Thorens TD 1500 Turntable, Walnut Gloss

The Thorens TD 1500 is a manual belt-drive subchassis turntable with balanced XLR outputs and a factory-mounted Ortofon 2M Bronze — in Walnut Gloss.

In 1965, the TD 150 arrived and turned turntable design on its head: a sprung subchassis in a production model. The TD 1500 takes that idea, drops the vintage kitsch and rebuilds it with today's precision — a turntable that knows where it comes from, but doesn't live there. The muted walnut veneer makes it a source of warmth on the shelf.

Why the TD 1500?

Because the subchassis is the principle everything hinges on. Three conical springs decouple the platter and tonearm board from the motor and plinth — footfall and rumble stay outside. New compared to the original: you adjust the springs conveniently from above, through holes in the platter. The 1.4 kg aluminum platter runs on a ground flat belt, and the DC motor is electronically regulated via an incremental encoder — if a record brush drags, the electronics quietly correct for it. And the XLR outputs are a real statement in this class.

What you hear

Calm. The black background that subchassis turntables are famous for — the music stands out in front of it, not on top of it. The TP 150, with 14 g effective mass, guides the pre-mounted Ortofon 2M Bronze cleanly through the groove: defined bass, treble without harshness. If you connect a balanced phono stage and an MC cartridge, you'll hear what the XLR outputs are really for — genuine balanced operation, less interference pickup, more finesse.

Who is the TD 1500 for?

For anyone who wants a grown-up turntable they can expand later — a different cartridge, a different headshell, swapped in minutes thanks to the SME mount. Also for beginners who want to start off right, instead of upgrading again in two years.

Plainly put: the TD 1500 is purely manual — no auto lift, no end-of-record shutoff. If you fall asleep at the end of a record, you'll wake the needle up. And it spins at 33 and 45 rpm, but not 78 rpm shellac. Honestly: if you just want background music, you'll be happier with a fully automatic model.

Our verdict

The TD 1500 is the point where subchassis design becomes affordable again — a classic principle, cleanly translated into today, with a connection feature (XLR) that otherwise only starts further up the range. That the EISA jury crowned it "Best Product" Turntable 2022–2023 doesn't surprise us much. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, we'll set it up for you, sort out the right phono stage, and show you what your room and your system have to say about it.

Technical Data

• Function: manual subchassis turntable
• Drive: belt drive with ground flat belt
• Motor: DC motor, electronically regulated via incremental encoder
• Speeds: 33 1/3 and 45 rpm, electronically switchable
• Subchassis: three conical springs, adjustable from above
• Platter: 12 inch, die-cast aluminum, 1.4 kg, 22 mm
• Tonearm: Thorens TP 150, J-shaped, SME mount
• Effective tonearm mass: 14 g
• Adjustable: height (VTA) and azimuth
• Cartridge: Ortofon 2M Bronze (Fine Line), factory-mounted
• Anti-skating: weight on nylon thread in ruby bearing
• Outputs: RCA and balanced (XLR)
• Power supply: external 12 V plug-in power supply
• Finish: Walnut Gloss
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 420 × 141 × 360 mm
• Weight: 7.9 kg
• Included: turntable with mounted Ortofon 2M Bronze, phono cable, plug-in power supply, dust cover

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Thorens TD 1500 come with a cartridge?

Yes. An Ortofon 2M Bronze with a Fine Line stylus is mounted and aligned at the factory — you can play records right away. Thanks to the SME mount on the TP 150 arm, a different cartridge can easily be fitted later. We're happy to advise you on the right combination.

Why does the TD 1500 have XLR outputs?

They allow genuine balanced operation with an MC cartridge and a balanced phono stage — less sensitive to interference pickup, finer in resolution. Regular RCA outputs are also available as an alternative. At this price point, that's a real distinguishing feature.

Does the TD 1500 play automatically, or is it manual?

It's purely manual: you lower and lift the tonearm yourself, there's no automatic end-of-record shutoff. That keeps the signal paths short and the construction low in resonance. If you want the convenience of automation, you should know this before buying — we're happy to show you the alternatives.

Does the TD 1500 need a separate phono preamp?

Yes. Unlike the entry-level Thorens models, the TD 1500 has no built-in phono stage — it wants an MM-capable input (for the 2M Bronze), or, via XLR, a balanced MC phono input. Does that match your amplifier? Ask us, we'll sort out your system.

Why buy the Thorens TD 1500 at HD Zürisee?

Because a subchassis turntable needs to be set up and aligned properly to show what it can do. That's exactly what we do: adjusting the springs, checking tracking force and anti-skating, finding the right phono stage. Our technician delivers and sets it up at your home on request — and remains reachable afterward, right here from Wädenswil.

Goes well with

For balanced operation, you'll need a suitable phono preamp; replacement and upgrade cartridges can be found in the cartridge selection. More from Thorens, or browse all turntables.