No other hi-fi manufacturer can boast such a long history as Thorens. The German (originally Swiss) turntable experts are celebrating their 140th anniversary this year!
The company originally manufactured music boxes, and the first gramophone with an electric motor left the factory in 1928.
Thorens truly made its mark on the hi-fi world map in 1957 when Thorens TD 124 was introduced. A simple yet highly stable direct-drive turntable that is still in production today, 66 years later, in almost unchanged form.
Thorens is now celebrating the anniversary with a very special edition of TD 124 DD, taking the series back to its roots. Thorens TD 124 DD 140th Anniversary is characterized by an overall retro style and features a super-exclusive finish, fitting for such a classic – and expensive – anniversary version.
The cabinet is made of high-gloss lacquered and hand-polished wood, and the platter is made of aluminum with a 5mm thick copper layer on top. Besides looking elegant, the sandwich construction is designed to make the platter extra resonance-free, as the natural resonances of the two materials cancel each other out, according to Thorens.
The tonearm is Thorens’ own classic TP 124, while the cartridge comes from Danish brand Ortofon. Connoisseurs will immediately recognize the classic SPU cartridge, which is as old as the turntable itself. However, what one may not immediately notice is that the cartridge’s housing is made of bakelite, just like in the good old days. The coils in the moving coil cartridge are made of silver wire.
Like all other special editions, the Thorens TD 124 DD 140th Anniversary will be produced in a very limited edition. Specifically, only 140 units! This means it will be practically impossible to get hold of one. And it will likely be resold among collectors for considerably higher amounts than the 11,999 EUR for which the anniversary model is being sold.
