THORENS TD 1500 Turntable with Ortofon 2M Bronze Cartridge > Enthusiastically recommended by Soundstage

Thorens TD 1500 Turntable with Ortofon 2M Bronze Cartridge > Enthusiastically recommended by Soundstage

Established in 1883 in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland, Thorens

started out building music boxes several years before German-born American inventor Emile Berliner would file a patent for his Gramophone, a device that reproduced sound recorded on disc-shaped metal or shellac “records.” The Gramophone and its shellac discs were succeeded by turntables and long-play vinyl records, and Thorens ultimately established its reputation as a leading turntable manufacturer; a status it maintains to this day.

Description Thorens TD 1500

In 2019, Thorens underwent a reorganization. Under new CEO Gunter Kürten (former CEO of Elac), the company began reinvigorating its brand with the release of several new turntables that paid homage to iconic decks from the firm’s history—including the subject of this review, the TD 1500.
The TD 1500 was designed in Germany and is manufactured in Taiwan. To say that it resembles the TD 150 on which it’s based would be an understatement. One look at the new model and there can be no mistaking its lineage. Measuring 16.5″W × 6″H × 14″D, the TD 1500 has a similar, compact profile to the TD 150. At a mass of 15.4 pounds, the new deck feels substantial enough, but like many of its floating-subchassis brethren, it’s lightweight by the standards of a lot of solid-plinth turntables in its price range.

Sound of Thorens TD 1500

My first (and lasting) impression of the TD 1500 was that it’s a quiet turntable. My second was that its sound is detailed and clean. These observations popped up repeatedly in my listening notes.

Conclusion

I can’t imagine we’ll ever see a wholesale shift toward suspended-subchassis designs. Solid-plinth turntables are so prevalent and, in many cases, far more affordable than suspended decks, which simply don’t exist in the entry-level segment of the market. However, after owning one such turntable for over a decade, and now having had the opportunity to hear a brand-new model, there’s still plenty to love in this design. The TD 1500 is the most expensive turntable I’ve reviewed for SoundStage! Hi-Fi, and the best-sounding. To my ears it offers a terrific combination of clarity and precision, while still maintaining the warmth and fullness that make people want to invest in a high-quality record player in the first place. I’m not sure I could ever tire of its sound, and given the company’s extraordinary longevity, a potential buyer can take comfort in the fact that Thorens should be able to service the TD 1500 if anything ever needs attention. Enthusiastically recommended.
- Philip Beaudette, Soundstage, Feb 2023

Thorens TD 1500
SoundStage!