Thorens TD 1601 (TP 92) Turntable, Walnut

The Thorens TD 1601 is a semi-automatic high-end subchassis turntable with belt drive, TP 92 tonearm, electric lift and contactless auto-stop — with balanced XLR outputs, without cartridge, in high-gloss walnut.

It's the convenience variant of the legendary subchassis turntable TD 1600: same wooden plinth, same split platter with an inner-running belt, same thick rubber mat — plus two fewer manual steps in everyday use. Tradition on the outside, 21st century on the inside.

Why the TD 1601 (TP 92)?

Because it takes the subchassis calm of the TD 1600 and adds operating convenience on top. The three conical springs stand on the base plate instead of hanging from the top board; a tensioned steel thread prevents lateral wobble and allows only clean, piston-like vertical movement — even at start-up, when the belt pulls hardest. The heavy 4.2 kg aluminum platter and the fully electronically controlled AC synchronous motor deliver speed stability you no longer have to think about. New compared to the TD 1600: an electric lift operable at the push of a button and a contactless auto-stop. The TP 92 with magnetic anti-skating tracks precisely — you choose the cartridge yourself.

What you hear

Silence as the foundation. The isolation of this subchassis is so good that you can knock on the table without the needle flinching — footfall and feedback simply find no way in. On top of that, the music builds calmly and deeply layered, with the effortlessness of heavy turntables. Anyone running balanced via the XLR outputs and an MC cartridge extracts the last layer of fine resolution.

Who is the TD 1601 (TP 92) for?

For listeners who want a turntable for life, choose their own cartridge — swapped in minutes thanks to the SME connection on the TP 92 — and appreciate the everyday convenience of lift and auto-stop. Ideal for acoustic music, jazz and classical, where the subchassis's black silence counts for the most.

Plain talk: semi-automatic here means: lift and auto-stop yes, automatic cueing no — you bring the arm over the groove yourself. And don't touch the armboard while cueing, or the suspended subchassis will start swaying. Honestly: if you want the pure, cheaper manual operation without the motorized lift, the TD 1600 is right for you; if you never want to track a run-out groove again, this is the one.

Our verdict

The TD 1601 (TP 92) is the TD 1600 for anyone who doesn't want to separate calm from convenience — a subchassis turntable you only want to feed with good systems from now on. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, we set springs, tracking force and anti-skating precisely and find the cartridge that suits your music.

Technical data

• Function: semi-automatic high-end subchassis turntable (electric lift + auto-stop)
• Drive: belt drive, inner-running ground flat belt
• Motor: fully electronically controlled AC synchronous motor, decoupled from the subchassis
• Speeds: 33 1/3 and 45 rpm, electronically switchable
• Subchassis: three conical springs (floor-standing), steel-thread stabilization
• Platter: 12 inch, aluminum, 4.2 kg, split
• Tonearm: Thorens TP 92, J-shape, 9 inch, SME connection
• Anti-skating: magnetic
• Convenience: electric tonearm lift, contactless auto-stop
• Cartridge: not included
• Outputs: RCA and balanced (XLR), true balanced
• Power supply: external linear power supply TPN 1600 with power cable
• Finish: high-gloss walnut (real wood plinth)
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 454 × 180 × 369 mm
• Weight: 11 kg
• Included: turntable, linear power supply TPN 1600 with power cable, dust cover

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the TD 1601 and TD 1600?

Both are built identically — same subchassis, same drive, same TP 92 arm. The TD 1601 adds an electric tonearm lift at the push of a button and a contactless auto-stop. The TD 1600 is the purely manual, cheaper variant without these convenience features.

Does the TD 1601 (TP 92) come with a cartridge?

No, the turntable comes without a cartridge. The TP 92 tonearm with SME connection fits many MM and MC cartridges. We'll recommend a suitable combination, mount it, and adjust tracking force and anti-skating — on request right here at our Wädenswil location.

How does the contactless auto-stop work?

At the end of the record, the TD 1601 recognizes the run-out groove and gently lifts the tonearm without touching the signal path. This way the needle doesn't spin endlessly in the run-out groove — handy if you doze off during the last track or leave the room.

Why does the TD 1601 have XLR outputs?

Combined with an MC cartridge and a balanced phono stage, they enable true balanced operation — less susceptible to interference, finer in resolution. Standard RCA outputs are also available. We're happy to help you work out which variant suits your chain.

Why buy the Thorens TD 1601 (TP 92) at HD Zürisee?

Because a suspended subchassis only shows its full potential after careful setup — springs, tracking force, anti-skating. That's exactly what we do. Our technician delivers, sets it up at your home on request, and remains your contact afterward too, straight from Wädenswil.

Goes well with

You'll find the right cartridge in our cartridge selection, and for true balanced operation a balanced phono preamp. More from Thorens or browse all turntables.