TD 160 is a vintage turntable that has stood the test of time, a testament to Thorens’ strong design. It’s not a ‘plug and play’ device, though. You have to do some work to get it up and running. This review examines the unit’s features and sound quality to determine whether it’s worth your time and effort.

Thorens TD 160 Turntable Overview

The Thorens TD 160 turntable boasts multiple features, including an aluminum platter, floating sub-chassis, patented electrical lift, pivot bearing tonearm, and more.

It is one of the oldest decks around, so it doesn’t have modern features like Bluetooth and USB, which are common in newer models. Costing about $890, the deck is often praised for its robust build and amazing sound quality. 

Technical Specifications

Here are the turntable’s technical specifications:

  • Patented electric lift
  • Wooden plinth
  • Two-part aluminum platter
  • 2-speed (33 1/3 rpm and 45 rpm)
  • Precision pivot bearing tonearm TP 160 with SME headshell connector
  • True balanced (XLR) and (RCA) outputs
  • Stabilized sub-chassis on 3 conical springs
  • Machined precision belt
  • Electronically controlled synchronous motor

I like the two-part aluminum platter as it does great in minimizing resonance and vibrations. This leads to clearer sound and a worthwhile listening experience. 

The tonearm is nice, but delicate. So, subjecting it to rough treatment can damage it. You may have to buy a cartridge separately, which adds to the expense. 

Thorens TD 160 Turntable Drive Mechanism

This deck is belt-driven, so the motor doesn’t run the platter directly. Instead, the motor transfers its kinetic energy to a belt attached around the inner plate, which in turn rotates the top plate to play records. 

This design ensures vibrations from the motor don’t reach your records and interfere with sound quality. The belt drive also allows better speed control by supporting playback at 33 1/3 and 45 rpms.

Is Thorens TD 160 Turntable Automatic or Manual?

The Thorens TD 160 turntable is fully manual. It seeks to offer the puristic experience, which I love, by the way. There are no automatic features or digital enhancements to assist the user with tonearm cueing. This promotes a hands-on approach to vinyl playback, which helps you connect with your music more.

Usability and Portability of Thorens TD 160 Turntable

The unit offers an intuitive interface with basic control buttons, a robust platter system, and a straightforward design. However, the installation process can be challenging, especially if you don’t have experience attaching the cartridge or balancing the tonearm.

Essentially, a turntable is considered portable if it’s lightweight or has a battery-powered option, carry handle, built-in speakers, foldable design, etc. TD 16 lacks many of these characteristics, a sign it’s designed for home or office use rather than on-the-go convenience.  

Thorens TD 160 Design & Build

The appearance of this turntable is pretty basic. No pomp and color whatsoever. At the base, you have a sturdy wooden-framed plinth that exudes stability. It plays a great part in making TD 160 an exceptionally quiet deck. There’s a floating sub-chassis suspended by 3 adjustable springs and it is designed to hold both the platter and tonearm.

This setup means the platter and tonearm move together as a unit, completely separate from the outer base (plinth). When properly adjusted, this design effectively isolates the turntable from external vibrations and feedback, helping with the deck’s audio fidelity. The overall build quality is great and can last for a long time if properly maintained.

Connectivity & Sound Performance of Thorens TD 160  Turntable: Dynamic, and…

Standard RCA outputs are available to connect the turntable to a receiver or amplifier. There are no built-in preamps or digital outputs, so an external phono preamp is necessary if your amplifier lacks a phono input. True balanced XLR outputs are also integrated to help minimize noise and interference over long cable runs.

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The deck provides a rich and dynamic sound, according to some users. They also mention the unit producing naturally agile sound characteristic of many models with a suspended sub-chassis.

Main Technology Perks of Thorens TD 160 Turntable

One of the most notable technological perks is the suspended sub-chassis, which effectively isolates the tonearm and platter from external vibrations. By supporting balanced XLR outputs, the TD 160 turntable ensures high quality connections, especially when you use a moving coil cartridge.

Pricing

Prices begin at around $890 upwards, depending on specifications.

How to Setup & Use Thorens TD 160 Turntable?

Putting Thorens TD 160 turntable together is quite an intensive process and involves these steps:

  1. Unpack the turntable’s components and put the belt around the inner plate and then around the drive pulley.
  2. Place the outer plate on top of the inner one without rotating it. Place the rubber mat on the plate.
  3. Install the dust cover (optional).
  4. If your model doesn’t come with the cartridge installed, you’ll have to do that yourself. But ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the latter.
  5. Keep the stylus in place to prevent it from getting damaged during installation. Secure the cartridge onto the 2 slotted holes provided on the headshell using screws that fit into these slots. 
  6. Screw the counterweight on the tonearm’s rear end and rotate the anti-skating adjustment wheel so the value reads zero. Lock the tonearm and fold the lift lever forward.
  7. Adjust the tonearm by first releasing it from its lock. Then, lift the tonearm using the lever so it can swing up and down freely.
  8. Tilt the counterweight until the tonearm floats freely and horizontally. Return the tonearm to its resting position once done with the tonearm adjustment. Lock it when not in use.
  9. Move the ring (with a scale) around the counterweight while ensuring the counterweight remains intact. Ensure the “0” reading aligns with the top opposite marking on the tonearm bearing block.
  10. Turn the counterweight until the number “2” is at the top, setting the tracking force at 2g.
  11. Adjust the anti-skating as advised by the cartridge supplier.
  12. Plug in the power and RCA cables.
  13. The unit is now ready to play music.

You can achieve a better experience with this turntable by carefully balancing the tonearm, maintaining cleanliness of the records/stylus, and accurately aligning the cartridge. It’s also important to keep the deck away from vibration and noise sources.

Overall Impression About Thorens TD 160 Turntable?

TD 160 is a solid turntable built with quality materials to enhance its durability. It also looks decent and produces great sound, which you are likely to love.  

Pros

Here are the deck’s advantages:

  • Has flexible outputs.
  • Durable construction.
  • Manual operation.
  • Superior operation through the sub-chassis design.

Cons

The cons include:

  • No modern connectivity options.
  • Less portability.
  • Costly.

Who Is It For?

This deck is ideal for vinyl fans looking for a valuable piece of audiophile history that offers incredible sound.

Final Verdict

The TD 160 turntable’s exceptional features and sound performance truly stand out. Crafted with high-quality materials and a distinctive sub-chassis design, it effectively minimizes background noise and delivers impressive sound from records. However, these premium attributes come with a high price tag.