Editorial Review:

Amazon.com Product Description:
The Thorens TD240 combines high-class technology with noble, unobtrusive elegance. It features a precision-ground belt, a 3-speed electronically controlled DC motor, and comes equipped with a high-grade TP21 tone arm. The increased mass of the wooden body along with the suspended chassis enable the system to run extraordinarily smooth and provide exemplary sound.



Accessories:
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Accessories:

• Furman Elite-20 PF i Ultra Linear AC Power Source
• Furman IT-Reference 20 i Discrete Symmetrical AC Power Source
• Furman Elite-15 i Linear Filtering AC Power Source

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Rating: - Not your father's Thorens
I bought a TD240 from Amazon in February, and I was immediately struck by how inaccurate the speed stability was. I heard constant pitch fluctuations, but after a few months it improved. I was also unimpressed with the plastic controls and metal platter. The cables are low quality and can't be replaced without some soldering. Changing the cartridge is difficult because most of the better alignment tools require at least 210mm from pivot to spindle, while the TD240 has about 190mm. The included alignment tool is a cheap plastic bracket that is difficult to use. The motor on my unit shorted out and caught fire less than 7 months after purchase.

That said, their warranty service came through. Scott at SG Custom Sound (one of the two US service centers) took good care of me. With time, the pitch problems went away. The controls are intuitive and easy to use. The anti-skate and stylus force controls are surprisingly accurate. I still think it is a good turntable, but it is a $400 turntable, not a $750 turntable.

I am convinced that you can buy a better, more upgradeable turntable for less. The Music Hall MMF 2.2 with Goldring cartridge is available on Amazon for $499, or you could buy a Pro-Ject Debut III with an Ortofon cartridge for about $380. Add the Dynavector 10X5 for $395 and you'd have a serious turntable for only $50 more than the TD240. Plus, both the Music Hall and the Pro-Ject offer reasonably priced upgrades for the budget-minded audiophile.