Price Paid:  $200.00 from Pacific Stereo

Summary:
This review is for the TD 145. This is a terrific turntable. I'm the original owner. I purchased new in 1976 (thereabouts). When the Telarc digital recording of the 1812 overture came out, I was just amazed that the Thorens tonearm and Pickering cartridge tracked cleanly through the cannon fire, delivering real punch and amazing sound. In the more than 25 years I've owned it, it's never let me down, and I've never even thought about replacing it.

Strengths:
Amazing quality. Quiet, superb tracking.

Weaknesses:
None.

Price Paid:  $100.00 from ebay

Summary:
I have bought TD 145 MkI second hand 2 months ago. It looks perfect. With Audio technica AT 95e is excellent perofrmer. Handling is easy. Midrange are phantastic, open, clear and detailed. Bass is taut. This turnable perfectly fit in my System Cyrus dad 3 CD player, Cyrus One amp and Mission774 Loudspeakers

Strengths:
Clear, detailed and open midrange, deep and taut bass lines

Weaknesses:
Out of production, spare parts hard to find

Similar Products Used:
Sanyo Q 40, various Technics and Pioneer turnables

Price Paid:  $270.00 from flee market

Summary:
I bought a pickup on a flee market for 5 euro(=5 US$). Thought it was broken,but it had an extension cable and a Stanton cartridge that looked nice. Anyway, 3 months later i spent 270 euro on the table and another 160 euro on a used Musical Fidelity XLP preamp. My living room is filling up with used LP´s. Yes,after 17 years i´m back into vinyl. I have a Sony X7ESD CD player, a top model in it´s day. The pickup is a 1979 Thorens TD145 mk2. I got a 22 mm MDF bottom plate with 3 spikes,i put a few drops of oil in the bearing,i had the wire changed to Van den Hul MCS150 tonearm wire and D502 interlink cable,the guy also made a proper ground connection with an external ground wire (got rid of the hum),i had a new Ortofon Super OM20 cartridge installed,a hifi dealer in town readjusted the tonearm wich had a little play and repaired the "clutch" of the innner and outer motor pulley. Yes, a lot of work and hassle and i spent more money than i intended to. And maybe i should get a new original belt,another 35 euro. BUT. The amount of MUSIC this old pickup can wrench out of an old LP from a flee market after proper cleaning is incredible. Wide and deep stereo image, fat bass, crisp highs etc. The LP is a pain compared to the CD:clean the stylus,clean the LP,scratches,pops,hangers,skippers etc. But a good LP just gets me more involved in the music than a CD. And it´s a great way to deal with your midlife crisis,reliving the 70ies with The Eagles,Steve Miller etc. etc....

Strengths:
No wow,no flutter,speed stability,musicality,incredible bargain used

Weaknesses:
vintage stuff so check the bearing, tonearm, pulley etc.;original wire and grounding sucks;card board bottom plate;very light TP16mk2 tonearm only allows for high compliance cartridges; mine runs a little too fast

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer Pl-120

Price Paid:  $100.00 from Used

Summary:
The Thorens TD 145 MK II is a fine turntable from the last great era of Thorens. I bought this from a friend for $100, had new interconnect cables and a Shure V 15 III installed and added a Ringmat 250 to replace the stock rubber mat. This is a very musical and reliable LP spinner for a VERY low price! If you find one of these in good condition for under $200 grab it! The tonearm is easy to set up and will track almost any LP you throw at it.

Strengths:
Low cost. Well made..Musical Sound

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Thorens TD 150 MK II

Price Paid:  $150.00

Summary:
This review is for Thorens TD 160mk2, a TD 145 without automatic stop feature. Bought in 1978, I’m still using it on a regular basis. I never tweaked it and therefore can’t figure out wether this TT might sound better (or worse) after extensive settings and upgrades. I just replaced the lousy captive interconnect with a cheap Monster cable because one channel disappeared after 15 years.During all these 24 years, I only tried different cartridges in the same league as the TD 160 (more specifically as the original tonearm) : Shure M95ED (supplied with the Thorens) was quickly replaced by an excellent M97HE, then an Ortofon MC10s and finally Shure M97XE. The rule in the 70’s was the crucial match between cartridge and loudspeakers, provided you’ve got a good phono stage from your amplifier ; replacing my ageing speakers with better performers (of the transparent kind) immediately highlighted the Ortofon shortcomings (a bit bright and somehow thin in the mid) . The M97XE solved this. This TT is for no-brainer music lover who vastly prefers spending the (too limited ) time left for music in playing records rather than in tweaking the equipment. This TT is still incredibly silent and stone reliable, despite overnight parties, moves, children etc..it provides a really smooth , punchy and balanced sound, depending of course on the recorded material . I assume, there are far better contenders in the highend market, but at which obscene cost ? Not to mention the painfull setting process to get the best from it ? My TD 160 mk2 + Shure M97 Xe sits on a Soundstyle X105 and is partnered to a Marantz PM17mk2 amplifier and ATC A7 speakers, all cables from Qed. A true winner combination. For what I paid, back in 1978, and for the price you could find it in the second hand market, I would still rate it 5 stars. Splendid job, Thorens !

Strengths:
A very good neutral sound at an affordable price, rock solid TT , dead silent, what more ?

Weaknesses:
underrated.

Similar Products Used:
TD 145, Lenco L85 and many poor jap designs