Thorens MC 1600 — Fully Balanced Phono Preamplifier, Made in Germany
The MC 1600 is Thorens' statement phono stage: a fully balanced, dual-mono preamplifier handcrafted in Germany, designed to work with both MM and MC cartridges and to be precisely matched to virtually any cartridge on the market. For Thorens turntable owners running balanced XLR outputs — on the TD 1500, TD 1600, TD 1601, TD 404 DD, or TD 124 DD — this is the natural, purpose-built companion.
Fully Balanced, Dual-Mono Architecture The MC 1600's fully balanced circuitry uses two-stage symmetrical amplification that is individual and independent for each channel. This dual-mono architecture eliminates interference and crosstalk between channels, delivering 110 dB channel separation regardless of gain setting — a specification that outperforms most competitors at any price. The result is excellent low noise, high channel separation, and outstandingly natural reproduction.
Exceptional Adjustability This is where the MC 1600 genuinely stands apart from the competition. Gain is adjustable in ten steps from 32 to 68 dB. Input capacitance is configurable from 50 pF to 600 pF. For MC cartridges, input impedance is fine-tunable across more than 60 steps between 20 and 1,280 ohms. All parameters are adjustable per channel via DIP switches, and a subsonic filter is included. MM cartridges see the standard 47k ohm input impedance. Whether you're running a low-output MC with a 2 ohm internal impedance or a high-output MM, the MC 1600 can be dialed in to match it perfectly.
Measurements That Matter Distortion is below 0.005%, and RIAA equalization accuracy holds to within 0.1 dB across the audio band. Signal-to-noise ratio reaches 100 dBA relative to 2V output, with a maximum output of 10V rms and 100mA rms output current — more than enough headroom to drive any downstream preamplifier without strain.
Connectivity Both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs and outputs are provided. Using the XLR connection takes full advantage of the circuit's balanced architecture, further minimizing noise on long cable runs and delivering maximum performance. For those already running balanced connections from their Thorens turntable, the MC 1600 keeps the signal path fully balanced from stylus to preamp output.
Build and Design The sturdy black metal chassis with brushed aluminum front panel is compact at 300 x 90 x 301mm and weighs 5 kg — substantial enough to feel serious, sized to fit neatly into any rack. It matches the aesthetic of current Thorens components directly. A customizable illuminated Thorens logo on the front panel can be set to different colors or switched off entirely for those who prefer a blacked-out look.
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