-edible zone-

TD160 History:

1972 - The TD160 replaces the TD150 as the affordable but still Hi-Fi player featuring a similar 3 point suspension floating sub-chassis but with the new TP16 tonearm . Operation is pure manual but with an integrated cable operated tonearm cue. Like the TD150, the TD160 used a synchronous 16 pole 2-phase AC motor that derived it's pitch precision by locking on to the mains frequency the same as an electric clock motor from that era. Both TD125 MkII and TD160 share the same 7 pound die cast zinc platters and the same 10mm platter bearing.

At the same time a less expensive TD165 was offered with the TP11 tonearm. This new tonearm used the same gimbal pivot bearing, arm tube and head shell as the TP16 but substituted a weight-on-string style of anti-skate control and also featured a different counterweight. The TD165 used a 7mm diameter platter bearing fixed to a resin inner platter. The motor and pulley were also different from the TD160.

1975 - The TD145 is offered. In essence a TD160 with automated arm lift and motor stop at end of play

1976 - Introduction of the "Isotrack"-tonearm with a low effective mass. This is an updated version of the TP16 tonearm featuring remove-able 'arm wands' fixed by a collar lock very close to the pivot bearing. Moving the coupling joint closer to the pivot reduced effective mass substantially. The replaceable arm-wand of this tonearm is called the TP62. A later version of the isotrack tonearm, called the TP16-III used another style of arm-wand designated the TP63. Both of these tonearms rated their effective mass at 7.5 grams. These tonearms were suitable for use with phono cartridges having high compliance suspensions.

Optional with the Isotrack tonearms were arm-wands featuring integrated phono cartridges. The TPO63 and TPO70 were two such arm-wands. In cooperation with EMT, Thorens produced special cartridges of the moving-coil variety. Integrated arm-wand-cartridges TMC63/TMC70, phono cartridges MCHI and MCHII as well as the PPA990 and STA960 (pre-preamplifier and step-up transformer)

Introduction of the TD160 Mk II with TP16 Mk II (Isotrack)

Introduction of the TD166 with TP16 Mk II (Isotrack)

Introduction of the TD145 Mk II with TP16 Mk II (Isotrack)

1982 - Introduction of the upgraded TD166 Mk II

Introduction of the TD147

Introduction of the TD 160 Super

The TD160 Super was in essence a standard TD160 mkII but with the following features:
a larger more solid cabinet
damping material applied to the underside of the motor plate and sub-chassis pan
heavier cabinet bottom plate
typically delivered with base but no tone arm. But sometimes supplied with TP16 MkIII (Isotrack)
Dustcover has more substantial steel hinges

1983 - Introduction of the TD146, an semi-auto variant to the TD166

Introduction of the TD147 Jubilee (a centennial anniversary edition)

-- end history --

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--------------Articles

-- Finding a proper replacement belt some notes and guidelines

* TD160 (mk1) top motor plate dimensions (in mm)

-- (hint: click thumbnail for full size image)

*azimuth adjust TD160 (mk1) Motor azimuth adjustment

* You knew about the auxiliary counterweight on the TP16 mk1, right?  It's a mass adjuster.

-------------TD16x manuals in pdf.

   Setting Up My First TD16x / TD14x

*  TD160 clutch pulley disassembly 

*Bogdan's Motor Repairing a TD160 motor

* TP16 bits The TP16 tonearm disassembled, repaired and then reassembled and then tested.

-- Suspension Tuning by Tim Bailey

-- More Susp. tuning notes by Steve Clarke

-- Thorens Spare Part Numbers

-- The Chadwick Mods by Steve Clarke

-------------------------Reviews

 * An Aluminum Clutch Pulley for the Thorens TD16x-14x  By AudioSilente

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 Thorens Links:

http://edimba.tripod.com/PDF/PDF.html  online user manuals for a variety of Thorens tables in PDF and HTML.

http://www.stefanopasini.it/Audio_index_Thorens.htm  a great site with a picture history of Thorens tables.

http://www.stefanopasini.it/images/Thor1215.pdf   an informative Thorens history article by Stefano Pasini. (highly recommended)

http://www.audioinvest.no/   some useful specs and history in general on Thorens and other turntables

 

* TD-160 MK I in detail with interior photos

* TD160 MK II in detail.

* Safety Post dimensions. (click thumbnail)

* (click)

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* TP16 MK1 Tonearm disassembled, repaired, reassembled

*TD160 mag ad TD-160 MK I info sheet. Thanks to Ed Alderson for this scan. Ed bought his TD-160 new back in 1975 and was offered this propaganda sheet prior to making his purchase. Notice the close-up picture of the motor pulley indicates the absence of any safety post. File size 129K .

*   TD-160 MK I info sheets. File sizes, 142K and 165K. These scans from an anonymous contributor. Thanks...!

Thorens review articles from the British Audio magazine "Hi-Fi Answers"

* HFA August 1980

* HFA November 1980

* HFA March 1982

Magazine article scans in JPEG provided by Jack Leong. (Thanks, Jack.....!)

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 Hi-Fi Choice reviews of three Thorens turntables circa 1989 provided by Gordon Dyer.  Thanks for the excellent scans Gordon!

* Review: TD160S Mk II Hi-Fi Choice 1989

* Review: TD166 Mk II, Hi-Fi Choice 1989

* Review: TD320 Mk II, Hi-Fi Choice 1989

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* Thanks to 2channelman for this picture

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About The THORENS synchronous drive motors.

The TD-160 is driven by a 16 pole two-phase synchronous motor. This motor has two identical stators which work on the rotor at an angle of precisely 90° to one another.

The speed of rotation is determined by the power frequency and by the number of poles used and, therefore, this will always remain constant regardless of aging, dirt or climatic conditions.

Motor rpm at 50 hz mains frequency: 375 (50 hz / 8 x 60 = 375) @33-1/3rd platter rpm

Motor rpm at 60 hz mains frequency: 450 (60 hz / 8 x 60 = 450) @33-1/3rd platter rpm

A different diameter pulley is used in either case to arrive at the correct 33-1/3 and 45 platter rpm.

Other uses of the AC synchronous motor: electric clock before the quartz oscillator came into popular use for time keeping. Prior to the quartz oscillator, good quality electric wall clocks were often regarded as being much more accurate than a mechanical clock or watch of the same era.