-edible zone-
-- Approximately one year before the Thorens production operation in Lahr, Germany was to file for bankruptcy (and be denied by the German Govt.), they offered their last 'special' turntable; The Ambiance. Based on the Thorens TD 2001/3001 design from the early 1990s, the Ambiance (circa 1999) featured its own unique external motor controller-power supply, an RDC damped acrylic platter with brass weights, the 24 pole motor from the later 2001 and the 3001, an upgraded bearing, a custom solid cherry plinth, an RDC bottom plate, 3 point footing and is often paired with an SME 309 tonearm (but the buyer could mount the 9 inch tonearm of choice).
(click thumbnail for full size image)
The RDC platter from Clearlight Audio
close-up detail of the RDC inlay
With mat off. Note the brass weights.
Above photo shows an Ambiance in the process of being built circa 1999. Photo courtesy of Stefano Pasini. Link to Pasini's site:
https://www.stefanopasini.it/Audio_index_Thorens.htm
Above 4 photos: Circa 2013. This Ambiance was offered to me for 4500 eur. Arm, turntable and power supply. Should I have bought it? Essentially it is a TD2001 with upgrades.