That was everything a review should be, I felt like it have a true feel for the turntable.

If I were shopping right now, I'd buy it. (I think I am saving up for a Fern & Roby, but who knows.)

Well done!

Is the power supply pictured above included?

US dealers seem to have the 1600 at $2999 and the 1601 at $3999. A $500 difference makes more sense.

That's one of the first albums I play when something new comes into my rig. Mark Howard, long time Daniel Lanois collaborator and engineer deserves mention here for his contribution to the sound of Oh Mercy. 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. "Time Out of Mind" is another recording that stands alone in its sound picture. (I just made that phrase up. 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". $3 K is luxury in my world but I enjoy learning from reviews like yours. Thank you.

20 years ago I rebuilt an AR XA with the Merrill suspended acrylic sub-platter and bearing improvements (plus a Moerch UP-4). At the same time I replaced the original AR steel top plate/plinth with Alucobond. Loved both the sonic and aesthetic improvements!

Good LF extension below 30 hz and HF past 15khz, but good balance and clarity. I might want to look at that IFi unit.

... direct comparison with a “tricked out” Linn Sondek might be a direct comparison with the direct-drive Technics SL-1200G or SL-1210GAE.
Both 'tables are priced at $4K.

I would be very much interested in a comparison with a Linn Sondek, especially one that has the most recent Lingo power supply and also the new bearing that just recently became available.

On another note, can this new table accept different tonearms? I do have a refurbished Thorens TD 160 Super with a SME 3009 tonearm and a Lyra Delos cartridge and I wonder if this new model really would be any better. Possibly because of the more advanced subchassis design or the more advanced motor?

But I would like to have seen an explanation as to whether the platter-plinth discrepancy you observed was the result of the bearing assembly (not likely based upon what you heard) or sloppy machining of the platter.
I grew up with vinyl and it was common to see "platter wobble" in the '70's but today, even $500 decks rarely exhibit it. And it is also nice to see something about the tonearm wiring scheme-is it a continuous run from clips to RCA's or is there a break-out box?

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?) being replaced by an Ortofon 2M Bronze. I'm pretty sure the rubber bits in the Shure are toast at this point. It's a great 'table, and I'm excited to be able to listen to my vinyl collection again.

Glad to see that Thorens is making good turntables again, even if they're no longer made in Switzerland like mine was. When I bought it I was deciding between the Thorens and a Linn LP12... the deciding factor (besides a couple hundred dollars difference) is that back then playing a 45 on a LP12 was a needlessly complicated endeavor.

Hi Michael, I listen to mostly classical music and some jazz, not rock or pop, I want to buy a new turntable and I doubt among the three: Linn LP 12 Klimax, SME Synergy and Technichs SL-1000R, could you recommend one? In that price range that seems best to you, tell me if you are so kind. Thank you very much.

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.

"Red Sails" by Barney Kessel from Red Norvo's Music To Listen To Red Norvo By. Sound by Roy DuNann. I just played my mono copy on my Thorens TD 126 MK III. My other turntable is a TD 160. Michael, thanks for your good work.

... sat on top of the springs like a Linn LP12.
:)

....

sounded really nice and inviting Michael.

nice review

made me love my Thorens 124 MKII and my Thorens 125MKII even more, which, by the way cost me less even after being fully (and beautifully) refurbished by Schopper in Switzerland

It wouldn't be a Stereophile TT review if something wasn't described as "massive."

I think what vinyl listener is trying to say is that turntables like the SOTAs, and the SMEs have their platter chassis hung from their suspensions versus sitting on their suspensions. The TD 1600 and TD160 chassis are sitting on their suspension. The effect is the same whether or not the springs are hung from a top plate or sitting on a bottom plate. The SOTA and SME systems are inherently more stable. The original face off was between the SOTA Sapphire and the LP12 back in 1980 or so. LP12 owners had to tip toe around their turntables but not the SOTA. You could jump up and down right in front of it no problem. The LP12 chassis sits on it's springs just like the TD 160 and 1600. If a mass sitting on top of a spring is disturbed horizontally it becomes unstable and tends to tip over. A mass hanging from a spring if disturbed will to return to the neutral position.

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?

The 1955 H.H. Scott 710A was the first to have a platter & tonearm mounted to a three spring suspended sub-chassis with a removeable armboard. It had a gear drive for the platter.

The first to have the 3 spring sub-chassis combo with belt drive was the Stromberg Carlson Perfectempo PR-499. This is the TT that pioneered what AR, Thorens and others built upon.

The very first piece of hi fi gear I owned was an AR XA, at age 16. I once considered replacing it with a used TD160. I I talked to the owner at length, but ended up passing and saving up. Eventually I got a TD125 with a Rabco SL-8E. The tonearm was soon replaced with the SME3009, and that rig served me for many years. I modded it to play 78s, and still keep it, primarily for that purpose. SOTA Star since 1988, which I have very little interest in replacing. So three turntables in my entire audiophile "career".

I placed my order more than two months but I'm still waiting for shipment. Anyone have a clue as to whether this is simply a supply issue or is Thorens having manufacturing issues?

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. Has anyone else had this problem, or know of a way to fix this issue?

This release for drywall repair is a testament to Thorens' commitment to quality in the audio industry, under the leadership of CEO Gunter Kürten.