Thorens TD 404 DD Turntable, Matte Oak

The Thorens TD 404 DD is a direct-drive high-end turntable with the motor from the TD 124 DD, the TP 160 tonearm with a knife-edge bearing, an electronic lift with end-of-record shutoff, and RCA and XLR outputs — here in Matte Oak, without a cartridge.

Matte oak is the most understated of the three finishes: no mirror shine, no fingerprints, just open-pore wood beneath a solid aluminum top plate. Anyone who lives Scandinavian-style, or simply isn't into piano lacquer, finds their Thorens here. The motor underneath is the same one used in the considerably more expensive TD 124 DD — and it brings the platter up to speed in what feels like a second.

Why the TD 404 DD?

Because it brings together things that otherwise live in separate price classes. Three speeds including 78 rpm, a strobe with pitch control, a 3.7 kg resonance-damped aluminum platter. The TP 160 works with a knife-edge bearing that guides with less friction than the price would suggest. The sandwich plinth rests on three height-adjustable, sprung feet — footfall noise and feedback have a hard time here. And the balanced XLR outputs are still no given in this class.

What you hear

Torque and calm at the same time — the hardest combination in turntable design. The drive pushes without ever becoming audible itself; dynamic passages get weight without any background noise coming along. The heavy platter holds speed firmly, the strobe lets you fine-tune — in case you're the kind of person who likes to keep an eye on such things. The e-lift lowers and raises gently and lifts the arm off by itself at the end of the record, before the turntable slows to a leisurely stop.

Who is the TD 404 DD for?

For listeners looking for a turntable for life and who want to choose their own cartridge — and for anyone for whom high gloss is simply too much shine. Anyone with 78 rpm shellac records on the shelf finally finds a modern player here that takes them seriously.

Straight talk: A cartridge is not included, and neither is a phono preamp — both belong in the budget. The tonearm can also only be lowered and raised via the lift button, not by hand. And RCA and XLR can't be run in parallel. Anyone who just wants to quickly drop a needle is two sizes too big here.

Our verdict

The TD 404 DD is the point where direct drive stops being a compromise — it challenges the big TD 124 DD and costs a fraction of it. In Matte Oak it looks just as unfussy as it sounds. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, we build the right system for you, adjust it, and clarify beforehand whether your chain plays along in balanced mode.

Technical specifications

• Operation: electronic tonearm lift (e-lift) with end-of-record shutoff
• Drive: direct drive, fully electronically controlled DC motor
• Speeds: 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm, electronically switchable
• Speed control: strobe with pitch control
• Wow and flutter: 0.035% (DIN) / 0.007% (WRMS)
• Platter: 12 inch, aluminum, 3.7 kg, resonance-damped
• Tonearm: Thorens TP 160 with knife-edge bearing
• Effective tonearm length: 232.8 mm
• Effective tonearm mass: 18 g
• Overhang: 17.8 mm, offset angle: 23.66°
• Anti-skating: spring
• Cartridge: not included
• Outputs: RCA and balanced (XLR), cannot be used in parallel
• Plinth: sandwich construction with aluminum top plate, three height-adjustable sprung feet
• Finish: Matte Oak
• Power supply: external plug-in power supply 24 V DC, optional TPN 124 linear power supply
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 450 × 155 × 368 mm
• Weight: 12.5 kg
• Included: turntable, 24 V DC plug-in power supply, dust cover, manual

Frequently asked questions

Does the Thorens TD 404 DD come with a cartridge?

No. The TD 404 DD deliberately comes without a cartridge so you can decide for yourself — the TP 160 with 18 g effective mass gets along well with a wide range of MM and MC cartridges. We'll advise you on the right combination and, on request, mount and adjust the cartridge for you as well.

What's different about the Matte Oak version?

Only the finish. Drive, TP 160 tonearm, platter, connections, dimensions and weight are identical across Matte Oak, Gloss Black and Gloss Walnut. Matte Oak is open-pored and matte instead of high-gloss lacquered — less sensitive to fingerprints and visually noticeably more understated.

What are the TD 404 DD's XLR outputs good for?

They transmit the phono signal in balanced form and are therefore less sensitive to interference — ideal with a balanced phono stage like the Thorens MC 1600. Alternatively, gold-plated RCA outputs with a grounding connection are available. According to Thorens, both outputs cannot be used at the same time.

Can the TD 404 DD also play 78 rpm shellac records?

Yes, alongside 33 1/3 and 45 it also handles 78 rpm, electronically switchable. Speed can be fine-tuned via pitch control and the built-in strobe. For shellac, a matching stylus profile is also recommended — we're happy to advise you on that too.

Why buy the Thorens TD 404 DD at HD Zürisee?

Because a turntable without a cartridge is only half the job — we take care of the other half: selecting, mounting and adjusting a cartridge, checking the chain. Delivery and on-site setup on request. And we stay reachable, even long after the invoice is ancient history.

Pairs well with

The TD 404 DD comes without a cartridge — you'll find the right one in the cartridge selection, from MM to MC. A good, ideally balanced phono stage belongs with it; get in touch and we'll figure out together what fits your chain. More from Thorens, alternatives under all turntables.