THORENS , now based in Germany, introduce the new TD 1600-series, (Taiwan-manufactured) successors to their legendary 160-Series Turntables.

" ...continue the tradition founded by those legendary types TD 150 and TD 160 some decades ago. Now a sub chassis that’s almost free of wobbling, a powerful motor control unit and a very precise tonearm... "

" TD 1601 adds some comfort features as electrical lift and contactless auto shut off function. "

The TD 1600 (US$2999) is the fully manual standard version.
The semi-automatic TD 1601 (US$3499) adds electrical tonearm lift, contactless auto shut-off.
Both have balanced XLR outputs in addition to standard unbalanced RCA.

- Sub-chassis - Alucobond sandwich aluminium-honeycomb core (remember the Pink Triangle?).
- 12-volt synchronous motor encased in a non-resonant housing, damped by a silicone ring with outboard Linear Power Supply.
- Adjustable belt tension.
- Sealed, maintenance-free main bearing.
- Whereas the original TD 160 sub-chassis was hung from three springs attached to its top plate, the TD 1600 and TD 1601 sub-chassis sits atop three conical steel springs attached to a massive, damped base. These springs are fully adjustable to enable fine-tuning and levelling.
- TP92 9" Tonearm, arm-tube formed with 8 layers of cold-forged aluminum for strength and vibration control, and includes a fixed damping ring precisely placed at the first bending node to attenuate resonance. An offset counterweight.
- Walnut or Black gloss, with dust cover




(TD 1600)


Interestingly also...

" As a logical extension to 1600 series the 2-track Tape machine Thorens TM 1600 joins these record players. "

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Some thoughts....

THORENS was bankrupted & closed down in year 2000.
Recent resurrection in 2018 by a new owner in Germany, has resulted in these new TTs (together with a TD124 DD direct drive TT) & a stated desire to return to the tradition of the great THORENS TTs.

I imagine that, with the new ultra-lightweight sub-chassis, sprung off a heavy base (& not hung from a metaltop plate) these new TTs will sound quite different from before.

Although the new company says that they aim to "return to the Thorens "DNA", to what made the brand famous in the past".

See THORENS history.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

more interested in the TM1600 R2r tape deck.

1/2 track, playback only, 12000Euro !

I seem to recall that it's a Ballfinger collaboration.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

yes

www.thorens.com/en/thorens-news-m/231-high-end-2019-thorens-tm-1600-%E2%80%93-high-end-tape-machine.html

Michael Fremer (ANALOG PLANET) gets his hamds on a THORENS 1601 (auto-cueing & auto arm-lift version of TD 1600):

TD 1600 MSRP U$2999 / TD 1601 MSRP US$3499.
(Tested with (US$1495) Goldring Ethos MC cartridge.)

" top-to-bottom coherent.... full, tactile, generous sonic picture "

" Unlike some other suspended designs I’ve heard, that sacrifice rhythm’n’pacing for isolation background quiet, the TD 1600 strikes a well-positioned balance between the two. "

Fremer provides an AIFF sound sample file for you to listen to what the TD 1601 sounds like through a (US$999) iFi iPhono3 phono stage.

Note - the XLR Balanced alternative outputs on the rear of the TD 1600/1601:
(A phono cartridge is a balanced 'floating' signal source.)

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

HI-FI+ review - 10 June 2020.
With Audio Technica AT-OC9XML MC cartridge (£470).

"...well controlled and refined, doing everything well, if perhaps just a little too well-behaved..."


Some THORENS website images of the TD 1600/1601 internal construction:



" As in the past, three preloaded and adjustable conical springs support the heavy sub-chassis. Today, however, these springs stand on the base plate, with the sub-chassis resting on them, and not being hung as in the past. "




" The platter bearing itself is braced against the base plate with a thin steel thread via a guide, in exact extension of the axis between motor pulley and platter axle. In this way, even the slightest wobble of the sub-chassis caused by the motor’s driving forces acting on the platter is eliminated. It can only move up and down in a piston-like manner - a direction of motion that does not disturb the tonearm when it senses the intricate musical details in the record groove. Especially when using an MC pick-up, the balanced XLR output, with which both models are equipped, can then bring its advantages to bear. "

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

The steel 'bracing thread' that THORENS use (above, last pic) is a great idea IMO with suspended TTs, where the platter/sub-chassis is prone to sideways 'wobble', especially when pulled by a motor belt. One of the reasons why, I think,...

HI-FI NEWS (3 Dec '20) find that the new THORENS TD 1600/1601 is a sonic advance over earlier THORENS TD 160 etc:


" More generally, the deck has a pleasing crispness and verve to its presentation and proved capable of capturing the essential dynamics of recordings with ease. "

"...a turntable with a highly impressive sound at the price, with none of the softness of the original. "



(Note the 'Alucobond' aluminium-mineral core sandwich panel) top plate.)

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Looks like one of them Linn things...