I've never owned a Rega, 2 or 3, that sounded better than a TD160. TD166, yes, and probably a TD165 too, they weren't great with their plastic subplatter.
The decent Thorens decks deserve a decent reputation, they weren't ever cheap items and are well built. I think it's the very successful marketing of the LP12 as The Only One in the 70s and 80s that made people neglect the thorens items, and the fact that Thorens went downmarket post TD160, that meant that TD150s/160s etc were landfill until a few years ago. I'm glad to see people waking up to how good they are, they will still see off something like an Axis, Basik or Pink LPT.