Thorens TD 1600 Sub-Chassis Belt-Drive Turntable

All confirmed. Key clarifications: the TP 160 effective mass is 16 grams (confirmed directly by Thorens CEO); the subchassis is MDF (not Alucobond like the TD 1500); the springs rest on the floor rather than hanging from the top board; a steel thread connects the subchassis to prevent lateral movement; no cartridge is included with the TD 1600 — the existing page needs to be corrected on this; dimensions 454 x 180 x 369 mm; weight 10.9 kg. The platter is two-piece machined aluminum at 4.2 kg. Here is the complete grade and rewrite:

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📋 CURRENT PAGE GRADE: C+

What's Working:

• Has decent body copy with some real engineering detail ✅
• Three conical spring subchassis, AC synchronous motor, TP 160 knife-edge bearing with magnetic stabilization, SME headshell, spring anti-skate, height/azimuth adjustment, balanced XLR and RCA, external TPN 1600 linear power supply with toroidal transformer all noted ✅
• Effective mass of 14g stated (though correct value is 16g — confirmed by Thorens CEO)
• Available finishes noted ✅

What's Holding It Back:

• ❌ Critical factual error: Effective mass stated as 14g throughout — the correct value confirmed by Thorens CEO Günter Kürten is 16 grams
• ❌ Critical omission: No cartridge is included — the TD 1600 ships without a cartridge. The user manual explicitly states "A pickup is not included." The existing page copy reads as if it includes the Ortofon 2M Bronze (like the TD 1500). This is wrong and potentially misleading. The TAS 1600 Thorens cartridge is available separately
• ❌ Missing: subchassis material is shaped MDF, not aluminum (Alucobond is the TD 1500)
• ❌ Missing: springs rest on the floor (not hanging from top board) — this is a key architectural distinction from the TD 1500 and older TD 160; a tightened steel thread connects the subchassis to the bottom plate to prevent lateral movement and ensure piston-like vertical swing
• ❌ Missing: two-piece platter explained — inner sub-platter and outer platter, with the belt running internally around the inner sub-platter; the two parts together ring when separate but are acoustically inert when combined
• ❌ Missing: platter weight 4.2 kg — nearly three times the TD 1500's 1.4 kg platter; this is a major spec
• ❌ Missing: motor is positioned front-left at the extension of the platter bearing/tonearm axis, with a foam-damped steel thread equalizing motor tensile forces and relieving the bearing
• ❌ Missing: dimensions (454 x 180 x 369 mm) and weight (10.9 kg)
• ❌ Missing: solid wooden plinth with triCom top board
• ❌ Missing: TD 1600 vs TD 1601 comparison — the most common buyer question
• ❌ Missing: TD 1600 vs TD 1500 comparison — the second most common question
• ❌ No FAQ section
• ❌ No "Why Buy From All Elite Audio" section

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Product Title: Thorens TD 1600 Sub-Chassis Belt-Drive Turntable With TP 160 Tonearm

Page Title (57 characters): Thorens TD 1600 Sub-Chassis Turntable | All Elite Audio

Meta Description: Buy the Thorens TD 1600 at All Elite Audio, Maryland's authorized dealer. TP 160 knife-edge tonearm, 4.2kg platter, XLR outputs. No cartridge included. In stock.

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Thorens TD 1600 Sub-Chassis Belt-Drive Turntable With TP 160 Tonearm

The modern evolution of the legendary TD 160 — a 4.2 kg two-piece platter, knife-edge tonearm with magnetic bearing stabilization, and true balanced XLR output, without compromise.

The Thorens TD 1600 is the heir to the TD 160 — one of the most celebrated and long-lived suspended subchassis turntables ever produced, manufactured continuously from 1972 through the early 1990s. The TD 1600 preserves the TD 160's defining architecture: a solid wooden plinth, a three-point spring-suspended subchassis isolating the platter and tonearm from the motor and external vibration, and belt-drive running on a two-piece precision aluminum platter. Everything else has been rebuilt for the 21st century. The platter weighs 4.2 kg — nearly three times the TD 1500's — with an internal belt running around the sub-platter for exceptionally stable rotation. The motor is an electronically controlled AC synchronous unit. The external TPN 1600 linear power supply feeds the motor 2x 16V from a high-performance toroidal transformer. And the tonearm is the newly developed TP 160, a 9-inch J-shaped knife-edge bearing arm with magnetic horizontal stabilization, inspired by classic studio tonearms, designed by the veteran analog tonearm engineer Helmut Thiele.

One important note before purchase: the Thorens TD 1600 does not include a cartridge. You will need to select and install a cartridge. The Thorens TAS 1600 moving coil cartridge is developed specifically for the TP 160 tonearm and is available separately. Our team at All Elite Audio can advise on cartridge selection.

Available now at All Elite Audio, your authorized Thorens dealer in Timonium, Maryland — with in-store demos, expert guidance, and nationwide shipping.

Subchassis Architecture — Springs on the Floor, Steel Thread Lateral Control

The TD 1600's subchassis is built differently from the TD 1500's. The three conical springs do not hang from the top board — they rest on the turntable's bottom plate, and the subchassis sits on top of them. A thin, tightened steel thread connects the subchassis to a pin on the bottom plate, preventing lateral movement while allowing the vertical compliance the springs are designed to provide. This geometry constrains the subchassis to swing as piston-like as possible — purely vertical — which converts lateral vibrations into the clean vertical motion the spring system handles best and minimizes rocking or wobbling of the subchassis during playback. The subchassis itself is shaped MDF, a high-internal-damping material chosen for resonance absorption rather than pure stiffness.

The motor is positioned at the front left of the chassis in the extension of the platter bearing and tonearm axis — a carefully considered placement. A foam-damped steel thread connects the motor pulley area to the subchassis, equalizing the tensile forces the motor exerts and relieving stress on the platter bearing. This attention to force management within the suspended system reflects the depth of engineering in the TD 1600's design.

4.2 kg Two-Piece Aluminum Platter With Internal Belt

The TD 1600's platter system is one of its most distinctive features. It is a two-piece machined aluminum assembly consisting of an inner sub-platter and a larger outer platter. The drive belt runs internally around the inner sub-platter rather than around the outer rim — keeping the belt path short and isolated, minimizing belt contamination of the bearing. The combined weight of the two-piece assembly is 4.2 kg — a massive platter by any standard, nearly three times the TD 1500's 1.4 kg. A platter of this mass has proportionally higher rotational inertia, meaning it resists speed changes from stylus drag or external disturbances far more effectively than a lighter platter. Individually, each platter section rings audibly when tapped. Assembled, they are acoustically silent — the two aluminum sections damp each other's resonances. A thick rubber mat sits on the outer platter.

Adjustable belt tension allows the drive belt's tautness to be tuned, affecting the motor's coupling efficiency to the platter and the degree of motor vibration isolation.

TP 160 Tonearm — Knife-Edge Bearing With Magnetic Horizontal Stabilization

The TP 160 is a significant tonearm by any standard — developed by Helmut Thiele, a veteran analog engineer whose work spans decades of high-performance tonearm design, taking direct inspiration from classic studio tonearms of the EMT lineage. It is a 9-inch J-shaped arm machined from aluminum with an SME-compatible detachable headshell connector.

The bearing system is the TP 160's defining engineering feature. The vertical bearing uses an ultra-precise knife-edge design — a blade resting on a bearing surface, providing exceptionally low friction and high sensitivity to groove modulations. For the horizontal bearing, additional magnetic stabilization is applied to the blade: magnets hold the horizontal pivot with precisely calibrated force, providing the stability needed for accurate channel balance without the additional friction that mechanical preload would introduce. The result is a bearing system that is simultaneously low-friction and stable — the two properties that most resist each other in conventional tonearm bearing design.

The TP 160's effective mass is 16 grams — confirmed directly by Thorens CEO Günter Kürten. Height (VTA) and azimuth are both adjustable. The counterweight is split into two parts for a wide cartridge compatibility range. Anti-skating is spring-based, adjustable via a dedicated dial — a spring mechanism providing consistent force across the record rather than the velocity-variable force of a hanging weight system.

External TPN 1600 Linear Power Supply — Toroidal Transformer, 2x 16V

The TD 1600's motor is powered by the external TPN 1600 linear power supply rather than by a switching supply or direct AC connection. The TPN 1600 houses a high-performance toroidal transformer that converts mains voltage to a clean 2x 16V output for the AC synchronous motor. By isolating the power conversion outside the turntable chassis, the TPN 1600 keeps the transformer's electromagnetic field and the switching or rectification noise away from the sensitive tonearm wiring and cartridge signal path. Thorens specifies this arrangement as providing the highest possible rotational stability of the platter — the cleaner and more stable the motor supply voltage, the more precisely the synchronous motor maintains its target speed.

True Balanced XLR Output — MC Cartridge Required for Full Benefit

Like the TD 1500, the TD 1600 provides both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs. Thorens is explicit about the balanced output: to benefit from True Balanced Connection, the turntable must be equipped with a moving coil (MC) cartridge. A moving coil cartridge generates a genuinely balanced signal across its coil — the two conductors carry the audio signal with opposite polarity, and common-mode noise appearing on both conductors is cancelled at the balanced phono stage input. A moving magnet cartridge does not generate a truly balanced output from its coils, and the balanced XLR connection provides less benefit in that configuration. Since the TD 1600 ships without a cartridge, this is a particularly relevant consideration when selecting your initial cartridge — an MC design will take full advantage of the balanced output architecture.

Wooden Plinth With triCom Top Board

The TD 1600's plinth is a solid wooden construction in Black High Gloss or Walnut High Gloss lacquer. The top board is made from triCom — a composite panel material — with a matte aluminum finish that coordinates visually with the machined aluminum platter and tonearm. This combination of solid wood body and composite top board provides both the acoustic damping character of wood and the mechanical stability of a composite panel at the critical interface between the subchassis springs and the record-playing surface.

TD 1600 vs TD 1501 vs TD 1601 — Understanding the Differences

The TD 1600 and TD 1601 are mechanically identical turntables — same platter, same subchassis, same motor, same external power supply, same TP 160 tonearm. The single difference is the tonearm lift and auto-stop: the TD 1600 is a purely manual turntable with a lever next to the tonearm pivot for manual lowering and lifting. The TD 1601 adds a motorized electric tonearm lift and a touchless (optical) auto-stop that raises the tonearm and stops the platter when the stylus reaches the end of the record. Thorens reports that approximately two-thirds of buyers choose the TD 1601 for this convenience. The TD 1600 is priced lower; the TD 1601 is available at a premium.

The TD 1500 ($2,995) is the more affordable model with a lighter 1.4 kg platter, DC motor with incremental encoder speed control, Alucobond double-layer subchassis, springs adjustable from above, TP 150 tonearm with 14g effective mass, and the Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge included. The TD 1600 ($5,195) steps up significantly in platter mass (4.2 kg), tonearm sophistication (knife-edge with magnetic stabilization), external linear power supply architecture, solid wooden plinth construction, and is sold without a cartridge to allow the owner to choose their own.

Key Specifications

Type: Fully manual belt-drive turntable with three-point spring-suspended subchassis Drive System: Belt drive with internal belt path; polished precision belt; adjustable belt tension Motor: Electronically controlled AC synchronous motor Power Supply: External TPN 1600 linear power supply; high-performance toroidal transformer; 2x 16V output Speeds: 33⅓ and 45 RPM (electronic speed selector) Subchassis: Shaped MDF; three conical springs resting on bottom plate; steel thread lateral constraint for piston-like vertical movement Platter: Two-piece machined aluminum; 12-inch; 4.2 kg combined; internal belt on sub-platter; thick rubber mat Tonearm: Thorens TP 160; 9-inch J-shaped aluminum; knife-edge vertical bearing; magnetically stabilized horizontal bearing; 16g effective mass; SME headshell connector; height (VTA) and azimuth adjustable; two-piece counterweight; spring anti-skate Cartridge: Not included — owner's choice; TAS 1600 MC cartridge available separately Outputs: Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA (True Balanced requires MC cartridge) Plinth: Solid wood; Black High Gloss or Walnut High Gloss; triCom top board in matte aluminum Included: External TPN 1600 power supply; acrylic dust cover; headshell Dimensions (W x H x D): 454 x 180 x 369 mm Weight: 10.9 kg Finishes: Black High Gloss, Walnut High Gloss

Why Buy From All Elite Audio

All Elite Audio is an authorized Thorens dealer located in Timonium, Maryland. We carry the Thorens TD 1600 and can advise on cartridge selection, phono stage pairing, and tonearm cable options for this turntable. Our team has hands-on experience with the TD 1600 and the full Thorens lineup and can demonstrate it in our showroom.

We offer in-store demos, expert guidance before and after purchase, and nationwide shipping.

Call: 443-402-5055 Text: 443-402-5064 Visit: 1921 York Rd, Timonium, MD 21093

Frequently Asked Questions — Thorens TD 1600

What is the Thorens TD 1600 and how does it differ from the TD 1500? The TD 1600 ($5,195) is a higher-tier suspended subchassis belt-drive turntable built around a 4.2 kg two-piece machined aluminum platter, an AC synchronous motor powered by the external TPN 1600 toroidal linear power supply, a solid wooden plinth with triCom top board, and the TP 160 tonearm with knife-edge bearing and magnetic horizontal stabilization. It ships without a cartridge. The TD 1500 ($2,995) uses a lighter 1.4 kg platter, a DC motor with incremental encoder, an Alucobond double-layer subchassis, the TP 150 tonearm with 14g effective mass, and includes the Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge. The TD 1600 is a more sophisticated mechanical platform for listeners who want to choose their own cartridge and invest in a turntable built for the long term.

Does the TD 1600 include a cartridge? No. The Thorens TD 1600 does not include a cartridge. You will need to select and install one separately. Thorens offers the TAS 1600 — a low-output MC cartridge developed specifically for the TP 160 tonearm and manufactured in Japan — as a recommended pairing. All Elite Audio can advise on cartridge selection based on your phono stage and system. Call or text us before purchase.

What is the TP 160 tonearm's bearing system and why is it distinctive? The TP 160 uses a knife-edge vertical bearing — a blade resting on a bearing surface — which provides exceptionally low friction and high sensitivity to groove modulations. The horizontal bearing uses magnetic stabilization: magnets hold the pivot with precisely calibrated force, providing stability without the friction that mechanical preload would introduce. This combination of knife-edge vertical bearing and magnetically stabilized horizontal bearing, inspired by classic EMT studio tonearms, gives the TP 160 an unusually refined tracking performance. The effective mass is 16 grams — confirmed directly by Thorens CEO Günter Kürten.

Why does the TD 1600's subchassis have springs on the floor rather than hanging from the top? In the TD 1600's design, the three conical springs rest on the turntable's bottom plate with the subchassis sitting on top. A steel thread connects the subchassis to a pin on the bottom plate to prevent lateral movement, constraining the suspension to purely vertical compliance. This geometry — combined with the motor's position at the extension of the platter bearing/tonearm axis and a foam-damped steel thread managing motor tensile forces — is engineered to minimize lateral rocking and optimize the isolation effectiveness of the spring suspension.

What is the benefit of the two-piece platter design? The TD 1600's platter consists of an inner sub-platter and a larger outer platter. The drive belt runs internally around the sub-platter — keeping the belt path short and minimizing contamination of the bearing. The two aluminum sections each ring audibly in isolation but are acoustically inert when assembled, as they damp each other's resonances. The combined 4.2 kg mass provides high rotational inertia for exceptional speed stability, complementing the motor's electronic speed control.

What is the difference between the TD 1600 and the TD 1601? The TD 1600 and TD 1601 are mechanically identical except for the tonearm lift mechanism. The TD 1600 is purely manual — the tonearm is lowered and raised by a lever next to the pivot. The TD 1601 adds a motorized electric tonearm lift and a touchless optical auto-stop that raises the arm and stops the platter when the stylus reaches the end of the record. Thorens reports approximately two-thirds of buyers choose the TD 1601 for this convenience. The TD 1601 is available at a premium above the TD 1600.

Does the TD 1600 need a dedicated phono preamp with MC capability? If you intend to use a moving coil cartridge — which is required to take full advantage of the balanced XLR output — yes, you will need a phono stage with MC capability. MC cartridges output significantly less voltage than moving magnet designs and require a dedicated MC phono stage or a step-up transformer. All Elite Audio carries phono preamplifiers suitable for the TD 1600 at various price points and can advise on appropriate pairings.

What warranty does the Thorens TD 1600 include? The Thorens TD 1600 carries a 2-year manufacturer warranty. All Elite Audio is a fully authorized Thorens dealer, ensuring your warranty is valid and supported.

Where can I buy the Thorens TD 1600 and get setup guidance? All Elite Audio is an authorized Thorens dealer with a full home audio showroom at 1921 York Rd, Timonium, Maryland 21093. We carry the Thorens TD 1600 and TD 1500 and can help with cartridge selection, phono stage pairing, and system integration. Call us at 443-402-5055 or text 443-402-5064. We also ship nationwide.