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When less is more...10 reasons to own Thorens

I KNOW my Thorens TD-160 series is not the last word. I've pereviously owned an Oracle Delphi with SAEC arm, and a Rega P25, and can vouch for the superiority of both over the 166, but...

1. I can listen all day to my "simulated stereo" LPs and it STILL sounds good.

2. Fake reverb sounds convincing as intended by the record producers

3. Warp wow and off-center pressings are not usually an issue when motor cogging obscures these faults-- two wrongs DO make a right!

4. Motor, bearing, switches and everything else will stll work fine 20 years from now.

5. Bouncy spring suspension forces you-- the listener to stay put and listen to the entire side of your LP or risk walking across the floor and sending the tonearm and cartridge flying across the record surface.

6. Works great with Grado cartridges!

7. Sounds better than most CDs (*IMO) when comparing the LP to a good digital reissue

8. Easy tonearm upgrade, accepts many cheap used arms (Jelco, Linn, etc)

9. NO PARTICLE BOARD!!!

10. Like a drug, only safer and still legal to own and operate
cocoabaroque
cocoabaroque OP
36 posts
 
Hififile, I used to have the M97he on my Thorens TD166, but switched to Grado-- a big improvement in my opinion. Even the entry Grados (Black, Green, Red) are quite good, the GOLD offering a smoother, more refined sound and better tracking than the lower priced ones, but neither are as good a tracker as Shure. Grados can hum if placed too close to a big power amp (magnetic field). There is ALWAYS a very low level hum with all Grados, but I've never heard anything that sounds as nice on this table.

Stanton 681EEE sounds great, but I did not like the more expensive 881-- too analytical for me.
phduncanson
73 posts
 
indeed! i bought a 166mk2 back in 1996 for $40. took it apart and damped the under platters with dynamat, cleaned it out and all that. it was sounding just a little more luscious than my ciaudio dac. i then switched the cart from a clearaudio wood classic mm to a denon 103 mc. can't believe what i had been missing all those years. i then bought a $2000 new table thinking it would give me more of that analog sound and was soooo disappointed! sounded only slightly more detailed - but not more involving at all!!!! sold that sh** !

im using the 103 in a wood body now - listen to the music baby!
jeremy72
97 posts
 
Because the good vintage models can be modified and updated to run neck and neck with new tables - ex. TD124 (I or II), TD125 (I or II), TD160 (MkI only) If I had the extra dough I'd grab one of those wicked Artisan Fidelity modded Thorens with the solid Maple plinths in a heartbeat.

"9. NO PARTICLE BOARD!!!"

No, not true. Many models (most in fact, including td160's & 125's) used wood veneer over pressed wood particle board in the chintzy factory plinths. just look under the factory plinth, you'll see along the bottom edge.

I'd grab a td125 and have AF put a new dc motor in that table, then you'd have a modern turntable with the heart of a REAL Thorens.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Strange that nobody mentioned TD 160 Super. This one was/is
highly regarded in Europe and considered 'the best' (the
Reference not included) of them all. I use this one in my
second system for testing purposes.

Regards,
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Jeremy 72, The suspension of all belt driven Thorens consists of 3 springs (by Linn the steel-plate is part of the suspension). I don't believe that 'exotic plinths' will
improve the performance much but they will considerable add to
the price. This way however the most important adavantage
of the 'old Thorens' (aka price-quality relationship) will be lost. Or so I thought.

Regards,
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