We all know that Thorens is one of the world’s top producer of quality turntables. Just look at the Thorens TD 170-1, the Thorens TD 190-2 as well as the Thorens TD 295 MK IV. Each of them has their own merits as well as their special place in our hearts. In that sense, is it sensible for you to purchase another Thorens turntable? Why not! By having another turntable, you can have a wide variety of choices when it comes to playing music of different genres. Of course, the focus of this article is not to persuade you to buy a random turntable. Rather, our sole purpose is to introduce to you one of Thorens’ top model when it comes to turntables that promise to deliver quality music. It is really a pity that the Thorens TD-160 MK II is no longer in production. But hey, you are still able to purchase a 2nd hand model from eBay itself! A quick on eBay showed up quite a few 2nd hand Thorens TD-160 MK II that you could purchase. But before we go into that, let us take a closer look at the Thorens TD-160 MK II.
History of the Thorens TD-160 MK II
The Thorens TD-160 MK II was first introduced in 1975 and quickly gained a reputation for its superior sound quality, thanks to its belt-driven motor, suspended chassis, and high-quality tonearm. It quickly became a favorite among audiophiles, DJs, and music lovers alike, and remained in production until the mid-1980s.
One of the reasons the Thorens TD-160 MK II was so popular is that it offered a level of precision and accuracy that was unmatched by other turntables of the time. The belt-driven motor, for example, minimized vibrations and noise, while the suspended chassis helped to isolate the turntable from external vibrations. This, in turn, resulted in a clearer, more accurate sound that was free from distortion and other unwanted noise.
Thorens TD-160 MK II Review
Indeed, the Thorens TD-160 MK II has been off the shelves for quite some time already, but there are people who are still trying to look for 2nd hand models to purchase. If you are lucky, you will be able to snag a relatively cheap one that will suit your budget. Of course, there are things that you should look out for if you want to purchase a 2nd hand Thorens TD-160 MK II, but we will come to that later on.
What makes the Thorens TD-160 MK II so popular that people are still looking to purchase it? Let us take a deeper and closer look at the vintage Thorens TD-160 MK II.
Features
This is a fully manual turntable, which is expected for vintage turntables that are being designed in the late 60s to 70s. With this, you will need to manually move the tonearm to start and stop the playing. But this itself shouldn’t stop you from purchasing this turntable.
The Thorens TD-160 MK II turntable uses a floating sub-chassis as well as a belt drive that could run at 2 speeds, which is at 33 1/3 and at 45 rpm. This allows you to play most records effectively. There is also the 16 pole synchronous motor that helps to keep the entire turntable running smoothly. Also, to ensure that the entire production of sound is smooth, the platter itself is deliberately chosen to weigh at 3.2kg. This will effectively dampen vibrations from sources. The platter and armbase are also suspended by three springs.
As for the tonearm, it uses the Isotrack tonearm which is an upgrade over the older TP16 tonearm. The main difference in both versions is that the Isotrack tonearm has a mass that weighs 7.5 grams lighter than the predecessor. Also, the armwands are completely interchangeable, allowing you to change it to suit your playing needs, or to change it when the equipment is broken.
Sound Quality
The sound quality itself is worth mentioning. Considered to be the best manual turntables during its heyday, the Thorens TD-160 MK II turntable can still produce a sound quality that will put most modern turntables to shame. While you can always pair an amplifier to the turntable, you might just want to let yourself soak into the sounds that are being produced by this vintage turntable.
You can hear how it sounds like in the video below.
Aesthetics
Having a vintage look, you can expect that it might not fit into the decor of most modern housing. The wooden platform itself already differs from the usual material that is being utilized for the turntable. Also, the simplistic design, as well as lack of controls, can be troubling for newbies.
If you intend to design your house to have a vintage outlook, then the Thorens TD-160 MK II will surely suit you well.
Why the Thorens TD-160 MK II Remains Popular Today
Despite being released over four decades ago, the Thorens TD-160 MK II remains a popular choice among audiophiles and music lovers today. This is thanks in part to its exceptional sound quality, which is still considered to be among the best of any turntable in its class. The Thorens TD-160 MK II is also highly durable, thanks to its high-quality materials and construction, which means that it can still deliver exceptional performance even after years of use.
Another reason for the continued popularity of the Thorens TD-160 MK II is that it is highly customizable. There are a number of upgrades and modifications that can be made to the turntable, such as replacing the tonearm or upgrading the cartridge, which can further enhance its performance and sound quality.
What You Should Look Out For Before Purchasing A 2nd Hand Thorens TD-160 MK II
2nd hand turntables might not be always the best option, given that some unscrupulous owners might have put up a faulty model of the Thorens TD-160 MK II turntable on sites like eBay.
Nonetheless, there are certain guidelines that you can follow when it comes to purchasing a 2nd hand Thorens TD-160 MK II turntable on eBay.
Check For Damages
You should always check for damages to the Thorens TD-160 MK II. Types of damages include damages to the tonearm, stylus or even cosmetic damages that can be seen on the body of the turntable itself. While cosmetic damages can be negated, it is the damages to the components that are more pressing. Of course, there are 3rd party sites that offer services to repair the turntable. While this is an option to consider, the price of the damaged Thorens TD-160 MK II should be much lesser.
Test Sound Quality
You should always demand to test the sound output from the turntable itself. If the sound turns out to the wobbly or distorted, it might mean that there is some hidden damages that you can’t detect in the first instance. This will also determine the price of the Thorens TD-160 MK II on sale.
The Verdict
Though an old turntable, the quality of the sound that the Thorens TD-160 MK II turntable can produce is still one of the best that you can find. Of course, the later models will beat it in terms of sound, but it can never beat the TD-160 MK II in terms of the vintage look. There might be some of you that are interested in modding the Thorens TD-160 MK II turntable, and we strongly encourage you to go ahead. With some expertise in modding, you may turn the Thorens TD-160 MK II turntable to be a complete beast!
