Turntables — Thorens TD 1500

The TD 1500 is a comprehensive belt-drive turntable from Thorens, a well-established Swiss-German manufacturer with a considerable reputation for storied turntable engineering heritage, built with a factory-fitted Thorens TP 150 tonearm and pre-installed Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge. The TD 1500 brings Thorens' considered engineering to a comprehensive, ready-to-play analogue package.

Key specs that matter

Two speeds are supported - 33 and 45rpm - via belt drive with a floating suspension design. The pre-installed Thorens TP 150 tonearm uses an SME-compatible headshell, and the pre-installed Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge features a nude fine-line stylus - an accomplished, well-regarded moving-magnet design. The aluminium platter is driven by a DC motor. At 420 x 150 x 360mm and 7.9kg, the TD 1500 maintains a manageable, comprehensive turntable chassis.

Sound and use context

Expect smooth, well-isolated rotation reflecting the floating suspension design, combined with the factory-matched Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge's accomplished performance straight out of the box, consistent with Thorens' storied engineering heritage.

Pairing

Because the tonearm and cartridge ship pre-installed and factory-matched, the TD 1500 arrives ready to play directly with any amplifier offering a phono input.

Alternatives

Thorens' broader turntable catalogue offers alternatives at different tiers within the same storied engineering heritage.