A thread delivery apparatus (1) for tension-regulated thread feeding has an adaptive regulator for controlling its drive motor (7). The adaptive regulator controls the drive motor (7) according to the thread tension which is detected by means of a thread tension sensor (12). A calibrating module (16) is provided for determining the compliance of the thread (2) in a test and for fixing the regulating parameters of the regulator correspondingly. This relates, in particular, to the D proportion of the regulator, but can also relate to the P proportion and/or the Ü proportion. The thread delivery apparatus is therefore adapted automatically to different use conditions.