(I still think about that AR ES-1 I had back in 1981. This review is of the Thorens TD 1600 model. Thorens TD 1601 combines everything TD 1600 brings with some additional features regarding comfort and connection to amplifiers. It sometimes gilds the lily with a ripe string section or throatiness from singers. Power is applied to the drive circuitry by an impressive off-board PSU that contains a chunky toroidal transformer. They told me to buy a TD-125 mk.II instead. *We only accept factory terminated cables. Interested in purchasing a newThorens turntable? Available in several months. Keep on Goin opened up the sound with lots more gusto and the AT-OC9XML allowed it to sound at its best. The Thorens TD-1601 can offer this level of performance for a very simple reasonits a very simple design from the start, one thats always sounded good. We use cookies on our website. The fully manual 1600 has an MSRP of $2999. Meanwhile, the plinth is housed in a very stylish wood surround that comes in a choice of walnut or black, both with a high gloss finish. Goldring Ethos Phono Cartridge | REVIEW - Part-Time Audiophile The cymbals came across as clearly as the bass. From the chassis, plinth, platter, sub-platter, rear panel, superior tone arm and many features, the TD 1600 is beautifully made and presented. The one thats brand new and not vintage at all? Electronically controlled DC motor. That should capture the attention of every classic Thorens fan in the room. Could it be the Thorens that makes me the happiest? And if I was ready to buy that day, the afternoons session would have confirmed a win for the Thorens TD 1600. It just gave slightly better contact between record and mat and on some records more command of the music. Thorens Td 1600 thorens 1601 turntables. The original TD 124 was introduced in 1957 and has been used for decades in countless broadcast studios around the world. An electrical lift is included, too and a contactless auto shut off. Press Esc to cancel. to your inquiry within 1-2 Business days. I was jealous. With belt drive. The 1601 is identical to the 1600 except for the auto lift function. I was shocked. :). Dave Archambault of Vinyl Nirvana also has one in for evaluation, same time as me. Made in Taiwan. ), McIntosh Announces MX100 A/V Processor and MI347 7-Channel Amplifier, By Paul Ashby In 1980 I was working at a Long Beach record store called Music Plus. So, Stravinskys The Firebird (Dorati/LSO/Mercury reissue) jumped off the vinyl anytime the Russian folk tale got sexy or gory. He offered to give me a few tips on set-up, but as I mentioned it had already been done for me. It merely hitched a ride with the Thorens TD-1601 turntable and arm combo that I have in for review. Its a $3500 turntable and arm combination that will allow the listener to hear great analog sound, one thats a mixture of many different tastes because all of those tastes have their merits. A bit like my old headmaster at school at the time of the TD 160; he wasnt extravert, rather he was to the point, but he knew his stuff and was very reliable. Manna and catnip with a robust design and reasonable price ($2999/incl. The result is a turntable with a highly impressive sound at the price, with none of the softness of the original. A stable and smooth AC signal is switchable between two frequencies which enables the player to play both the speeds. 1997, 2023 by Audiophilia, Inc. All rights reserved. Speed can easily be adjusted via rear panel mounted pots for both 33 1/3 and 45rpm. Turns out azimuth can be adjusted though it was not in the manual I used. Sorry, I forgot to mention that the tonearm is already lifted to it's highest position, and those instructions are in the manual, but it still doesn't lift high enough for the stylus to clear the record. The rubber mat is fairly thick and heavily damped and branded and it worked well with all the records I played. The standard of manufacture is very good, as is the separate power supply which has an on-and-off rocker switch at the rear. Stabilized sub chassis on three conical springs, Balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) output. He told me that it was a match that everyone had really enjoyed while testing out the Thorens. The main platter fits carefully over the smaller one making for a very tight fit, so care must be taken in placing it on the smaller platter. Like the TD 160 this is a belt driven turntable with the belt feeding the inner of the two part-platter. Oh wait, did we forget about the Thorens TD-160? Thorens TD 1601 Turntable Lab Report | Hi-Fi News Also considering the price, you get both XLR and RCA outputs. A friend of mine has a TD1601 with Audio-Technica VM750SH cartridge, but the electronic lift doesn't raise the tonearm high enough to clear the cartridge, and there's nothing in the manual about a way to adjust this that I can find. Brand New items are sold by an authorized dealer or original builder and include all original packaging. The conical springs for sub chassis are not mounted on top board any longer but standing on the bottom. The Thorens seminal TD 150 sub-chassis sprung turntable was introduced in 1963 and became the early benchmark for sprung suspension turntables. Bouncy, remember? Once I had got things just right I could really hear the music start to breathe. In addition, the top plate is now made from Alucobond, which sees an aerospace-grade honeycomb material sandwiched between two sheets of aluminium. If a mass sitting on top of a spring is disturbed horizontally it becomes unstable and tends to tip over. Details Or fastest delivery June 2 - 5. Fans of this sound will like his book "Listen Up" and Lanois' book "Soul Mining" many stories about the way they approach recording and insight into why the records they collaborated on have a vibe like few others. The arm was also surprisingly good for a P&P turntable, with no colouration. The newly developed TP-92 arm looks absolutely fantastic. Good LF extension below 30 hz and HF past 15khz, but good balance and clarity. See free freight guidelines below, 6% Discount. Headroom was excellent with no signs of panic from either the cartridge or arm. All rights reserved. Looking to change my office table (Classic SB with upgraded subplatter), the current one is just not cutting it and I want a traditional looking table in the office, so this might just be the ticket. The entire spin mechanism exudes high quality, which is not to say its perfect: viewed from the side as the platter spins its possible to see both top surface vertical movement and clearance variance between the platter bottom and plinth top plate, though both are minor and of little concern. Stabilized sub chassis on three conical springs, Balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) output. https://www.analogplanet.com/content/thorens-td-1601-turntable-it-might- Music Hall Introduces its "Stealth" Direct Drive Turntable, Gem Dandy's PolyTable Signature And Sorane TA-1L Tonearm, Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB TurntableBorn of Frustration, The Schiit SOL Turntable (Updated 10/26/2020), New Limited Edition Technics SL-1210GAE Looks and Sounds Great, Cambridge Audios AlvaA Serious PlugnPlay Direct Drive Turntable, Fluances RT85 Turntable Is a High Value Proposition, With the SL-1500C Technics Cuts the Price But Not the Sound Quality, The Thorens TD402 DD Direct Drive Semi-Automatic Turntable, Pro-Jects $899 X1: Best Under $1000 Turntable Package? Its a cueing BUTTON. He calls that Thorens The Master.. Polished precision belt Two part platter Adjustable belt tension Electronical controlled motor Electrical lift Contactless auto shut off Balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) output Thorens precision tonearm TP 92 9" Documents User manual TD 1601 Prospectus TD 1600 / 1601 Datasheet TD 1601 Turntables Overview THORENS TD 124 DD THORENS TD 1601 A mass hanging from a spring if disturbed will to return to the neutral position. Request Trade-In Value Here. XLR jacks provide a real balanced connection to amplifiers. Other than the equally superlative fitnfinish, everything else about the new TD-1600/1601s design and mechanical performance is the opposite of the TD402s. Placing the stylus on the record is easy; turn the motor on, move the arm to where you want it to be and press the green illuminated lift button and when the record has been lowered onto the record it will change to red. RETURN OF THORENS DNA WITH ADDITIONAL FEATURES. The TD 1601 Turntable uses an automatic arm lift and adds $500 to the manual TD 1600s $2999/incl. It sounds like Thorens is doing more than just trying to resurrect its designs for modern audiophiles. The combo was so strong, in fact, that I chose to review the cartridge on its own. Insofar as physics and interference, Thorens engineers have cracked it. How many audiophiles ten years ago would have thought that come 2020 you would be able to buy a brand new Leak amplifier and a pair of Wharfedale Linton speakers? The TD 1601 is off to a flying start, having been named EISA's turntable of the year for 2020 [HFN Oct '20]. The Thorens TD 1600 turntable is a magnificent piece of precision . Similarly, this turntable was honest and showed authority over the music being played with nothing sounding out of place, just perhaps a little too polite. you wrote the subchassis (not springs) hung from the top plate, that would make it a SOTA-type arrangement with springs on top of subchassis ? Mike ValentinesEspanaalbum [Chasing the Dragon] is one of my favourites, one that was directly cut to vinyl in one go, so any noises between movements can still be heard, such as the performers turning pages. For me, the interesting part came in the form of a questionwhy would one of the top vintage Thorens guys want to play with the TD-1601? It is a 9.1in arm with a damped main tube and a resonance-control ring at the centre. Operating the deck is simplicity itself, with three buttons to select 33rpm, 45rpm and motor off. With your musical sensitivities, you may not even hear it. I'm pretty sure the rubber bits in the Shure are toast at this point. Additionally, a small but strong tightened thread made of steel connects sub chassis with a steel pin on the bottom and so prevents sub chassis from staggering and allows only vertical movement.An electrical lift is included, too and a contactless auto shut off. I listened to a large variety of music for the review. Pre-fitted to the deck is the TP92 tonearm. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Thorens TD 1601 combines everything TD 1600 brings with some additional features regarding comfort and connection to amplifiers. The first to have the 3 spring sub-chassis combo with belt drive was the Stromberg Carlson Perfectempo PR-499. I like the retro style and solid look of the build quality. Thorens TD1601 Turntable - Addicted To Audio $411. The new Thorens 1600 (I'm not sure about the model number) looks to be a great development of the lineage. Classical wooden plinth, two-part platter with inner belt and thick rubber mat, powerful motor control unit, arm board and acrylic dust cover are expanded by balanced outputs and functions for easier . As you can see the raw deviations were larger than youll see on direct drive turntables, but those usually produce a choppier lowpass-filtered frequency line resulting from constant electronic correction. The TD 1600 is the latest turntable from the venerable Swiss manufacturersince 2018, located in Germany with manufacturing in Taiwan. 1kHz/5cm/sec) thanks to clusters of resonant modes at ~70Hz and ~30Hz. Luxury Homes for Sale in Grenoble, Auvergne Rhne Alpes, France https://www.analogplanet.com/content/thorens-td-1601-turntable-it-might-retro bowl. Thorens TD 126 and its extensions the TD 127 and TD 226, plus the Reference from 1980 and Prestige from 1983 were also designed with this kind of suspension. The semi-automatic Thorens TD-1601, along with its manual twin the TD-1600, are updates of the TD-160. Theyve always been on my wish list. Sound by Roy DuNann. The conical springs for sub chassis are not mounted on top board any longer but standing on the bottom. That wasnt expectedmy first impression of the Thorens TD-1601 was its lightness as I pulled it out of the packing box. His CV is impressive; former CEO of ELAC, General Manager of Denon and various roles at LG, Sharp and Sony. All that I could muster from my meagre pocket money was a Trio KD1033B, and whilst that turntable was well respected in the hi-fi magazines of the day as a starter spinner it could never compete with the Swiss made Thorens, a turntable considered as one of the best in the 70s. Anthony Chiarella, who represents both companies, had it mounted on the 'table before it shipped. The table works best on a perfectly level, solid surface; its ingenious suspension eliminates the need for lots of bells and whistles in the support department. I can't remember exactly what in-sighted me to make the trade. Goldring? In comparison, the Thorens showed off its dynamism and timbral accuracy when compared with the slightly inhibited, cheaper Dual CS 618Q Manual HiFi Turntable. The Stromberg Carlson Perfectempo PR-499 was the first to use the three spring sub-chassis combination with belt drive. One day a colleague pulled me aside and flashed a copy of Morton Subotnicks A Sky Of Cloudless [], By means of introduction to the Rega P10 turntable, let me start by saying that I work as a mastering engineer. The 1601's is $3499. The 1600 is a belt drive turntable with adjustable belt tension. Go ahead and get your fingerprints all over the place. Lovett does what all great musicians do, surrounds himself with excellence. The TD-125 for its superb mechanical design and its extraordinary reliability? Anyone have a clue as to whether this is simply a supply issue or is Thorens having manufacturing issues? sounded really nice and inviting Michael. A great RCA LP. This leaves it free to float up and down, but puts a useful limit on its lateral movement. Those turntables are about providing a strong foundation for the music, one that focuses on control. In addition to the back panels speed adjustment potentiometers there are both RCA and balanced XLR outputs as well as the multipin power supply jack. Thorens TD 1601 combines everything TD 1600 brings with some additional features regarding comfort and connection to amplifiers. You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. This helped to maintain a very quiet operation with no noise created. That's one of the first albums I play when something new comes into my rig. Its not enough. The three springs of the sub-chassis do not hang on the top board but stand on the floor. The TD 160's springs hung from the top plate as described in the review. Please refer to our video, A Tale of Two Turntables we filmed recently to see a demo of the Thorens super-controlled suspension. This colourful opening was diminished on the Dual but sounded almost perfect on the 1600. As such, the TD 1600 and its fine arm will last the test of time, especially with no Linn-like upgrades in the offing. A quartz referenced synthesized AC signal of low voltage of around 12v is then generated to power the synchronous AC motor of a type used by other notable turntable manufacturers. The Linn LP12 Sondek is still breaking sales records with great sound, mystique, the never-ending upgrades and is catnip for many vinylphiles. Get started finding a cheap flight to Grenoble on Expedia by either choosing a deal on this page or entering into the search bar your travel dates, origin airport, and whether you want roundtrip or one-way airfare. At the 2019 Munich hi-fi show amidst retro designs from a number of famous manufacturers I was quite excited to see TD 160 look-alikes, in the form of the TD 1600 and TD 1601 (2,299 and 2,799 respectively). Her voice and the relaxed and ostensibly quiet instrumentation allowed me to hear how silent and accurate the turntable worked. Other than the TD 1601s auto-cueing and end of record lift features, the TD 1601 and 1600 are identical. SHUNYATA RESEARCH POWER CONDITIONER PROMOS. The gorgeous TD 1600 will take pride of place in your stereo system. The most intriguing aspect of the suspension set-up, however, is a feature that aims to counter one of my least favourite aspects of suspended turntables the propensity, of some at least, to wobble drunkenly from side to side. It seems to spin free within its pre-ordained orbit, otherwise it could easily be moved up and down. FYI, my order was placed and filled at the $3500 (US) price. As a teenager my close friend had a Thorens TD 160 with a SME Series 2 arm. After [], Chief Content Officer Tom Martin had the opportunity to chat []. Description RETURN OF THORENS DNA Thorens TD 1600 combines the brand's tradition of the past with 21st century's technology. We use cookies to make your experience better. Loved both the sonic and aesthetic improvements! This acts in the same direction as the motor pulley and bearing, effectively encouraging the subchassis to remain in this axis. So three turntables in my entire audiophile "career". That feeling is bouncy, energetic, pliant and flexible. Weight: 10.95kg (turntable) and 1.72kg (power supply) Dimensions: 454mm wide by 360mm deep by 177mm tall (turntable with lid closed) and 111mm wide by 238mm deep by 79mm tall (power supply); more depth required for both units to allow for cable connections. The TD 1600 continues the fine Thorens heritage with a well-made, good-looking, fine-sounding turntable with an advanced suspension and the excellent TP 92 Tonearm. Perhaps that has caused a hiccup in the supply chain. Peg was absolutely beautiful on the Analogue Recording reissue with drums and bass separated, fabulous horns and Michael McDonalds multi-tracked background vocals studio clear. (I think I am saving up for a Fern & Roby, but who knows.). The idler-driven TD-124, a sixty-year-old design that can compete with todays finest? In this design, Thorens and Ariston led, then Linn built on the design and made the damn thing a legend. LP12 owners had to tip toe around their turntables but not the SOTA. I just played my mono copy on my Thorens TD 126 MK III. The Thorens TD-1601 has that same naturally agile sound as many other suspended turntablesits been too long since Ive heard a Linn Sondek LP-12, so Ill leave that comparison for others to perform. But the mystique remains. The view is even better than you remember. The TD-160 for bringing this exquisite engineering to a model that almost anyone could afford? to the Linn/SOTA wars played out in the late 80s TAS See free freight guidelines below, 8% discount, see free freight guidelines below, 9% discount, see free freight guidelines below, 10% discount, see free freight guidelines below, 11% discount, see free freight guidelines below, 11.5% discount, see free freight guidelines below, Stabilized sub chassis on three conical springs, Balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) output. Quickly. That happens a lot in high-end audio. THORENS TD 1601 Semi-Automatic Two-Speed Stereo Turntable (High Gloss Black) BH # THTD1601BKHG MFR # THOTD1601-B Authorized Dealer Key Features Plays 33 1/3 and 45 rpm Vinyl Records TP 92 Straight Tonearm Cartridge Not Included Stereo XLR & Stereo RCA Out Show More But dont. The company was indeed prolific in terms of its designs and numbers of models. Classical wooden plinth, two-part platter with inner belt and thick rubber mat, powerful motor control unit, arm board and acrylic dust cover are expanded by balanced outputs and functions for easier handling. I still had one foot in the audio business so it may have been insider mumbling. Thorens TD-1601 Turntable | REVIEW - Part-Time Audiophile Visit Grenoble: 2023 Travel Guide for Grenoble, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes Tight like a tiger. I sold my 2nd LP12 in May 1982 to buy the Sapphire with which I was thrilled to death. Hard wired from clips. A more important comparison was accomplished in a previous to these review sessions where we played a lot of repertoire of all genres in a long afternoon of listening on a Rega 8 Turntable. Weve been so busy speeding toward those uncertain technologies that we drove right past that lookout, the one off that dirt road, the one that really impressed us when we were young, the one weve always wanted to see again. This is the land of solid deep bass and natural imaging and low noise, the place where the silences are important. The Thorens TD 1601 Turntable combines everything TD 1600 brings with some additional features regarding comfort and connection to amplifiers. I want to talk about something deeper and not so focused on its value quotient, whatever that is. Amazon.com: Thorens - TD 1601 (Black) : Electronics Hey! After you place an order for Frequent Flyer eligible products, we will calculate applicable incentives. Thorens TD 1600 High-End Sub Chassis Turntable (High Gloss Walnut) Audio Technica only advise 100 ohms plus, so play about with your settings if you have them! Classical wooden plinth, two-part platter with inner belt and thick rubber mat, powerful motor control unit, arm board and acrylic dust cover are expanded by balanced . Thorens has not had the smoothest of rides since interest in vinyl began to fade in the mid '80s but with a new CEO at the helm, Gunter Krten, the company is back with a vengeance. Were talking, of course, about movement. Welcome to Audiophilia. I once had dinner with a couple of audio engineers and I asked them about the TD-124. tonearm MSRP. That brought me to the tonearm on the Thorens TD-1601, a Thorens model known as the TP 92 that has been used on other models. The 1601s is $3499. Hi-Fi News Verdict. As I mention in that review there were differences, but I found each combo rewarding in its own way. Thorens TD 1601 combines everything TD 1600 brings with some additional features regarding comfort and connection to amplifiers. LAST CHANCE: NORDOST SUPERFLATLINE SPEAKER CABLES 30% OFF! It is imperative to have a turntable free from external vibrations as well as able to dissipate or quell internal energy from the stylus. The brushed aluminum top plate/plinth is of Alucobonda sandwich of aluminum plates in between which is an aerospace honeycombed material that is said to produce a super-stiff composite. Not an issue but I felt obligated to mention. His acquisition of the company brings a desire to carry forward some of the companys history into the 21st century and it is fitting to see a new incarnation of the TD 160 albeit with significant developments in the form of the motor, arm, suspension and also semi-automation in the case of the TD 1601. being replaced by an Ortofon 2M Bronze. Thorens TD 1601 Turntable (No reviews yet) Write a Review Brand: Thorens $4,699.00 SKU: THOTD1601-P Color: Required High Gloss Black High Gloss Walnut Quantity: Add to Wish List Usually ships in 3 to 4 weeks. Music Direct presently shows that the TD1601 is in stock. As delivered the 1601 ran beyond acceptable speed variation tolerances but once adjusted remained accurate. Speed select electronical The modified three-point suspension worked a treat, there was no noise making its way to the stand nor any vibrations to the stylus; I always tap plinths and tables to test for vibrations a bit like folk kicking tyres when they go to buy a car, except that my tapping makes a point. The plinth is also significantly better than the original turntable; the MDF base is thicker and the unit sits on three feet. Thorens TD 1601 turntable - Hi-Fi Corner - Naim Audio The MDF sub-chassis features a stability-enhancing aluminum plate insert (blue in the drawing) to which are mounted both the platter bearing and the tonearm. Thorens began its long history in 1883 by producing musical boxes and clock movements; it even made Edison-type cylinder players, harmonicas and cigarette lighters. Et voila, the TD 1600 and 1601. TD 1601 High End sub chassis turntable with electrical lift, auto sdhut off, balanced outputs and tonearm TP 92 more Information TD 1600 Manual High End sub chassis turntable with tonearm TP 92 more Information TD 1500 Subchassis turntable with newly developed TP 150 tonearm, SME headshell and pre-adjusted Ortofon 2M bronze cartridge Tax-Free Shopping in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach Delaware. The conical springs for sub chassis are not mounted on top board any longer but standing on the bottom. THORENS TD 1601 High End subchassis turntable with electronic lift and limit switch Specifications Function manual turntable with subchassis, auto shut off, electrical lift Drive system Belt, sub platter aluminum Motor electronically controlled and stabilized AC synchronous motor Speeds 33-1/3, 45 rpm. Would a more refined cartridge change alleviate this? Try contacting them to check on availability.https://www.focalnaimamerica.com/our-brands. Pretty good, unless I accidentally stole it via lost memory) No turntable in my rig at this time, but my original copy of Oh Mercy sits in a special place with some other records I'v carted around for the "someday I'll get another turntable moment". Thorens TD 1601 Turntable I really like that one, but more on that in a minute. But that price is important since it lowers a threshold. Looking online, it seems like there are quite a few second hand TD160s with tonearms such as SME/Rega for a fraction of the price.I was wondering whether it's still worth it to buy the new version? Power Supply: external Power supply (115/230 V depending on type), Dimensions: 454 x 180 x 369 mm (W x H x D), Finish: High Gloss Black, High Gloss Walnut, Scope of delivery: Power supply, acrylic dust cover, Platter mat. Maybe its more of an equilateral triangleor even some polygon or another. 20 years ago I rebuilt an AR XA with the Merrill suspended acrylic sub-platter and bearing improvements (plus a Moerch UP-4). TD 101A Then, when the record is over, the arm lifts up on its own. Thorens TD 204 walnut. (Lets not forget about the contributions of the external 16V linear power supply, fed to a 12V synchronous motor, to the noise reduction effort.) my "daily driver" is a 1987 Thorens TD-316 which is currently in the shop being refurb'd (PS board recapped, bering checked/oiled, etc) and the 30+ year old Shure V15MR type V is (sadly - wtf Shure?)