The Thorens TD-105 is a semi-automatic belt-drive turntable introduced by Swiss manufacturer Thorens in 1978. Designed as an accessible, budget-friendly entry into high-fidelity sound, it featured a floating sub-chassis, electronic touch controls, and an innovative contactless velocity-sensitive auto-return system. Production ran until 1981, followed by a Mk II revision.
Design and Technology
Drive System: Belt-drive layout utilizing an electronic servo-controlled motor for precise speed stability at 33 and 45 RPM.
Isotrack Tonearm: Equipped with the low-mass TP 22 tonearm and a unique TP 63 cartridge wand that detached near the pivot to minimize connector mass.
Electronic Operation: Featured touch-sensitive electronic switching keys and a frictionless optical/electronic shut-off that lifted and returned the tonearm at the end of a record.
Evolution and Reception
Model Differences: The TD-105 was the semi-automatic counterpart to the manual TD-104. The later Mk II variant refined performance attributes before the line was retired in the early 1980s.
Public Perception: Consensus on platforms like Vinyl Engine indicates that while the heavy use of high-grade plastics made it look more budget-oriented than classic wooden-plinth heavyweights like the TD-160, its precision engineering, agile sound signature, and advanced arm mechanics remain widely respected.
