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What else do we think of these Thorens? We especially notice the low weight. At 4.5 kilos, it’s a real lightweight for a turntable. The plateau is only 400 grams, the mat is made of an antistatic type of felt, instead of solid and heavy rubber. You will notice all this by the fact that vibrations and irregularities are transmitted to the chassis, and you will hear that. Despite its low weight, the TD 170 is well and solidly built; proof that ‘plastic fantastic’ can also be interpreted in a positive sense. Furthermore, we don’t find the TD 170 completely quiet. We hear the servomotor running, albeit very gently.
The competition
In the price range of around 500 euros, competition is fierce. There are the Pro project debut III recordmaster (with the same element, the Ortofon OM10), Rega Planar Two, Denon DP400, the Sony PS HX500 and Music Hall MMF 2.3. When choosing, it is mainly a matter of taste and features. The Sony enables you to record the vinyl, up to DSD quality. One turntable is fully automatic, the other manual.
Conclusion
The Thorens TD 170 is an excellent entry level record player. The fully automatic control is will appeal to many beginners. With the TD 170 there will be no cartridge endlessly stuck in the groove when the record is finished. Because of the light weight, it is important that you put the turntable on a stable surface that is as free as possible from vibration. And most importantly, ensure a good match between the supplied Ortofon OM 10 element and the phono preamplifier.Contrary to what an entry-level model might suggest, the mere presence of a phono input or a separate phono pre-amplifier does not guarantee good playback. When impedance and capacitance load are right, you will be rewarded with all the goodies this Thorens has to offer.