The Thorens TD-850 is the kind of mass-loading statement that announces itself before the needle even touches vinyl — 46 pounds of aluminum platter, dense wood-steel sandwich chassis, and a separately regulated AC motor working in concert to produce backgrounds so dark and still the music just materializes out of silence. Born from Thorens's confident early-2000s return to serious high-end analog after a decade-long hiatus, the 850 earned its Absolute Sound Editor's Choice and Stereophile Recommended Components accolades fast, and for good reason: pitch is locked and unflappable, low-end is extended and controlled, and there's a naturalness to the musical presentation that never tips into the clinical. The Rega-derived TP300 arm makes cartridge setup genuinely accessible and pairs beautifully with a wide range of MC and MM cartridges. This is the turntable that shows you exactly where serious vinyl playback begins.
This is a 240V unit. We have supplied a step down converter. Works perfectly on 110V.
Condition
Cosmetic 9.5/10 - Electronic 10/10
Serial No.
ac503015
Orig. MSRP
$1,995
Restoration
- Included small wall wart style step up transformer to run the 240v power supply necessary for the motor
- Tested cartridge, output and speed
- Detailed
Factory Specs
DRIVE SYSTEM
Exterior square drive belt
MOTOR
Electronically controlled AC synchronous motor with separate external regulated controller
SPEEDS
33-1/3, 45 rpm
SPEED SELECTION
Electronic
PLATTER DIAMETER
12" (300 mm), non-magnetic aluminium
PLATTER WEIGHT
~9 lbs (~4 kg) [Note: 2008 official spec sheet states 4.5 kg; instruction manual and multiple retailer sources confirm ~4 kg / 9 lbs]
STANDARD TONEARM
Thorens TP 300 with VTA adjuster
OPTIONAL TONEARMS
Thorens TP 250; SME 309; SME M2-9; other tonearms upon request
ANTI-SKATING
Magnetic (TP 300)
AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF
None
SIGNAL LEAD CAPACITANCE
120 pF
POWER SUPPLY
External electronically regulated controller with mains adaptor, 115–230 V / 50–60 Hz (depending on type)
CHASSIS CONSTRUCTION
53 mm Wood/Steel compound sandwich (two wood-fiber plates flexibly bonded to a steel plate)
FINISH
Silver/black or black/silver veneer (sandwich construction)
SCOPE OF DELIVERY
Mains adapter w. power cord, tonearm scale, RCA interconnects, operating instructions
DIMENSIONS
16.54" × 6.50" × 13.39" (W × H × D) [420 × 165 × 340 mm]
WEIGHT
46.3 lbs (21.0 kg)
The History of Thorens
Thorens is the oldest name in entertainment electronics, founded in 1883 by Hermann Thorens in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland. An initial producer of musical boxes and clock movements, they started producing Edison-type phonographs in 1903. In 1928, Thorens produced their first electric motor-drive record player, and went ...
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Liner Notes
Top of the range. The Thorens 800 range offers equipment featuring all the legendary Thorens characteristics. At the heart of all three models is the completely maintenance-free silent-run bearing. Its highly polished stainless steel axle has a bearing point in the form of a ball and runs in two maintenance-free bushings. The AC synchronous motor is controlled by a separate electronic motor drive unit. The output signal is generated completely independently from the main power supply. This considerably improves wow and flutter, even if the main source is low quality and marred by interference. The TD 850 is the product of the Thorens developers' passion for top-class technical performance. Its unique sound potential has been highly praised by the hi-fi press, receiving the Editor's Choice award from The Absolute Sound and Recommended Components status from Stereophile magazine — both noting the way it balances stable sound with strong musicality as a result of the perfect interaction of all the components. Its incomparable damping is due to the extremely heavy sandwich construction of the chassis. Two thick wooden plates are flexibly bonded to a steel plate, giving the 46+ lb unit unparalleled stability and making it completely free of resonance. The TD 850 includes a 1" thick, 9 lb alloy platter, silent-run bearing, AC synchronous motor with external regulated drive controller, polymer-damped spike feet, and a TP 300 tone arm.
Packing
Prepare to be impressed. We have arguably the best packing process around. We use our InstaPak machine and white open cell foam to build a custom enclosure for your piece that ensures that it's stable and secure. If it is particularly fragile or heavy, we typically opt for private courier delivery. Depending on where you are in the country, that may cost a bit extra. We also take great care to protect the tonearm and stylus, and we will tighten any transport screws. You can be confident that your table will arrive snug as a bug in a rug.
Shipping
This piece ships to the contiguous United States for a flat rate of $200, which includes our packaging and our insurance. Of course, we'll ship anywhere in the world, just drop us a line and we'll give you an estimate – even if you're just curious.
Stock No.
9676330893533
