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This is the legendary TD 160 in all it's original glory. I hate giving this one up as it has been my standard player for the past 2 years but I acquired something new that mandates a rotation.Other then new TPU feet and 3D printed upper hinges this is as original as they get. Beautiful walnut plinth and nearly flawless dustcover (2 nicks on the top) this beauty is like new. Fitted with an Ortofon Red 10M balanced and aligned, plays ultra quiet. New belt assures it tracks perfectly at 33 or 45. If you know, you know. This has been recently serviced... cleaned, lubed and ready to run for another 50 years.The pictures tell the story. This is a beautiful survivor!From VinylEngine: Despite it's moderate price, this handsome slim line integrated transcription turntable shares many of the advanced engineering features and refinements of the highly sophisticated Thorens TD-125 mark II series.For example, the identical TP-16 tonearm and belt-driven synchronous motor used in the Thorens TD-125 mark II are incorporated in the TD-160C. In addition, it comes complete with a walnut base and dust cover. Here's the traditional quality and precision you have come to expect from Thorens, at a moderate price.Specifications: Drive Method: Belt drive via a precision sub-platter Motor: 16-pole synchronous AC motor Speeds: 33-1/3 and 45 RPM Platter: 12-inch, zinc alloy, weighing roughly 7 lbs (3.2 kg) Wow and Flutter: 0.08% or better Rumble: -65 dB (weighted) Dimensions: 17.0 x 14.2 x 5.9 inches (approx. 430 x 360 x 150 mm) Weight: 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) Tonearm (TP16) Type: Gimbal-bearing tonearm Effective Length: 9.05 inches (230 mm) Overhang: 0.55 inches (14 mm) Effective Mass: 16.5 grams Cartridge Weight Range: 4.5 to 16 grams*This will ship in 2 boxes
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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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