For music lovers with high demands|Thorens TD 204 turntable


 

 

Date: 2023-05-09

 

The German company Thorens GmbH is presenting its latest drive, the Thorens TD 204, a product that it says is aimed at music lovers with high expectations. The company from Bergisch Gladbach states that the new Thorens TD 204 is a solution aimed at audiophile beginners, with the properties of a high-end drive, and at an exceptionally attractive price-performance ratio. The Thorens TD 204 is also a solution with sound expansion potential for the climber.

Thorens TD 204 – drive with an almost purist design
It is a record player that can be operated manually and has a belt drive. You focus on the essentials in order to be able to offer optimal solutions in terms of the budget at the points that are really relevant for the sound.

The manufacturer himself therefore also speaks of a deliberately puristically designed drive, in which the customer will find everything they need to be able to use it immediately without further investments.

Classic design by Thorens
In principle, the new Thorens TD 204 looks very familiar at first glance and is clearly recognizable as a solution from Thorens GmbH. The company states that the drive with dimensions of 420 x 145 x 360 mm and a mass of 4.2 kg relies on a frame that is designed with surface finishes in black high gloss and walnut high gloss and is therefore seamless in terms of design insert the existing assortment. In addition, the high processing quality underlines the brand identity of Thorens GmbH and guarantees a long service life. Of course, the drive rests on four cushioned feet.

Thorens TD 204 - Manual turntable with belt drive and integrated phono stage
As already described, the new Thorens TD 204 is a manual drive with a belt drive. The DC motor with electronic speed control integrated into the chassis drives the turntable via a sub-platter by means of a precision-ground belt, with the motor being arranged in such a way that it disappears under the turntable during operation.

The platter and sub-platter are made of die-cast aluminium, with a rubber mat serving as a support for operation. The speed can be selected between 33 1/3 and 45 revolutions using a rotary switch.

It must be emphasized that the new Thorens TD 204 comes with an integrated phono preamp that the user can activate if desired in order to connect the drive directly to a high-level input of an amplifier. This is designed for MM pickup systems. The corresponding switch can be found on the connection panel on the back, which of course also has high-quality cinch sockets.

Thorens TP 120 tonearm
The new Thorens TD 204 is also equipped with a newly developed tonearm, namely the Thorens TP 120 tonearm. The manufacturer is convinced that this should be able to come up with particularly high-quality storage technology. The bearing play and the coefficient of friction could be brought to an astonishingly low level by using modern bearings, which is not common in the price range of the Thorens TD 204, according to Thorens GmbH. The Thorens TP 120 used in the Thorens TD 204 is a 9-inch aluminum tonearm, with the so-called J-shape being used in the design of the tonearm tube. The manufacturer specifies the effective tonearm mass at around 15 g and the skating compensation is carried out via a spring.

The tonearm has a detachable headshell with SME connector, so that you can basically change the pickup quickly and easily.

Audio-Technica AT95E MM cartridge
However, the new Thorens TD 204 is already equipped with a pickup system ex works, one from the specialists Audio-Technica Ltd. For example, the Audio-Technica AT95E MM pickup system can be found on the tonearm, which can provide good service, especially for beginners.

Prices and Availability
According to Thorens GmbH, the new Thorens TD 204 will be launched this year. This new drive is available from specialist retailers at the recommended retail price of €799. A matching dust cover is of course included in the scope of delivery.

We mean…
The new Thorens TD 204 is a drive that is basically aimed at price-sensitive but very demanding music lovers. For users who are looking for a drive that works right out of the box and is equipped to allow for future upgrades. A record player that, according to Thorens GmbH , is aimed at music lovers with high standards.