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When less is more...10 reasons to own Thorens

I KNOW my Thorens TD-160 series is not the last word. I've pereviously owned an Oracle Delphi with SAEC arm, and a Rega P25, and can vouch for the superiority of both over the 166, but...

1. I can listen all day to my "simulated stereo" LPs and it STILL sounds good.

2. Fake reverb sounds convincing as intended by the record producers

3. Warp wow and off-center pressings are not usually an issue when motor cogging obscures these faults-- two wrongs DO make a right!

4. Motor, bearing, switches and everything else will stll work fine 20 years from now.

5. Bouncy spring suspension forces you-- the listener to stay put and listen to the entire side of your LP or risk walking across the floor and sending the tonearm and cartridge flying across the record surface.

6. Works great with Grado cartridges!

7. Sounds better than most CDs (*IMO) when comparing the LP to a good digital reissue

8. Easy tonearm upgrade, accepts many cheap used arms (Jelco, Linn, etc)

9. NO PARTICLE BOARD!!!

10. Like a drug, only safer and still legal to own and operate
cocoabaroque

Showing 2 responses by cocoabaroque

cocoabaroque OP
36 posts
 
I can see it now, a Chinese reality show based on "Space 1999", building sub-chassis suspended turntables in low-gravity on a moon base. Shipping rates to Earth would be expensive though. :-)
cocoabaroque OP
36 posts
 
Hififile, I used to have the M97he on my Thorens TD166, but switched to Grado-- a big improvement in my opinion. Even the entry Grados (Black, Green, Red) are quite good, the GOLD offering a smoother, more refined sound and better tracking than the lower priced ones, but neither are as good a tracker as Shure. Grados can hum if placed too close to a big power amp (magnetic field). There is ALWAYS a very low level hum with all Grados, but I've never heard anything that sounds as nice on this table.

Stanton 681EEE sounds great, but I did not like the more expensive 881-- too analytical for me.
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