Thorens have announced a new entry level turntable, the Thorens Mini.
Technical Specifications:
Drive: electronically controlled DC motor
Drive system: precision-ground flat belt
Speed: 33 and 45 rpm
Speed change: electronically
Tonearm: high-qualtiy precision tonearm TP 17
Bias adjustments by spring
Pickup: moving magnet type DMS 251S
Wow and Flutter: +/- 0.07 %
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 46 dB
Rumble: 68 dB
Voltage supply: extern adaptor
Dimensions (WDH): 360 x 350 x 95 mm
Weight: 4.5 kg
The sound quality and functionality is taken well care of. I do not know the price it will be sold for, but something around 250 euros i have seen on a Danish site.
In the last issue of "Stereophile" (May 2008) Art Dudley continues his writings about the restauration of the TD124 MkII that he bought. You can read the first article here and the second one here. Art Dudley concludes that the TD124 is everything what good craftsmanship is about, this is the way a turntable should be made. He even compares it to the Linn Sondek LP12, that, although good sounding, is far away from what one can call good craftsmanship compared to the TD124. There may be better turntables, but their price tags are far beyond what can be called a reasonable level, and more suitable to aircraft carriers than turntables.
I recommend every Thorens Lover to read Art Dudleys "Listening" in the May issue of Stereophile.
The story of the TD 124 and other classic turntables.
This book will soon become "the bible" for the TD124 enthusiasts.
A full history of the belt and idler wheel turntables made by Thorens in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland: TD 121, 124, 134, 135, 184, 224.
In english, 288 pages, 580 illustrations, hard cover, glossy paper, quadri color print.
Portraits of Lenco AG and Thorens-Franz AG – documenting the whole history of the Swiss turntable in one volume.
Extensive chapters on the Thorens TD 124’s competition: Garrard 301 / 401, Connoisseur Craftsman, Goldring GL88 and G99, Jobo-Acoustical 2600 / 2800 / 3100, Rek-O-Kut Rondine, Empire Troubadour.
Information and stories on 1960s tonearm and cartridge classics: Ortofon, SME and Shure with attractive photography and rare catalogue images.
Exciting descriptions of the beginnings of high fidelity in Germany from 1959 to 1964 – including information and photography of the first hi-fi turntables by Braun, Elac, Perpetuum-Ebner and Dual.
Much more on Lenco and Thorens in discotheques, the role of the TD 124 in Denmark, long-forgotten turntable accessories, etc.
1968 Introduction of the TD125 (without startpulley) (Bronze sintered bushings 10 mm with nylatron thrustplate)
1969 Introduction of the TD150 Mk II with new tonearm TP13A.(Bronze sintered bushings10 mm with nylatron thrustplate)
1972 The introduction of the TD125 MkII. and TD 160 (Bronze sintered bushings10 mm with nylatron thrustplate)
1974 Introduction of the TD126 "electronic" with tonearm TP16.(Bronze sintered bushings10 mm with nylatron thrustplate)
1976 Introduction of the TD 126 MK I (Bronze sintered bushings10 mm with nylatron thrustplate)
1975 Introduction of the TD 145 (Bronze sintered bushings10 mm with nylatron thrustplate)
1977 Introduction of the TD 126 MK II (better Motor )(Bronze sintered bushings10 mm with nylatron thrustplate)
1977 Introduction of the TD 126 III ( 7mm Bearing )(Bronze sintered bushings10 mm with nylatron thrustplate or Brass please control)
1978 Introduction of the TD104, TD105, TD110, TD115.(Bronze sintered bushings 7,2 mm with nylatron thrustplate)
1981-1983 Introduction of the TD226 (Bronze sintered bushings10 mm with nylatron thrustplate) Introduction of the TD127 (Bronze sintered bushings10 mm with nylatron thrustplate)
1982 Introduction of the upgraded TD166 Mk II Introduction of the TD146 Introduction of the TD147 Introduction of the TD 160 Super Introduction of the TD 524
1983 The Thorens Prestige is introduced. Introduction of TD 320 (Bronze Sintered Bearing) -- 320 II ( two version possible , sintered or brass) Introduction of TD 318 ((Brass bearing 7,2 mm) Introduction of TD 316 ((Brass bearing 7,2 mm)
1984 Introduction of TD Phantasie (Brass bearing 10 mm)
1985 1984 Introduction of TD 520 (brass bearing 10 mm + 1 Hardmetal thrustplate for the version "S" with 8 Kg brass platter
1988 Introduction of TD 320 II (Brass bearing 10mm + 1 Hardmetal thrustplate for the version "S" with 8 Kg brass platter Introduction of the TD 146 V (Brass bearing with Nylatron thrusplate) Introduction of TD Concrete (Brass bearing + Hardmeta thrutplate)
1989 Development and production of the TD2001
1990 TD300 (Brass bearing 10 mm with Harmetal thrustplate)
1991 Introduction of the TD180 semi-automatic record player. (not im Lahr)
Introduction of the Ambiance (brass bearing with Hardmetal thrusplate)
1992 Introduction of the TD 320 Mk III (brass bearing with Nylatron thrusplate)
Introduction of the TD 146 MK VI (brass bearing with Nylatron thrusplate)
After these Time no production more by Lahr .
Introduction of the TD290 "Budget High-End" turntable. 1993 The production of the low-priced Thorens record players starts up in Lodz / Poland.
1995 Introduction of the TD 318 III (brass bearing with Nylatron thrusplate)
Lovers
