Date: 2023-05-31

The Chord Company is one of the UK’s best-known manufacturers of quality audio cables. They have been making and selling power cables for many years, so it is perhaps surprising that it has taken them so long to produce their own high-quality mains distribution block. Launched early last year, The Chord Company’s PowerHAUS S6 (Studio) and M6 (Master), six-way mains distribution blocks result from many years of development by their engineers. Despite this, they only recently felt they had something ready to market and sought CE approval for the products. The blocks appear to have proved popular with Chord Co’s dealer network and the public at last year’s audio shows.

So why would users connect their systems to a distribution block such as the PowerHAUS, fed from a single mains socket, rather than directly connecting multiple wall sockets? It is said that connecting this way earths the whole system to the same point, which some say can be sonically beneficial.

Priced at £2,000, the M6 is a premium product designed for users of higher-end audio systems. Also available is the PowerHAUS S6, which at first glance looks similar to the M6, although a little shorter. The main difference between the two blocks is that the S6 lacks the M6’s three MainsARAY elements connected in parallel, instead making do with a SuperARAY system connected at mains level.The S6 is priced at £1,000.

Both models connect from the wall into a 16A socket, the cable for which buyers must purchase separately. For this review, The Chord Company supplied one of their ARAY power cables, which retails for a further £750 for the 1.5m length provided, or £500 for 1m. Effectively, I am reviewing a £2,750 combo. My sample came with six high-quality UK spec unswitched IEC sockets. Euro, otherwise known as Schuko unswitched output sockets, are also available.

BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN
The PowerHAUS M6 is extremely attractive and well-finished. Aluminium is used to reduce both microphony and RFI. It could be considered imposing to some eyes, being taller and longer than more basic blocks. As I eluded to earlier, the block extends beyond the sockets by several centimetres to house Hybrid Mains ARAYs. I am sure readers will wonder what a Mains ARAY is, as I did. The Chord Co uses the term ARAY technology in describing various cables and products throughout its product range. The Chord Company’s marketing department told me that the acronym relates to a range of tuning technologies based around the mechanical grounding of signal cables. I am not sure that I am any the wiser, having been given this info, but that is all I have folks. The PowerHAUS range forgoes ‘star wiring’, which is popular in rival products, as Chord’s research found it can make such a device susceptible to RFI.

The sockets are connected in parallel, rather than in series, direct to three isolated bus bars. This is said to reduce high-frequency noise. Following listening trials by The Chord Co, they say that superior results were obtained by connecting the earth to a separate bus bar. There are no LED lights or switches, again for sonic reasons. The sockets used in the PowerHAUS range are said to have been chosen for performance and reliability considerations. The Chord Co’s designers went to great lengths to reduce vibrations as far as possible, as their engineers found that microphony in the mains signal degrades the sound quality. Many enthusiasts and designers believe mains filters impact dynamics and ‘musicality’. I have enjoyed listening to systems with and without mains filters, but The Chord Company feel the without sounds best, so you will not find them in their mains blocks. The acronym HAUS in PowerHAUS stands for ‘Hybrid ARAY Unfiltered Supply’. Thick gauge cable is used throughout the product. There is a terminal next to the 16amp mains input socket so that users can connect the block to a separate earth point. Unfortunately, I was unable to test this feature.

DOES THE POWERHAUS M6 MAKE MUSIC SOUND BETTER?
I installed the M6 in my main system for a few weeks, consisting of a Moon Audio 600i amp and 780D streaming DAC fed by a Melco digital server. My speakers are Totem Forest Signatures. Digital cables are from Network Acoustics, and analogue cables are from Townsend Audio. Power is usually supplied to my system via a ‘Hydra’, comprising a single mains plug, feeding a box where four shielded mains cables exit. The advantage of this arrangement is that just a single fuse is used, as each of the four cables that connect to the components that form my system, directly exits the Hydra block. The Hydra is great from a performance perspective but is not the ideal reviewing tool.

For this reason, a few days before the PowerHAUS arrived, I substituted the Hydra for the Russ Andrews PowerBar S and Yello Cables, which I reviewed for HiFi Pig some time ago. Following acclimatisation to the change in sonic balance, this arrangement allowed me to swap out the RA block and replace it with the PowerHAUS M6, keeping the RA Yello cables in situ. The unavoidable inconsistency here is that the PowerBar S has a 13amp input rather than the M6’s 16amp, so a RA PowerKord Evolution 100 fed the RA block, and The Chord Co’s  Epic ARAY fed the M6. The PowerBar S is an excellent product and represents fine value at £154. RA’s top-of-the-range PowerBlock would have been a fairer comparison, but I did not have one at my disposal.

So what did the PowerHAUS M6 bring to the party? A seemingly dramatic lowering of the noise floor. Immediately the music was less tied to the speaker cabinets and seemed to ‘float’ between them and around them. I noted a slight improvement in stereo depth, but more significant was the precision of instrument placement, both between and in front of the speakers. The effect was more apparent when listening to recordings that projected the soundstage beyond the width of the speakers, such as Roger Waters’ Amused To Death. I found the usual ‘sweet spot’ I formerly needed to sit in to enjoy a holographic soundstage was now wider. Dynamics were immediately more pronounced, as was particularly highlighted whilst listening to a 24/96 FLAC of Steven Wilson’s Hand Can Not Erase album. The guitar solos on the tracks Home Invasion/Regret #9 and Ancestral cut through the dense mix dramatically, to startling effect. The timing qualities of the percussion instruments were easier to appreciate than I had noted from previous listenings to this album.

Generally, the music sounded cleaner and more defined. One may describe the sound as brighter in balance, but that term is often misused and interpreted as something negative. In other words, with the PowerHAUS in situ, instruments and singers at all frequencies are better defined and easier to follow, almost as if a spotlight was shining on them. The bass is cleaner, more detailed, and subjectively appears fuller and deeper. Cymbals are reproduced in a cleaner, crisper, and more airy fashion. I found it was possible to enjoy music at a lower volume since installing the PowerHAUS M6. As I type, I am listening to a CD rip of David Sylvian’s Dead Bees On A Cake at the sort of volume level one could easily hold a conversation over, and the music sounds full, detailed, dynamic, and spacious. Surprisingly even the low frequencies are still reproduced with authority at this low volume. I found one caveat with the improved detail and definition; those recordings with an overly ‘bright’ edge sounded a little more unpleasant than via my usual mains arrangement. However, I feel that the cleaner electrical signal PowerHAUS M6 supplies to my set-up simply means my system tells me more about the recordings in my collection. Indeed, finely engineered music was reproduced with a clean and silky top end.

CONCLUSION
You can probably tell that I am pleased with the improvements the Chord PowerHAUS M6 has brought to my system. Via the M6, I believe that what I am hearing is my system performing closer to its potential. I feel the improvements it has made are extremely worthwhile in a system which is already at a level that I would say is close to the ‘end-game’ level. Potential buyers will have to decide if the £2,750 entry fee for the M6 and Epic ARAY cable to feed it are the best way to spend their money. For those with lesser systems, I can say that I have previously spent some time with the PowerHAUS S6, which retails for half the price of the M6, and it has similar qualities, but they do not extend to the same heights. I could live with either, but assuming funds are available, I would dig deep to find the extra money for the M6.

Date: 2023-05-30

輯錄自《普洛影音網》
Burmester 159是他家花了七年所研發出來的超級單聲道後級，連續輸出功率每聲道1,200瓦 (4歐姆)，瞬間可達6,600瓦。每聲道重達180公斤，體積523x415x660mm，總諧波失真0.00039%。原廠說，為了安全起見，必須要有五名壯漢來抬。至於售價，我就不說了，只恨自己口袋不夠深。這套怪獸級單聲道後級就是為了搭配他家BC350喇叭而設計生產的。2023年2月17日，我終於見識到這二件麗質天生的頂級產品雙劍合璧的效果了。

像Burmeater BC350這麼巨大的喇叭不可能送到我家聽，所以上次我就在主人家聽過BC350了，當時搭配的是McIntosh前、後級，我也寫過報導了。而這次，主人換了Burmester159，這麼大的後級當然也不可能送到我家來聽，所以我又來到主人家。空間一樣，喇叭一 樣，前級Burmester 808 MK V與159後級不同，主人也換了幾條電源線與訊號線，包括Siltech三冠王，以及Nordost頂級電源線等。

另外我還看到多加了一部Stromtank S2500 Quantum電池供電器。這部電池供電器只是給前級與訊源使用，後級直接插入壁插。對了，還多了一部AEG 21R盤帶機，主人說這部只是暫時頂著用，他已經定了一部Nagra T audio F1特別版還沒到貨。看來主人連超級訊源都齊 備了。

主人的音響室沒變，但我一坐下來聽，就發現聲音特質改變了，變得純純的Burmester之聲。何謂純純的Burmester之聲？那就是非常飽滿、非常霸氣、非常彈跳、堂堂皇皇，但又 很細緻、也很溫柔，還很甜潤，也很華麗。這樣的聲音聽起來到底如何？一言以蔽之，那是一種會讓人充滿幸福感的聲音。當然這樣說太抽象了，非得您自己親耳聽過，才能體會什麼是讓人充滿幸福感的聲音。

Burmester 159的正面沒有電源開關，您要打開頂蓋前沿的滑蓋，就可以看到類似閘刀的電源開關，還有一排阻尼因數的數字以及燈號。沒錯，Burmester 159最大的亮點之一就是阻尼因數可調(在背板上旋鈕調整)，而且調整後的阻尼因數可以顯示讓我們看到。或許您會說，都已經每聲道輸出1,200瓦了，還調什麼阻尼因數，保證可以將喇叭壓得死死的不是嗎？話是這樣沒錯，1,200瓦絕對可以驅動世上任何一隊喇叭。不過，如果能夠細調阻尼因數，讓擴大機控制喇叭低頻的能力更上層樓，不是更好嗎？何況，Burmester 159賣價那麼貴，如果沒有什麼與眾不同的地方，要讓買家如何心甘情願出手？

簡單寒暄過，我就不客氣地做在皇帝位上開始認真聽音樂，我聽的是自己很熟悉的Tidal串流。為何選串流呢？一來方便，可以挑出我想測試的音樂。二來串流已經是｢最差」的訊源了，上面還有CD、高解析音樂檔、黑膠、盤帶，如果串流聽起來好聽，其他訊源更不必說，所以我挑串流來聽。我先是很快的每首曲子聽一些重點，總共聽了幾十首，這樣聽的目的是想以最快的速度讓我對BC350搭配159之後的聲音表現有個全面的了解。全面了解之後，才能進行下一步。

重點聽過之後，我發現，無論是BC30或159都是麗質天生，音質好到不行，根本沒得嫌。假若有人聽了主人家的聲音，嫌音質不好，我認為只會有二個原因，一個是他自己的癖性太重，另一個原因就是他的耳朵壞掉了。聽到這麼美的音質，就像是吃了A5和牛，或頂級日本水蜜桃、草莓，渾身上下舒暢已極。咦？Burmester是德國產品，難道不能舉德國美食來比喻嗎？對不起，我沒吃過德國有什麼好吃的牛肉跟水果，無法拿出來做比喻。

享受頂級音質之餘，我也發現如果是播放龐大的管弦樂、或低頻量感比較突出的流行音樂時，這套音響系統的低頻就會混濁，也就是量感過多。低頻一混濁，不僅會遮到許多細微的聲音表現，還會讓音場的透明感降低，連帶也會讓人覺得空間感不夠大、深度不夠深。而播放室內樂時，低頻的問題就不會顯現。我把我的聽感如實告訴主人，主人說他同意我的看法，他自己也覺得是這樣。在我去之前，他也已經做了許多調整，不過並沒有立竿見影之效。他問我能夠怎麼處理？不可能換器材吧？當然不可能！線材也都用到頂了，換無可換。

如果什麼都不能動，那就只能動喇叭擺位與聆聽位置。上次我來的時候，這個聆聽位置是最好的，而喇叭也是按照上次我來的位置，沒有改變。事實上，如果要改變喇叭的位置，BC350一支420公斤，那要好幾名壯漢來推拉，老實說我們都沒那個力氣。不管啦，先用頻譜測測看。一測，果然從63-125Hz有一個十幾二十dB的大峰值，再來50Hz以下又是大峰值，就是這二處低頻峰值讓這套音響系統聽起來好像臀部特別翹的美女，雖然腰部以上很勻稱，但整體看起來就是不協調。

到底要怎麼辦？我看了看，認為只有一個地方可以動，那就是喇叭的Toe In角度。原本主人 是完全沒有Toe In的，而BC350的低音單體又是裝在側面，而這對喇叭的深度又很深，這樣一來，就等於二堵低音牆壁在對轟。不要忘了二二平行牆面會產生駐波，而沒有Toe In的BC350現在看起來就是如此。不要忘了，BC350的底座是可以轉動的，而且有刻度，這就是為了讓用家能夠精準調整Toe In角度而設計。

如果能將喇叭Toe In，可以降低左右二側牆的第一次反射音(尤其低頻量感)，又能提高音場中樂器、人聲的飽滿程度與聚焦，更能讓音場擴展得更寬，而且又可以解決BC350二二相對產生駐波的問題，這樣應該可以稍微解決低頻太渾、不夠透明、音場不夠寬身等問題。我把想法告訴主人，主人馬上動手調整Toe In角度，最終調整的是向內15度。

Toe In角度調好之後，我又以頻譜測了一次，果然63-125Hz的低頻峰值降低了，50Hz以下的峰值更是幾乎消失，而中頻段、高頻段的變化很細微。不僅頻譜量測的結果如此，我們在場四個人分別做在皇帝位上聽過，也都發現低頻段乾淨很多，而且低頻的彈性提升，低頻輪廓凝聚多了。此外，整個音場的透明感提升，聽到的細節更多，音場的寬度與深度整個拉開，而且樂器與人聲的線條形體更浮凸。

僅僅將Toe In調整15度，其他沒有變動，就產生如此巨大的改變，這是主人始料未及的。其實，如果您有玩過PEQ，就會對這樣的改變習以如常，因為PEQ調整1dB就可以明顯聽出差異，更何況低頻量測起來改變了那麼多。或許您以為從此王子與公主過著快樂的生活，其實並非如此，因為這只是主人再次調整的起點，音響系統是主人的，耳朵也是主人的，旁人的意見只是參考而已，主人還要以Toe In 15度為起點，調出方方面面自己都滿意的聲音，這段過程主人還有得忙。至於我，其實我已經很滿意了，能夠聽到BC350與159雙劍合璧的美聲，回家後聽到自己的音響系統，可能又要覺得耳朵出問題了。

Date: 2023-05-10

輯錄自《普洛影音網》
在Siltech新推出的Royal Single Crown系列中，網路線應該是串流音響迷最期待的作品。對比於曾經造就輝煌歷史的USB數位線，RJ45網路線算是起步較晚的。這幾年受惠於音樂串流平台的興起，大大改變了一般人的聆聽音樂模式。其中強打高音質串流的Tidal以及Qobuz音樂平台，更為音響迷描繪出一個嶄新的「高音質聆聽模式」。

這種模式不再是音響迷早期所想像的，將音樂檔案儲存、彙整，再從硬碟或者NAS裡播放；而是直接透過音樂平台，從雲端中拾取即時音樂檔案資料。從檔案的傳送、解碼，到播放，一切過程均是即時處理，攸關音質的串流硬體設備，自然馬虎不得，而這也間接帶出了高階RJ45網路線的重要性。

就等Siltech出手
過去兩年，高階RJ45網路線百家爭鳴，但音響迷似乎都很有默契的一直在等待，等待荷蘭Hi End第一大廠Siltech推出他們家的首款高階網路線。隨後，Siltech發佈的Classic Network，以及Royal Signature Network Crown兩款網路線，在上市後立即取得音響圈高度關注。前者採用 Siltech最新的G9銀金合金，利用24K金來填補銀導體在製作時容易產生的結晶裂縫。後者則用上Siltech當時最新的S8單結晶純銀導體，以每兩股導線做獨立屏蔽，並將芯線以螺旋角度絞繞。

無論網路線等級高低，均用上德國Telegartner MFP8 RJ45端子頭，這已經是用錢可以買得到的最好版本。但隨著新款Royal Single Crown網路線問世，正式取代過去的Royal Signature。現階段要買Siltech最頂級的旗艦網路線，自然非Royal Single Crown莫屬。

最新S10單結晶純銀導體
首先，Royal Single Crown網路線與過去Royal Signature相差最多的就是導體。後者當時採用的單結晶純銀為S8版本，而本次新款網路線已經將導體升級到S10。原廠重新調整了冶金程序，以一 個更耗時、緩慢的製線過程，造就出絕對完美的純銀結晶體，將訊號傳遞的耗損再次降低。

上回聆聽同系列電源線，我就發現S10純銀導體的熟化時間似乎比起過去的Siltech線材更短。能在更快的時間，將Siltech標誌性的溫潤透明純銀線特質展現出來。另外就是根據原廠公布的S10純銀金屬導電率（Conductivity），甚至高達112％，已經超過業界標準非常多。依循網路線規範，Royal Single Crown沒採用系列中的Hexagon平衡結構，而是以內部的4芯S10單結晶純銀導體，以兩芯為一對，進行螺旋絞繞降低干擾，這點與過去Siltech網路線相同。

至於網路線的RJ45端子則採用全屏蔽的金屬外殼，不僅阻抗經過原廠精密配對，高剛性的金屬外殼還能降低干擾。再來就是本次網路線的線身紮實程度是歷年來最高。過去Siltech推出過的網路線都還算「小巧」，這次新款網路線從線身中段開始，原廠以全新的屏蔽與絕緣結構來增加線身厚度，為導體提升緩衝空間以降低振動影響。

所幸，在使用上，我發現新款線材已經沒有早期Siltech線身會因為紮實的屏蔽而不容易彎折的問題。顯然原廠有針對新系列線材去做內部屏蔽與絕緣結構的優化，線身不像過去那般硬質，請使用 者放心。

精準資料時序才是重點
最後來談Siltech網路線的設計理念。Siltech認為，作為一條高音質網路線，設計重點不應該放在資料傳送的速度，而是資料時序的一致性，以及完整度。當初在設計網路線時，他們就特別針對導體材料、編織方式，以及端子頭的品質下功夫。他們發現，不良的阻抗匹配以及導體內的幾何形狀，會在訊號傳遞過程中產生反射以及回聲，這影響比起傳送資料的速度更為重要，也是造成串流音質普遍乾澀生硬的原因。

本次Royal Single Crown網路線除了用上原廠最理想的S10單結晶純銀導體，線身上所配置的Wide-Range Shielding屏蔽技術，原廠也嘗試了全新的阻尼與絕緣比例，由裡到外，均是為了最高的串流音質體驗所打造。

一切美好的聆聽體驗
本次試聽選在二號試聽間，參考喇叭為Yamaha NS-2000A，搭配Roksan Attessa串流擴大機。對比線則是社內的一般網路線，這前後一對比，差異立竿見影，聽過就回不去。我想任何對高音質串流重播有所追求的音響迷，都很難不被眼前這條Siltech網路線所散發出的音樂美質給吸引。它企圖營造的，就是一個更美好的高音質串流世界。

首先要說的是這條線材的解析力真的非常棒，那種眼前煥然一新的質感，真的是高階線材才有的解析力。用Qobuz播放喜愛的Marcin Wasilewski Trio最新的「Live」（Qobuz，24Bit/48kHz），這條線材完全展現出北歐爵士那種極為精緻又略帶冷調距離感的錄音氛圍。我非常喜歡這條線材詮釋鋼琴演奏時，既能保留鋼琴原本的溫潤觸鍵質感，又能在強調高速演奏時，精彩展現出當基音落下，伴隨周圍泛音所激發出的爽脆空氣感。那種瞬間打擊所帶出的演奏效果，真的很難在其他線材中找到！

此線優質的低頻解析效果也是俯首皆是。包括低音貝斯與爵士鼓在交互演奏的互動過程，有大量的音色交會剛好匯聚在容易模糊的低頻段落，但這條網路線是極少數可將低頻解析力處理得非常有質感的線材。不僅將低音貝斯的線條，以一種相當優美的方式描繪出來，鼓手反覆以不同技巧打擊鼓 皮的震盪回饋，更能精準反映出其力道大小，彷彿可精細拆解出一首複雜歌曲的低頻節奏與豐富音 色變化，這是絕對需要非常驚人的低頻解析力才有辦法辦到！

換上法國唱片品牌Harmonia Mundi錄製的「莫札特：小 提琴協奏曲」（Qobuz，24Bit/88.2kHz），我發現Siltech很巧妙的為Yamaha喇叭增添更為醇厚柔美的音色味道。聽見的音場效果更堂皇，小提琴高把位那往外拓展的堂音效果也更多彩。很多人說純銀線的低頻規模感容易不足，但在這張專輯，我可以很清楚聽見深沉的弦樂低音域，是以一層鬆軟的姿態，成穩的墊在中高音域之下，對於高中低音域之間音色漸層有著很美的過渡。重播大編制樂曲時具備應有的磅礡氣勢，當在詮釋小提琴獨奏時，又能透過純銀線聽萬般嬌柔的甜美味道，完美的為Yamaha喇叭增添更為豐潤的唯美氣質，處處展現Siltech天生麗質的音色美感，單就樂器「質感」上的呈現，確實是一流中的一流。

最後，如果您也跟我一樣很喜歡聆聽女人聲的演唱，那我會推薦音響系統上，若有一條像是Siltech這類偏細緻甜美類型的線材，絕對有畫龍點睛的加分效果。例如這次當我換上Royal SingleCrown，重播聆聽不下百次的Diana Krall經典的「When I Look In Your Eyes」（Qobuz，24Bit/96kHz），此線相當巧妙的為人聲嗓音增添了更為柔美細緻的聲音質感，不僅將唇齒音刻畫的清晰自然，包括人聲形體那凝聚又鮮明的定位感，簡直就是一個活生生的人形在對著我唱歌。其他包括吉他、鋼琴、弦樂的演奏高頻甜味就更不用說，用Siltech重播，從聽感上塑造出的音色美感就是帶著一種高級感。

例如播放專輯第二軌「Devil May Care」，開場演奏就是簡單的鋼琴、電吉他，以及低音貝斯，但在聲音竄出的那一剎那，我的耳朵很快的就是真實樂器演奏的聲音彈性給吸引，鋼琴輕盈靈動，電吉他在一旁隨時待命，而低音貝斯則是顆顆凝聚的音粒隨著音階探底死命往下延伸。光是這首歌曲中段的演奏，就讓我徹底被說服，完全釋放出音樂高低兩端的表現能力；那是一種換上後，可以很明確從聲音上聽見變化的改善，很少有一條線材，可以在換上後，有一種「全頻段進化」的感覺，Siltech就是其中一條。我想這也是為何音響圈會有這麼多人追尋Siltech線材的原因。

換下它，心中是萬般惆悵
如何定義一條高階線材的價值？我會說，與其說是它的定價，到不如說是當您將它從音響系統取下之後，是否會在心裡留下那一絲不捨、萬般惆悵的感受，Royal Single Crown網路線就是這樣的一 條線材。當我將它取下，換上通俗製品，聽感不僅顯得平淡，那前後的音質差異，更讓先前的美妙體驗彷彿僅是一場夢境。我想任何對銀線有興趣的音響迷，都不應該錯過這條網路線，讓它帶您一 探串流音質的高峰！

Date: 2023-05-09

The German company Thorens GmbH is presenting its latest drive, the Thorens TD 204, a product that it says is aimed at music lovers with high expectations. The company from Bergisch Gladbach states that the new Thorens TD 204 is a solution aimed at audiophile beginners, with the properties of a high-end drive, and at an exceptionally attractive price-performance ratio. The Thorens TD 204 is also a solution with sound expansion potential for the climber.

Thorens TD 204 – drive with an almost purist design
It is a record player that can be operated manually and has a belt drive. You focus on the essentials in order to be able to offer optimal solutions in terms of the budget at the points that are really relevant for the sound.

The manufacturer himself therefore also speaks of a deliberately puristically designed drive, in which the customer will find everything they need to be able to use it immediately without further investments.

Classic design by Thorens
In principle, the new Thorens TD 204 looks very familiar at first glance and is clearly recognizable as a solution from Thorens GmbH. The company states that the drive with dimensions of 420 x 145 x 360 mm and a mass of 4.2 kg relies on a frame that is designed with surface finishes in black high gloss and walnut high gloss and is therefore seamless in terms of design insert the existing assortment. In addition, the high processing quality underlines the brand identity of Thorens GmbH and guarantees a long service life. Of course, the drive rests on four cushioned feet.

Thorens TD 204 - Manual turntable with belt drive and integrated phono stage
As already described, the new Thorens TD 204 is a manual drive with a belt drive. The DC motor with electronic speed control integrated into the chassis drives the turntable via a sub-platter by means of a precision-ground belt, with the motor being arranged in such a way that it disappears under the turntable during operation.

The platter and sub-platter are made of die-cast aluminium, with a rubber mat serving as a support for operation. The speed can be selected between 33 1/3 and 45 revolutions using a rotary switch.

It must be emphasized that the new Thorens TD 204 comes with an integrated phono preamp that the user can activate if desired in order to connect the drive directly to a high-level input of an amplifier. This is designed for MM pickup systems. The corresponding switch can be found on the connection panel on the back, which of course also has high-quality cinch sockets.

Thorens TP 120 tonearm
The new Thorens TD 204 is also equipped with a newly developed tonearm, namely the Thorens TP 120 tonearm. The manufacturer is convinced that this should be able to come up with particularly high-quality storage technology. The bearing play and the coefficient of friction could be brought to an astonishingly low level by using modern bearings, which is not common in the price range of the Thorens TD 204, according to Thorens GmbH. The Thorens TP 120 used in the Thorens TD 204 is a 9-inch aluminum tonearm, with the so-called J-shape being used in the design of the tonearm tube. The manufacturer specifies the effective tonearm mass at around 15 g and the skating compensation is carried out via a spring.

The tonearm has a detachable headshell with SME connector, so that you can basically change the pickup quickly and easily.

Audio-Technica AT95E MM cartridge
However, the new Thorens TD 204 is already equipped with a pickup system ex works, one from the specialists Audio-Technica Ltd. For example, the Audio-Technica AT95E MM pickup system can be found on the tonearm, which can provide good service, especially for beginners.

Prices and Availability
According to Thorens GmbH, the new Thorens TD 204 will be launched this year. This new drive is available from specialist retailers at the recommended retail price of €799. A matching dust cover is of course included in the scope of delivery.

We mean…
The new Thorens TD 204 is a drive that is basically aimed at price-sensitive but very demanding music lovers. For users who are looking for a drive that works right out of the box and is equipped to allow for future upgrades. A record player that, according to Thorens GmbH , is aimed at music lovers with high standards.