Thorens GmbH

About Thorens

Thorens GmbH is a manufacturer of consumer electronics components with a focus on analog audio products. The portfolio includes high-end turntables (including TD 404 DD, TD 124 DD, TD 1500, TD 1600/1601), tonearms such as the TP 160, moving-coil and moving-magnet phono cartridges, phono preamplifiers, loudspeakers (Soundwall HP 600), cables as well as the TM 1600 reel-to-reel tape machine developed together with the Ballfinger manufactory. Under the claim “Designed in Germany”, the products are developed and distributed via a network of specialist dealers in around 70 countries; service and repair are provided through authorized service centers. Founded in 1883 by Hermann Thorens in Sainte-Croix (Swiss Jura), the company is regarded as a pioneer of phono cartridge and turntable technology; the TD 124, launched in 1957, became a worldwide success. Since 1 May 2018, the newly founded Thorens GmbH has been based in Bergisch Gladbach under its owner and managing director Gunter Kürten. In 2026, the TD 404 DD was awarded the EISA Award 2026–2027.

Site

Bergisch Gladbach

Processes

Development and distribution of high-end audio products (turntables, tonearms, phono cartridges,, Online shop, Service & warranty via authorized service centers, Distribution via a network of specialist dealers in approx. 70 countries

Founded

1883

Industries

Consumer Electronics / High-End Audio

1. 01

   Product development

2. 02

   Distribution via specialist dealers and online shop

3. 03

   Service & repair via authorized service centers

Locations

Bergisch Gladbach

DE

Headquarters, development and distribution

Products

Inside the production

History

1. 1883

   Hermann Thorens has the company registered in the commercial register in Sainte-Croix (Swiss Jura); production of music boxes and musical movements.

2. 1928

   One of the first electric gramophone motors and magnetic-based phono pickups; cooperation with Strassfurt-Imperial; around 1,200 employees by the end of the 1920s.

3. 1957

   Launch of the TD 124, a worldwide success for studio and home use, produced until 1968.

4. 1963

   Merger with Paillard SA; creation of the TD 150.

5. 1966

   Separation from Paillard; founding of Thorens-Franz AG in Lahr, the production home for the following decades.

6. 1979

   Thorens Reference, a 90 kg high-end turntable.

7. 1997

   Relocation of the company headquarters to Germany; 1999 insolvency of Thorens Audio Vertriebs GmbH.

8. 2001

   Acquisition by the Swiss entrepreneur Heinz Rohrer.

9. 2018

   Acquisition by Gunter Kürten (former managing director of Elac Electroacustic); re-establishment of Thorens GmbH in Bergisch Gladbach, operations commencing on 1 May 2018.

10. 2026

    TD 404 DD wins the EISA Award 2026-2027.