THORENS TD 318

Second-hand, in mint condition, without scratches. No original package.

Turntable

The TD318 features a base with a black plastic finish instead of the fine rosewood found on the TD321. However, this black finish is uniform across the entire surface of the turntable, except for a thin strip of silver plastic trim, allowing for seamless integration with other equipment and furniture. The base is inset to maintain a sleek look, and the transparent plastic lid is equipped with spring-loaded hinges for smoother operation.

The TD318 turntable is equipped with a floating suspension system that separates the motor housing carrying the platter spindle and the tonearm. Thorens has introduced a new type of leaf spring for this series, ensuring isolation from motor noise and minimizing the effect of vibrations or acoustic feedback. The suspension is factory preset for the TP21 tonearm, so no user adjustment is required.

The new TP21 tonearm is designed simply but effectively, with a straight tubular arm and a removable die-cast headshell. The twin gimbal bearings offer a friction of less than 0.2mN, ensuring smooth and precise movements. The calibrated counterweight allows for easy tracking force adjustment, while the anti-skating compensation is adjusted using the classic thread-and-weight system.

The arm's lift/lower mechanism, with damping control, operates only when the turntable is switched on, but during setup, it is possible to prevent the disc from spinning by locking the cueing lever or removing the drive belt. Once the turntable is in operation, the auto-stop function automatically lifts the arm without any unwanted side effects.

Connected to a good-quality amplifier and speakers, the TD318 delivered satisfactory performance with a balanced and stable sound range. The stereo separation and depth of the acoustic image were very satisfying. Measurements showed moderate distortion (wow-and-flutter at 0.07%) and residual noise (rumble) of 64dB weighted.

The TD318 is an excellent choice for those seeking a quality turntable at an affordable price and a compelling option for those with a smaller budget who do not want to compromise on audio quality.

Technical Specifications:

• Drive method: Belt, one-step
• Motor: Low-voltage, 16-pole synchronous motor
• Speed: 33 and 45 rpm
• Speed control: Two-phase generator
• Platter: 2.7 kg, 300 mm, zinc alloy, dynamically balanced
• Wow & flutter: 0.04%
• Noise: -70 dB
• Effective arm length: 232 mm
• Effective mass: 12.5 g
• Overhang: 16.4 mm
• Offset angle: 23 degrees
• Dimensions: 440 x 350 x 170 mm
• Weight: 10.5 kg