Analog Gear News

We continue ever onward with our extended looks at some of the coolest gear seen and heard at High End Munich 2023. Next up is the Thorens New Reference turntable, a stunning piece that’s intended to celebrate 140 years of the company’s design and performance prowess.

In addition to the previously announced limited-edition Thorens TT 124 DD 140th Anniversary turntable — a brilliant ’table in its own right also seen in Munich that is capped at a manufacturing run of 140 pieces, available only as complete set that includes the company’s vaunted SPU TD 124 phono cartridge, and sports an overall SRP of €11,999 — the New Reference ’table is indeed a sight to see in and of itself.

The stats are these. The Thorens New Reference turntable boasts a belt-drive design. The company notes that it went the belt-drive route here in order to isolate the platter from the drive motor by way of the elastic belt, which is said to be less susceptible to motor fluctuations. Additionally, Thorens says that due to the utilization of a pair of “ultra-high-precision quartzoscillators” (their words), the ’table’s speed will maintain a range of 33.3332 to 33.3334 rotations per minute over a 20-year period.

The New Reference turntable can also be equipped with up to three tonearm bases that are able to accommodate 9in, 10in, and 12in tonearms. Two of those bases are mounted — 1) the 12in TP160 cutting bearing tonearm with continuous silver cabling; and 2) the Thiele TA01 tonearm, which is said to offer the “precise guidance” of a pivoted tonearm with the “advantages” of a tangential tonearm.

One of the most critical design elements of the New Reference turntable has to do with vibration isolation. To that end, Thorens’ design team, along with Seismion — the German active-vibration isolators manufacturer — have produced a fully active vibration isolation system “from scratch.” Thorens confirms this active system is based around high-sensitivity piezoelectric acceleration sensors and an all-linear electronic control circuit based on Seismion’s own Reactio active vibration isolator. The New Reference turntable’s vibration system is said to isolate disturbances already below 1Hz and reduce them to less than 1% (–40dB) at frequencies of 10Hz and above.

In addition to the vibration isolators having been mechanically based on an elastic mount, an active control system is set as a classic feedback control. The New Reference turntable also sports a layered chassis made of high-damped materials, with the isolation system intended for stabilizing the entire subchassis on which the platter is placed. An adaptive leveling technique keeps the player levelled within 20 micrometers.

We’re still awaiting direct word on pricing for and availability of the Thorens New Reference turntable, and whenever that information is confirmed firsthand, we will add any/all of those updates in this space accordingly.

For more about Thorens, go here.
To find an authorized Thorens distributor, go here.
(If you live in the U.S., click on page 5 and scroll down to the United States listing at the bottom right.)