Skip to main content

Thorens TD-280 Turntable

I completely forgot about posting this turntable on the blog.  I thought I did, but I guess I didn't.  However, it is sold so, this is primarily for information and posterity. 

Personally, I enjoy non-suspended belt drive turntables because they're less finicky to deal with, no need to adjust suspension and the need of a solid platform.  Granted, a solid platform is good for all turntable.  For some odd reason, could be laziness, I just tend to prefer non-suspended belt drive tables, and which is why I would like to get an Empire turntable to play with!

But, I digress.  I have numerous of Thorens turntables in my ownership, from the sought after TD-125MKII, to handful of TD-160s and TD-150s (I did love the look of the tone arm on the MKII), the popular Harman Hardon T165C and of course plenty of Japanese suspended belt drive turntables, and all were great but all of them weren't from me.  I've always stuck with my non-suspended direct drive turntables like my Micro Seiki and Sony.  I do have a Technics suspended direct drive but I generally keep that for the automatic return feature, haha.

However, this Thorens was a game changer for me.  I really loved how it sounded, I thought it was better than it's all so popular bigger brother the TD-160s but, it could be I didn't have it at optimum alignment and blah blah blah.  Oh well, but this TD-280 sounded great with the Shure M95ED.  Not to mention having the auto-lift at the end is pretty useful!

This table sounded so good that I even thought about adding it to my collection.  But, I determined to try out more belt drives, which I am right now and try to find an Empire turntable!

For specifications:
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/thorens/td280.shtml


Popular posts from this blog

Energy Encore 2 Speakers

My family were the original owners of these speakers. We actually had the entire Energy Encore 5.1 surround set, minus the integrated stands. Slowly, the rear speakers were sold. I kept the subwoofer to use with my sound bar, and the center channel broke. All that remained were these little guys sitting on the same shelving unit for the past 15ish years. I used them for a bit for my computer setup but, opted to use my Mirage Omni 350 instead. While these are considered "big box store" speakers, they are still great little speakers. These were made in Canada. Used their hyperdome aluminum tweeter that made Energy famous from the Pro22 days (thank you Burhoe!). A super nice black piano finish and sealed box, with a 4" long throw woofer. Some Specifications that I took from the web: System Type: Magnetically shielded acoustic suspension satellite Tweeter: 1" (28mm) Aluminum dome with cloth suspension Woofers: 4" (112mm) Multi-laminated aluminum polycarbonate c

Yamaha YP-66 Turntable

The rosewood vinyl wrapped twin sibling of the Yamaha YP-221, they are the exactly the same other than the colour of the plinth and instead of silver plastic bits on the YP-221 the YP-66 has black bits. This is your typical belt drive turntable of the mid to late 70s.  It's a 2-speed with automatic return (semi-automatic).  It's a nice entry level turntable with all the decent built quality that you find on majority of the Japanese made tables of that era.  It has a good sized motor and a decent weight.  Yamaha tables are like Sony tables, they always have decent quality components and they always look nice to the eyes.  The slight smoked dustcover and the rosewood plinth makes it quite unique to look at. Sadly, the antiskate weight on our isn't original.  It was missing when we got it.  After a bit of research we found the appropriate weight and found an appropriate weight to retrofit into our table.  We found a nice brass weight to fit with the design.  And, as usual,

Dual CS-616Q Turntable

Finally doing a write up for a couple of turntables.  So, let's start with the Dual CS-616Q.  Made around the mid 80s when wood-grain design were no longer in fashion and the new sleek grey and black were in.  This Dual is in really nice shape, and I mean real nice shape.  While it's not from the 70s, it doesn't mean it's not quality.  In comparison to other companies of the time that still made entry level turntables, this Dual is really well made.  It has decent heft and it is German made so a lot of precision was still put into it. It is a direct drive, a true semi-automatic and quartz lock turntable.  Why do I mean true semi-automatic?  Well, before some of their earlier turntables had an auto-lift off at the end but the tonearm never returned to the rest post.  So, having it returning is a nice feature to have!  It also features Dual's ULM (ultra low mass) tonearm and their EDS motor.  These tonearms are especially nice for higher compliant cartridges as