Everything thorns hit the ground running when they designed this turntable

I've just taken delivery of mine in the Walnut with the updated arm its construction is nigh on perfect. It has every output you could think of including the true balance, which is the way I use it. It's difficult to pick out just one feature of it because it's so damn good I have been buying audio since the age of 15 and now being 70 this is the best turntable that I've come across. I just don't see why anybody would spend any more than the price of this cable. The only reason I can see your style I mean what is it there is an individual thinks they're getting by paying more they're not getting better build you may get a different sound but that's down to the cartridge and your phone alarm for the fire and talking about phone I amplifiers I'm using this one with the project top model and they do seem to I can't think of anything else to say about it other than if you're looking for a timetable around this price you'd be a fool not to check it out all the best other hi-fi users. Thank you

Philip. witham | Market Deeping, Peterborough | September 2024

Blast from the past

...verve to it that means it can capture the essential dynamics of a recording with ease... comes from a clean, silent background.

It picks up the bassline with ease... the underlying beat is solid and taut, while the upper bass has an impressive litheness.

It's the upper registers where things really impress as the presentation displays the sort of detail and openness more commonly associated with far more expensive rivals.

Sees percussion leaping enthusiastically from the speaker. Double bass is fruity and fullsome, while the higher strings magnificently soar across the soundstage. The TD1601 has a glorious sense of depth and scale... conveys a great atmosphere that fills the space both in front and behind the speakers.

Vocals are breathy and vivid, underpinned by an infectious walking bassline.

A thoroughly modern turntable that ticks all the boxes... maintains an air of quiet sophistication and confidence.

Hi-Fi Choice | | December 2020

From the off it was clear that Thorens' bearing and drive set-up is of high quality as there was precious little groove roar to be heard as the stylus hit the first record... clean and silent background.

A pleasing crispness and verve to its presentation and proved capable of capturing the essential dynamics of recording with ease.

It picked up the bass lines very well indeed... beat was solid and taut... upper bass had a pleasing litheness.

The TD 1601 really came into its own... the sort of detail and openness that suggested a much higher price tag.

I found real insight and a fine sense of sweetness. The TD 1601 maintained an air of quiet sophistication and confidence with all material plated... a delightful treble... inviting and open.

The TD 1601 revealed all instruments, acoustic or amplified, to their full extent.

A joy to behold, with percussion leaping enthusiastically from the loudspeakers... double bass was appropriately fruity and fulsome.

The TD 1601 has a lovely sense of depth and scale... conveys good atmosphere, which fills the space between and behind the loudspeakers well.

Breathy and vivid, underpinned by a solid walking bassline and topped off with a delicious sprinkling of crisp percussion that drove the track along gleefully.

Thorens has brought a classic turntable design expertly up to date by adding an ingenious modern twist to a tried-and-test recipe. The result is a turntable with a highly impressive sound at the price.

Hi-Fi News | | September 2020

... the relaxed and ostensibly quiet instrumentation allowed me to hear how silent and accurate the turntable worked. I could really hear the music start to breathe. The sound was very open and clear from top to bottom, particularly good with the very low frequencies. Well defined and controlled, whether it be the vocals, guitars, piano or percussion. This is a natural and musically confident plater. This turntable is all about accuracy and honesty... showed authority over the music being played with nothing sounding out of place... instruments were clearly positioned in their designated seats with brass and percussion coming across precisely but still allowing the quieter strings have their say. The turntable never delt strained and was detailed and dynamic, with the quieter sections as exciting as the louder. There were also no fluctuations in speed from this electronically controlled motor. The cymbals came across as clearly as the brass. Headroom was excellent... good control of all the music and an excellent control of the speed. Performance of the TD 1601 was well controlled and refined, doing everything well if you want a retro looking turntable with all the history to go with it then this is certainly a good choice.

Hi-Fi+ | | January 2020