I heard the Thorens TD1600 at a show September last year (please let there be one this year!), and it sounded excellent through some all beryllium driver vintage Yamaha NS1000s. I remember posting on here some of my impressions (low noise and huge dynamics) from that show.
The Thorens TD1600 also looked classically beautiful, re-appropriating and I daresay even improving their own original design over that one later infamously 'borrowed' by Linn for their LP12.
Possibly still most iconic look in audio.
In earlier times the Thorens would have been a no-brainer. It simply trounces the stylish Technics if seen as furniture.
Some information on the 1600/1601 here from tnt audio's scribe, the one and only Mark Wheeler.
https://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/thorens_td1600_1601_e.html
Having said all of that it's very very difficult to go against the technical phenomena that is the Technics 1200G.
I think this is a classic heart versus head decision.
Since I'm somewhat less sentimental than I used to be, I'd get the Technics.
The Thorens TD1600 also looked classically beautiful, re-appropriating and I daresay even improving their own original design over that one later infamously 'borrowed' by Linn for their LP12.
Possibly still most iconic look in audio.
In earlier times the Thorens would have been a no-brainer. It simply trounces the stylish Technics if seen as furniture.
Some information on the 1600/1601 here from tnt audio's scribe, the one and only Mark Wheeler.
https://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/thorens_td1600_1601_e.html
Having said all of that it's very very difficult to go against the technical phenomena that is the Technics 1200G.
I think this is a classic heart versus head decision.
Since I'm somewhat less sentimental than I used to be, I'd get the Technics.