Thorens


Thorens is a formerly Swiss manufacturer of high-end audio equipment. They are historically renowned for the range of phonographs they produce. In addition to audio playback equipment, they are also a historical producer of harmonicas and cigarette lighters, most notably the button actuated "automatic lighter".

History

In 1883, the Thorens family business was first registered in Sainte-Croix, Vaud, Switzerland by Hermann Thorens. An initial producer of musical boxes and clock movements, they started producing Edison-type phonographs in 1903.
In 1928, they produced their first electric record player, and went on to produce a range of audiophile record players in the 1950s and 1960s which are, even today, regarded as high-end audio equipment, and are much sought-after, for example the belt-driven and sub-chassis suspended TD 150 which was presented 1965. Its principle is found in the Linn Sondek LP12, too. Its successor TD 160 appeared 1972 and was built nearly without discontinuity 20 years. With the TD 320 Thorens presented in 1984 changed the springs of the sub-chassis to laminated springs.
Although Thorens tried to reduce costs since 1997, in 1999 the company got insolvent. So a new Suisse Thorens Export Company AG went on. Owner of the rights to the name was Heinz Rohrer.
From 1999 the less expensive TD 190/170, later the TD 190/170-1, without sub-chassis was offered, its design is similar to the more expensive Thorens-players.
First 2004 Thorens presented a mass drive player the TD 850.
2012 Thorens got the EISA Award "best product 2011 / 2012" for the TD 309, a sub-chassis player with a three-point-suspension and a turntable made of glass.
Mai 2018 became Gunter Kürten who had been manager at Denon- and :de:Elac|Elac CEO and moved Thorens to Germany.
As of 2019, Thorens continues to produce well-regarded turntables for playback of vinyl and 78rpm gramophone records.

Gallery of record players