The completely newly designed Thorens TD 1500 turntable is the smaller brother of the TD 1600 and comes with a newly developed TP150 tonearm and a pre-installed Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge. The TOD 403 DD is the bigger brother of the very successful TD 402 DD and also comes with the new TP150 tonearm and a pre-installed Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge.
TD 1500
In 1965, the Thorens TD 150, an inconspicuous little turn- table, came on the market and thus started a technical revolution in record player manufacturing. For the first time,
a spring-suspended sub-chassis with an inner platter driven by a flat belt was used in a mass-produced unit. The princi- ple proved to be very successful and found many imitators in the years since.
Even today, more than half a century later, old TD 150 mod- els still enjoy great popularity.
Picking up on this historic milestone, Thorens is introducing a new model in 2021, the TD 1500, which is very much in the tradition of its legendary predecessor but utilizes 21st century technologies.
Like its famous predecessor, the new Thorens TD 1500, which will be operated purely manually, features a sub-chas- sis that decouples the turntable and tonearm shelf from
the motor and frame by means of three conical springs. In contrast to the TD 150, these springs can be adjusted from above through corresponding holes in the platter, which makes correct adjustment much easier. The platter does not have to be removed for this. The platter itself, which weighs
1.4 kg and is 22 mm thick, is made of cast aluminum with a ground edge and turns its rounds in a bearing with a Delrin trust bearing, which guarantees enormously smooth running. The speed of the DC motor is electronically monitored by
an incremental encoder and deviations, e.g. caused by a broom, are automatically corrected. This also enables very good wow and flutter values.
As a real unique selling point in its class, the TD 1500 has XLR outputs in addition to the usual pair of RCA jacks, thus enabling true balanced operation with a suitable MC car- tridge.
Power is supplied to the drive by a 12V power supply unit.
Newly developed Thorens TP 150 tonearm
The new TP 150 tonearm is similar to the TP 124 used on the new TD 124 DD. It has an effective mass of 14 grams, is adjustable in height and azimuth and is equipped with
a standard SME connector, so headshells can easily be switched or other cartridges mounted.
The anti-skating is set by a sliding weight in the base of the arm, which is adjusted on a nylon thread guided over a ruby bearing.
This guarantees the smoothest possible operation. The contact force is set classically on the scaled and two-part counterweight. This allows a wide selection of pickups to be used, from 6 – 30 grams weight.
The new Thorens TD 1500 combines traditional Thorens genes with contemporary modernity and proves a success- ful transformation of the TD 150 into today‘s world.
A high-quality and pre-adjusted 2M Bronze pickup from the Danish pickup specialist Ortofon, is also supplied as stand- ard. This proves to be a perfect playing partner due to its naked diamond with Fine Line cut.
The Thorens TD 1500 is available in walnut or black, each in high gloss, from December 2021 in stores. A cover, as well as an RCA cable are included in delivery.
The RRP is incl. cartridge Ortofon 2M Bronze € 1999,–.
TD 403 DD
With the new model TD 403 DD Thorens completes the line of direct drive plug-and-play turntables of the 400 series. Visually a true Thorens, the new TD 403 DD features the same proven smooth-running direct drive as the successful TD 402 DD, but sets itself apart from its smaller brother with a more massive 1.4 kg and 22mm-thick cast aluminum plat- ter and the TP 150 audiophile tonearm also used in the new TD 1500 model. A high-quality and pre-adjusted 2M Blue cartridge from Danish cartridge specialist Ortofon is also supplied as standard. This proves to be an adequate playing partner due to its naked diamond with elliptical stylus.
The purist and audiophile claim of the new model is empha- sized by the omission of an auto stop function and integrat- ed phono preamplifier.
The new turntable is powered by a 24V power supply.
Newly developed Thorens TP 150 tonearm
The new TP 150 tonearm is also used on the newly intro- duced Thorens TD 1500 model and is similar to the TP 124 used on the new TD 124 DD. It has an effective mass of 14 grams, is adjustable in height and azimuth and is equipped with a standard SME connector, so headshells can easily be switched or other cartridges mounted.
The anti-skating is set by a sliding weight in the base of the arm, which is adjusted on a nylon thread guided over a ruby bearing.
This guarantees the smoothest possible operation. The contact force is set classically on the scaled and two-part counterweight. This allows a wide selection of pickups to be used, from 6 – 30 grams weight.
With the new TD 403 DD, Thorens rounds up its range of direct-drive turntables that are practically ready to play right out of the box.
The Thorens TD 403 DD will be available in walnut or black, both in high gloss, from December 2021 in stores. A cover, as well as an RCA cable are included in the scope of deliv- ery.
The RRP including cartridge Ortofon 2M Blue € 1399,–.