Pics of the New VPI Tables
- Thread starter MylesBAstor
- Start date
and a huge price increase to boot. They are trying to compete with the big boyz...I suppose.
Well they have always competed with the big boys. Fremer even said the earlier Classic 1 VPI table was within a whisker of his Continuum for 1/20th the cost.
The motor alone in the Classic Direct costs $4000. Friends who have the new 3D arm say it's the biggest improvement they've heard in a VPI product to date.
Lately, there's been some magic in the newer DD tables.
I don't think one can be dogmatic about the table drive system anymore; all are darn good and it's the execution that separates the men from the boys.
I think that is a stretch, imho...assigning percentages of how close in sound one component is to another is far from an exact science. I thought my clearaudio master Innovation could only be improved marginally. The TechDAS kills it.
Congrats on the new VPI. It sounds like an awesome table...
Christian-Since your new AF1 "kills" your old, tired Clearaudio table, would you please send me that hunk of junk to me? I will gladly pay for the shipping.
Thanks Christian. Looking forward to the new table and also the new Doshi phono stage in about three months. Hopefully will have it in time to finish the reviews of the Proteus, 9TT and Universe cartridges. Then would love to get an Azule in here
Christian-Since your new AF1 "kills" your old, tired Clearaudio table, would you please send me that hunk of junk to me? I will gladly pay for the shipping.
I wish I could...it is far from junk. The biggest difference is the complete silence the AF 1 plays records virtually devoid of record surface noise...almost like cd silence. This was one of nishakawa san's design goals. The difference really comes through playing classical music. You just don't hear the record other than the music. My clearaudio is now my dedicated mono record playback. I use my Ikeda 9tt mono cart on my 10" graham. The TechDas uses a Koetsu Coralstone on the 12" graham in the rear slot and I will be using a dynavector xv1t for the elite arm when they are ready by ces.
I could, but it has about 600 hours on it and it performs great on the 12". I also have the tiger eye with 150 hours. I have two arm wands for each arm, so I could mix and match. I am excited to hear my xv1 t. It is still new in box.
I know you know that I was kidding. I think the world of that Clearaudio table and I have never forgotten the impression it left me with when I heard it with the Goldfinger cartridge.
It is a great performer no doubt. The AF1 is just that much better. I would not have believed it until I had it in my system. I got my allnic h5000 DHT yesterday. I am expecting big things from this tubed monster. Out of the box and unbroken in, my xp 25 sounds better. I am confident that this will be a temporary situation, until the 5000 breaks in. I am using a granite audio phono burnin cd to speed things along when I am not listening.
Hi Christian,
It looks like the AF1 will become a little more silent still. They have a new record weight made just for it. Thank goodness it isn't a screw down one. I hate those. Such a hassle.
I haven't heard the 3D arm of Harry yet, but in my limited experience, the big jump I've heard with VPI is going to the all stainless platters. With those they got it in goldilocks territory between the old acrylics, old delrins and stainless delrin combos.
It looks like the AF1 will become a little more silent still. They have a new record weight made just for it. Thank goodness it isn't a screw down one. I hate those. Such a hassle.
I haven't heard the 3D arm of Harry yet, but in my limited experience, the big jump I've heard with VPI is going to the all stainless platters. With those they got it in goldilocks territory between the old acrylics, old delrins and stainless delrin combos.
Like you Jack, I enjoy not having to use the outer ring on a record...so much easier and convenient. When you get more info on the record weight for the AF1, please post it...
Jack,
VPI are using aluminium platters. Are you saying they should be using stainless steel?
Myles, why has it taken VPI such a long time to come out with a higher priced product? Unfortunately, as has been discussed ad nauseum, many people perceive an audio brand not having a higher priced model as mediocre, and not give them true consideration as they would to a company that has products at all price points on the spectrum. So better late than never, I guess.
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