotiate.

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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