MCM_Fan
AK Subscriber
A MUCH better choice. Congrats! Looks like a great table.
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VPI HW-19 question
- Thread starter Esq1997
- Start date
A MUCH better choice. Congrats! Looks like a great table.
nailer
audionerd
Contact VPI, you might be surprised.
I've used BDR cones and will be using original Stillpoints when I set the MK 4 up again. The 19's use a fairly standard thread size and the threaded attachment screws that came with my BDR's also fit the Stillpoints.
You'll need to dismount the Grado, the model is written on its top.
I also second finding a super platter for your TT. I have one and love it I did have to make a new arm board but well worth it. These are the feet I use and love them. https://www.mnpctech.com/products/vpi-hw-19-custom-isolation-turntable-feet
markd51
Nyuk Nyuk
Hello, Congrats on your acquisition.
I wasn't sure if the Audiopoint feet that Tedrick suggested were even made anymore. He states they do. I've seen some, but not in the correct size and thread size.
This is what I installed my my Table. Very nice, and look right at home.
As for thread size though, I'm going my memory here, and cannot check at the moment, but I don't believe my Table took 1/4"x20 Audiopoints. I believe mine were 10-32 thread. This is something you'd certainly want to check and know first before you order.
This still might not mean a "cut and dry" affair for the use of the SAMA. Why, is that one has to insure correct height and positioning of the SAMA underneath the Plinth Sheet, The SAMA must not touch the underside, or the sides-corner of the Wood Base, but one also must insure correct Motor and Pulley Height for the Drive Belt. It's not absolutely required that the Belt rest at the exact center of the Platter, but does look better, and I achieved such.
The stock SAMA Rubber Feet were not good, permitted movement of my SAMA due to belt tension, also causing some lean, and they had to go. They were replaced with Herbies Labs standard height Tenderfeet, did the job perfectly, and the SAMA then sat planted rock solid.
The weight of the SAMA kept all in place, no need to glue or other means to attach to the SAMA underside.
If you can find the Audiopoint Feet, you will likely get sticker shock. I seem to remember I paid $234 for 4 Cone Feet with the 4 Brass Coupling Discs quite a few years back from Musicdirect..
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markd51
Nyuk Nyuk
Looking back in time in this forum, Tedrick here confirms what I previously stated, the Thread Size he mentions here as being 10-32, not 1/4"x20.Here's me right here.
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/which-feet-for-vpi.710888/
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markd51
Nyuk Nyuk
I scoured the web a number of times today, looking for the correct Audiopoint feet that will correctly fit the HW-19 Table. I had zero luck.
I found one company that showed a few models, and I can post the link if there's any interest.
I even looked at some from Amazon, Parts Express, Ebay, and imagine if one was handy and inventive, they could perhaps cobble together some smaller cone footer, and fit it with a suitable 10-32 threaded stud perhaps?
Another option could be re-fitting the wood base with a different sized threaded insert. That would be my last choice, to not bugger the table itself with some quirky mod.
I know I have the original rubber feet somewhere, stuff like that I never toss. They worked, but in truth they looked like junk. Given enough weight, eventually they will go bad.
Another old thread from Audiogon, and yeah, in 2002 check the price, $20 each for the Feet.
And in truth, that's about all they should cost each, custom made from a competent machinist
I paid through the nose for mine, $234 for 4 is not chump change.
Any competent machinist should be able to whip up 4 such feet in less than an hour's time, whatever material you want, Brass, Stainless Steel, etc. Coupling Discs can be gotten easily.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/vpi-19-feet/post?postid=542893#542893/
https://livevibeaudio.com/audio-points-coupling-discs/
I found one company that showed a few models, and I can post the link if there's any interest.
I even looked at some from Amazon, Parts Express, Ebay, and imagine if one was handy and inventive, they could perhaps cobble together some smaller cone footer, and fit it with a suitable 10-32 threaded stud perhaps?
Another option could be re-fitting the wood base with a different sized threaded insert. That would be my last choice, to not bugger the table itself with some quirky mod.
I know I have the original rubber feet somewhere, stuff like that I never toss. They worked, but in truth they looked like junk. Given enough weight, eventually they will go bad.
Another old thread from Audiogon, and yeah, in 2002 check the price, $20 each for the Feet.
And in truth, that's about all they should cost each, custom made from a competent machinist
I paid through the nose for mine, $234 for 4 is not chump change.
Any competent machinist should be able to whip up 4 such feet in less than an hour's time, whatever material you want, Brass, Stainless Steel, etc. Coupling Discs can be gotten easily.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/vpi-19-feet/post?postid=542893#542893/
https://livevibeaudio.com/audio-points-coupling-discs/
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markd51
Nyuk Nyuk
Again, congrats on your new acquisition. I hope some of what I had written is of help.
And again I'll relate that the task-ordeal of properly setting up the SAMA can be testy, and involved.
Even if all that you had was with all original feet, same with the SAMA, there's no assurance-promise that the SAMA is going to sit properly in both horizontal and vertical planes.
As an example, when I changed over to the SAMA, I found that I did have to relieve the left rear wood base corner brace where the SAMA sits. I could not achieve ample Belt Tension, nor did I like where the Motor Shaft and Pulley sat in relation to being properly centered in the Plinth Hole. Insufficient clearance in that corner.
I trimmed-shaved that area out easily, clean cut like it was done with a laser, I'm fussy about doing such right, and not a butcher job. I was then able to position the SAMA where all looked right, and insured that the SAMA absolutely does not touch any part of the Table. This is paramount.
At first I resorted to a simple piece of 4" Square Ceramic Tile to raise the SAMA to the correct, needed height.
But as I mentioned previously about my SAMA, it was not staying put and planted squared in place for long. Was no good. The Tile wasn't slipping, just the Feet were inadequate it seemed. Hence, and with exhaustive measuring, checking Herbie's specs, the change to the Herbies Tenderfeet underneath cured that issue. In my specific application, I got lucky and nothing else was needed, the precise correct height was achieved with the Tenderfeet alone, no other spacers or such needed.
I in fact have a pair of them MNPCtech Feet for the HW-19 brand new, never out of the box, but I doubt I'll ever use them. Thought later maybe I could've used them on some other Table, or give them to a friend of mine, maybe he could pop them onto one of his Vintage Tables?
If I change feet on my Table to those, then there I go all over again pulling my hair out trying to correct any height changes made with the Table, which will have influence-effect on the SAMA Motor's positioning.
It's a great Table, I like the modularity. Takes a little time to fully understand it, not that hard.
As for drive belts, and ones that I like, I've had good luck with the Black Tranquility Belts, from LP Gear, they are Nitrile, whereas I believe the original clear belts were Silicone.
Here's what those MNPCTech Feet look like on a HW-19. Being that the Audiopoints Feet might very well be MIA-NIS, these feet might be about the best bang for the buck out there, and are simple screw in affairs with the correct screw size, they're mounted up in 2 minutes flat. The Sorbothane cushioning should be better than the stock rubber was as well. In full MK-IV form, the HW-19 is not light.
IMO, the stock rubber feet were garbage. Harry's price, probably 45 cents apiece at most.
https://www.mnpctech.com/collections/turntable-lsolation-feet
And again I'll relate that the task-ordeal of properly setting up the SAMA can be testy, and involved.
Even if all that you had was with all original feet, same with the SAMA, there's no assurance-promise that the SAMA is going to sit properly in both horizontal and vertical planes.
As an example, when I changed over to the SAMA, I found that I did have to relieve the left rear wood base corner brace where the SAMA sits. I could not achieve ample Belt Tension, nor did I like where the Motor Shaft and Pulley sat in relation to being properly centered in the Plinth Hole. Insufficient clearance in that corner.
I trimmed-shaved that area out easily, clean cut like it was done with a laser, I'm fussy about doing such right, and not a butcher job. I was then able to position the SAMA where all looked right, and insured that the SAMA absolutely does not touch any part of the Table. This is paramount.
At first I resorted to a simple piece of 4" Square Ceramic Tile to raise the SAMA to the correct, needed height.
But as I mentioned previously about my SAMA, it was not staying put and planted squared in place for long. Was no good. The Tile wasn't slipping, just the Feet were inadequate it seemed. Hence, and with exhaustive measuring, checking Herbie's specs, the change to the Herbies Tenderfeet underneath cured that issue. In my specific application, I got lucky and nothing else was needed, the precise correct height was achieved with the Tenderfeet alone, no other spacers or such needed.
I in fact have a pair of them MNPCtech Feet for the HW-19 brand new, never out of the box, but I doubt I'll ever use them. Thought later maybe I could've used them on some other Table, or give them to a friend of mine, maybe he could pop them onto one of his Vintage Tables?
If I change feet on my Table to those, then there I go all over again pulling my hair out trying to correct any height changes made with the Table, which will have influence-effect on the SAMA Motor's positioning.
It's a great Table, I like the modularity. Takes a little time to fully understand it, not that hard.
As for drive belts, and ones that I like, I've had good luck with the Black Tranquility Belts, from LP Gear, they are Nitrile, whereas I believe the original clear belts were Silicone.
Here's what those MNPCTech Feet look like on a HW-19. Being that the Audiopoints Feet might very well be MIA-NIS, these feet might be about the best bang for the buck out there, and are simple screw in affairs with the correct screw size, they're mounted up in 2 minutes flat. The Sorbothane cushioning should be better than the stock rubber was as well. In full MK-IV form, the HW-19 is not light.
IMO, the stock rubber feet were garbage. Harry's price, probably 45 cents apiece at most.
https://www.mnpctech.com/collections/turntable-lsolation-feet
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markd51
Nyuk Nyuk
If you can find some, Star Sound Technologies Audiopoints 1.0AP brass cone feet with 1/4" x 20 threads are a perfect replacement for the little squishy stock rubber feet. I installed some on my Mk IV and have been very pleased.
Say buddy, don't these look to be the exact same feet that came on the table stock? Check the dimensions, I doubt one could come closer, what do you say? 1/2" diameter, 9/16" tall, 10-32 threaded stud insert.
At least 4 of these won't break the bank.
https://www.digikey.com/en/products...Cy5epaEhO1vNYWJC3yFlRVzi6mMHqMYBoCKSsQAvD_BwE
Tedrick
Infinity-phile
The metric threads are a no-go unless you were to somehow rethread them or install new inserts in the frame. I'll look around tonight and see what else I can find.
Also, I think I still have the rubber feet from both my HW-19 and SAMA. I'll try to find them this evening and post some measurements and photos.
I gotta add, too, that the MNPCTECH isolation feet posted by @markd51 look pretty darn nice.
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Tedrick
Infinity-phile
OK, found the stock feet for both the turntable and the SAMA. Here's the specs:
Turntable feet: 9/16" high x 3/4" diameter
SAMA feet: 1/2" high x 1/2" diameter
If you need thread size, I'll have to take 'em over to the local home improvement store.
BTW, the rubber is a lot softer that you might think. The SAMA feet, in particular are soft enough that the combination of motor housing weight and belt tension will cause the SAMA to lean toward the platter a little. That's why I ditched the feet in favor of a 4x4 rubber & cork isolation pad. I trimmed it (crudely) to fit the shape of the newer SAMA. The cutout in the middle accommodates a small bump on the bottom of the SAMA.
These are available in a variety of sizes, work well in many applications, and are not expensive at all. Here's an Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cork+iso...8E&ref=pd_sn_dp_d_rs_sub_t1_vft_none_search_4
And now some photos of the stock HW-19 feet, 'table feet on the left and later SAMA feet on the right:
Turntable feet: 9/16" high x 3/4" diameter
SAMA feet: 1/2" high x 1/2" diameter
If you need thread size, I'll have to take 'em over to the local home improvement store.
BTW, the rubber is a lot softer that you might think. The SAMA feet, in particular are soft enough that the combination of motor housing weight and belt tension will cause the SAMA to lean toward the platter a little. That's why I ditched the feet in favor of a 4x4 rubber & cork isolation pad. I trimmed it (crudely) to fit the shape of the newer SAMA. The cutout in the middle accommodates a small bump on the bottom of the SAMA.
These are available in a variety of sizes, work well in many applications, and are not expensive at all. Here's an Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cork+iso...8E&ref=pd_sn_dp_d_rs_sub_t1_vft_none_search_4
And now some photos of the stock HW-19 feet, 'table feet on the left and later SAMA feet on the right:
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Hi Tedrick-
Thanks for your help. I’ve been looking for feet for my HW-19mk4 but need to figure out the thread size. What confuses me is that the folks at VPI couldn’t provide this information. A tech said that thread size often differed from MK4 to MK4. I find that hard to imagine. I’m also surprised that nobody is selling the original feet despite the fact that most replace them with better options. If you do get the thread size I’d love to know so that I can order the correct size feet.
My SAMA is cylindrical and weighs about 16 pounds. The feet are just four very thin round rubber feet.
Thanks for your help. I’ve been looking for feet for my HW-19mk4 but need to figure out the thread size. What confuses me is that the folks at VPI couldn’t provide this information. A tech said that thread size often differed from MK4 to MK4. I find that hard to imagine. I’m also surprised that nobody is selling the original feet despite the fact that most replace them with better options. If you do get the thread size I’d love to know so that I can order the correct size feet.
My SAMA is cylindrical and weighs about 16 pounds. The feet are just four very thin round rubber feet.
Tedrick
Infinity-phile
Ok, you have an original SAMA, not the later boxy looking model. I think what you have is the better version. Other than the offset motor, it's quite similar to the motor housings used in many higher up VPI 'tables.
I'll take my turntable feet to work tomorrow and stop by the home improvement store on the way home to measure thread size and pitch. I'll post findings in this thread.
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