The Thorens TD-160C is one of those cornerstone turntables that keeps earning its reputation — a floating sub-chassis belt-driver from the early 1970s that feels as carefully considered today as it did when it first landed on a hi-fi shelf. The three-spring suspension does exactly what it should: decouple the platter and arm from the world outside so what you hear is the record, not the room. Musically, it offers real ease and a natural tonal balance — mids that breathe, bass with body and foundation without bloom, and a quiet enough backdrop that subtle details surface on their own. The TP-16 tonearm's low-mass tracking keeps things agile and compatible with a wide range of cartridges. It rewards good setup and ages gracefully. A genuine workhorse.
Production
1972-1988
Condition
9/10
Serial No.
133633
Orig. MSRP
$200
Restoration
- Speed good at 33 and 45
- Cartridge in good shape - Shure V15V-MR
- Restored Plinth
Factory Specs
DRIVE SYSTEM
Electronically controlled, 16-pole synchronous motor with belt drive
RECORD SPEEDS
33⅓ and 45 rpm
PLATTER
Non-magnetic zinc alloy, 12", 7 lbs; dynamically balanced
WOW AND FLUTTER
0.06% (weighted)
RUMBLE (DIN 45539)
-48 dB (unweighted), -68 dB (weighted)
SUSPENSION
Three-spring floating sub-chassis; tonearm and platter rigidly coupled to common sprung sub-chassis, isolated from plinth
POWER REQUIREMENTS
110–130V AC or 220–240V AC, 15W, 50/60 Hz
TYPE
Gimbal-suspension, straight-tube tonearm with magnetic anti-skating control
EFFECTIVE LENGTH
9.06" (stylus tip to vertical tonearm bearing)
STYLUS OVERHANG
0.55" adjustable
LATERAL TRACKING ERROR
Less than 0.2° per cm of radius
BEARING FRICTION
Less than 20 mg (vertical and horizontal planes, measured at stylus tip)
HEADSHELL
Die-cast magnesium, low-mass TP-60 plug-in shell; accepts standard ½" cartridges
DIMENSIONS
17" × 7¾" × 13½" (W × H × D, with dust cover closed)
WEIGHT
18 lbs
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
Despite its moderate price, this handsome slim line integrated transcription turntable shares many of the advanced engineering features and refinements of the highly sophisticated Thorens TD-125 MkII series. For example the identical TP-16 tonearm and belt-driven synchronous motor used in the TD-125 MkII are incorporated into the TD-160C. In addition it comes complete with a walnut base and dust cover. Here's the traditional quality and precision you have come to expect from Thorens, at a modest price.
Shipping
To ensure safe arrival, we often use private couriers. These are transporters in Sprinter Vans or pulling covered trailers often moving art and antiques across the country. Absolutely the safest way to ship short of you picking it up yourself. This piece ships to the contiguous United States for a flat rate of $250, 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.
9676817400029
