THORENS’ latest turntables, the TD209 and TD206, are “spin-downs” from the acclaimed and award-winning TD309, whose “shield-shaped” plinth didn’t necessarily sit well with vinyl addicts. Lesson learnt, it appears – while the TD209’s follows the form of its older sibling, it offers the same DNA in a “rectangular” package that is the TD206.
Non-identical twins, you can call them, and they follow their forebear’s template, with high-quality parts and materials used in their construction, and some technical features shared. The TD206 also comes with its own acrylic cover attached to the MDF plinth.
There’s a new tonearm on these ‘tables, the TP 90, based on the enduring TP 92 of earlier that uses the same “ultra-low-friction, high-performance bearing and the innovative zero-stiction anti-bias system.” The bearings, apparently, are from Japan but the turntables are otherwise made in Germany.
We’re told that the arm tube is made from rolled aluminium, damped using “RMR technology” (reduced-modal-resonance), with a double-decoupled stainless-steel counterweight. Users can make adjustments for tonearm height (VTA), azimuth and overhang.
The DC motor is a low-noise, low-voltage unit with its speed electronically controlled, while the platter is two-piece, made from aluminium and acrylic. The belt can be adjusted for tension.
The TD209 and TD206 come in red, black and white (high-gloss) – there’s also an optional acrylic cover for the former. The turntables are supplied with the Audio-Technica AT95 cartridge.
