RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
An almost new top-of-the-line Thorens MC1600 MC/MM RIAA in impeccable condition. The MC1600 is designed without compromise. Each channel operates with its own fully symmetrical amplifier section, built with carefully selected components. Precision resistors, high-quality film capacitors and low-noise operational amplifiers guarantee exceptional detail resolution and minimal distortion.
This kr 19,500 asking price is significantly overpriced for a used Thorens MC1600, sitting nearly double the 75th percentile of kr 10,161 and well above the new retail price of roughly kr 25,000 (€2,300). The median used listing in your database is only kr 7,011, making this a poor value unless the unit is pristine, fully boxed, and includes rare accessories that justify the premium.
The MC1600 is a respected symmetric dual-mono phono preamp for both MM and MC systems, offering high-end performance with balanced topology that enthusiasts prize for low noise and excellent channel separation. However, at nearly kr 20,000, you are paying new-money prices for a used unit; a fair deal would land near kr 7,000–kr 10,000. Unless this is a verified original-owner listing with full OVP and documented service history, it’s wiser to wait for a listing closer to the market median.
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.
See all Thorens listings on RADAR.
