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VPI To Market A Direct Drive Turntable

rcspkramp said:
It's hard to express tongue in cheek via a forum post. Sorry you took it so seriously. It wasn't meant to be negative.
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No worries. My snarky humor is often lost on the web.
Based on some of the VPI posts, especially the ones that got locked, I wasn't sure how you meant it. I guess we could mention the Godwin's Law of turntable discussions and get even more people foaming at the mouth! :D

Peace,
Doug
 
In other news, they are also looking how they can make wider use of the Traveler arms. Some of their customers don't like unipivot arms, so they are thinking of adapting the gimbal arm from the Traveler for a new version of the Scout.

This is probably more significant news than the 3-D tonearm, nice as it is. Not many guys here mount megabuck arms.
 
ra7c7er said:
I thought the 3-D printed arm was the more interesting announcement.
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When was the last time a modern Direct Drive turntable was produced somewhere other than China? People have previously stated that it would be impossible for a company to produce a new DD turntable and still turn a profit without sourcing the manufacturing overseas.

I think that concept is more interesting than an arm i'd have to sell a kidney just to make a down payment on, but that's me.
 
Greyson said:
I think that concept is more interesting than an arm i'd have to sell a kidney just to make a down payment on, but that's me.
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It sounds like you'd have to sell two kidneys. One for the arm and another for the table. :yes:
 
Greyson said:
When was the last time a modern Direct Drive turntable was produced somewhere other than China? People have previously stated that it would be impossible for a company to produce a new DD turntable and still turn a profit without sourcing the manufacturing overseas.

I think that concept is more interesting than an arm i'd have to sell a kidney just to make a down payment on, but that's me.
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The arm is likely a radical change in how tonearms are made and what looks like might be a leap forward in tonearm design and construction. With time, the prices will drop dramatically, while we end up with even better tonearms. This is incredibly cool, and important, technology. Good on Harry for being the first to produce it.

The drive system is just Harry being the turntable hobbyist that he is and introducing another fun toy. He is running out of drive options to sell tho. VPI is turning into the Baskin Robbins of the TT world. They will sell you any flavor of TT you like.

I wonder when he is going to produce a table with a crank? Might solve a lot of electrical and electronic problems
 
I think Gear drive is the next logical step, Erik. Since a good chunk of our vinyl was produced off a gear drive lathe, we might as well introduce gear drives into playback devices to recreate the true experience. :D

I love new turntable products coming out and it's nice to see that there are companies out there proving that direct drives are possible. I've always been intrigued by the thought that somehow DDs were difficult or excessively complex to produce. It's not like turntables have ever, or will ever, drive any technology in the motor world.
 
dnewma04 said:
I think Gear drive is the next logical step, Erik. Since a good chunk of our vinyl was produced off a gear drive lathe, we might as well introduce gear drives into playback devices to recreate the true experience. :D

I love new turntable products coming out and it's nice to see that there are companies out there proving that direct drives are possible. I've always been intrigued by the thought that somehow DDs were difficult or excessively complex to produce. It's not like turntables have ever, or will ever, drive any technology in the motor world.
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Actually, just as guys are running multiple arms, I think the future will be multiple drive systems. Flick a switch and your belt drive turns into an idler or DD. Tough to incorporate gear drive with DD in one table tho. Belt and idler is a piece of cake. ;)
 
Bigerik said:
Actually, just as guys are running multiple arms, I think the future will be multiple drive systems. Flick a switch and your belt drive turns into an idler or DD. Tough to incorporate gear drive with DD in one table tho. Belt and idler is a piece of cake. ;)
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Could be fun. I'll be happy when I have one table that is working somewhere above the middle of the game. Pick a drive type and it would be good by me.

What they are doing at VPI is interesting in that it shows that they have no axe to grind on this topic. A smallish company producing good tables in all three drives is a bit of a technical coup and gives them some kudos I guess. Ok, I imagine they are having fun as well. Why not?
 
Hey It's Audio.. :smoke:

DD, Idler,Belt ...

Whats old is new again , hey maybe in another decade digital(CD) will make a comeback ...:lmao::lmao:
 
I don't have any preferences around drives. However, were I in the market for a high end direct drive table (this is just me and me only) I wouldn't even give what I have seen of this VPI a second look. With the cost of the motor we already have a notion of the price and at that price I could get a Brinkmann Bardo and get a high performance direct drive turntable with beautiful styling. I understand on pretty good authority that the Bardo is exceptional. OK, so now you know...yes I am lusting for the Bardo. Anything above the Amadeus GTA must be the Brinkmann for me...at least until I lose interest in it!:smoke:
 
And I'll be getting rid of my idler and my DD for a belt drive, high torque, German made AC motor in a beautiful belt drive Oracle. And the drive system is about the least important attribute on my shopping list.

Interesting read on the Bardo. Brinkmann went direct drive to enable them to produce a cheaper table than their belt drive models. Unique approach too - low torque motor with heavy platter - kinda the opposite of the traditional DD table. I'd love to hear one!
 
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Word over on Audiogon is that the table/arm will retail for 'around $30K' according to one of VPIs marketing guys.
 
theophile said:
Teres reckon that their Direct Drive betters their High-End Belt Drives and also their High-End Idler Drive turntable.
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I passed-on this information because it is the designer's/ manufacturer's opinion.
 
Funny what goes around comes around... Sony, et al, discovered the merits of DD decades ago. I wouldn't imagine that anything by VPI would be up to that standard, tho', based on my experience. Just too expensive to get right.
 
Littletoot said:
Funny what goes around comes around... Sony, et al, discovered the merits of DD decades ago. I wouldn't imagine that anything by VPI would be up to that standard, tho', based on my experience. Just too expensive to get right.
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Which VPI tables have you had?
 
Greyson said:
When was the last time a modern Direct Drive turntable was produced somewhere other than China?
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Brinkmann - Germany about five years ago. The 'Bardo' and the 'Oasis'.

http://www.brinkmann-audio.de/main.php?prod=bardo

http://www.brinkmann-audio.de/main.php?prod=oasis

USA - Teres about 6 years ago. The 'Certus'.

http://www.teresaudio.com/certus.html

USA - Grand Prix Audio about 7 years ago. The Monaco.

http://www.grandprixaudio.com/prod_monaco_turntable.php

a.wayne said:
Whats old is new again , hey maybe in another decade digital(CD) will make a comeback ...:lmao::lmao:
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Surely they wouldn't reintroduce that relic technology again? :D

Littletoot said:
Sony, et al, discovered the merits of DD decades ago.
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Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, Yamaha, Denon, Technics, Hitachi (as L-oD), Onkyo, Nakamichi, Victor all produced at least one turntable which is considered to be in the 'pinnacle' echelon of Direct Drive players. According to informed testimony, when compared to today's better turntables these pinnacle products are deemed to remain competitive.

In most cases the pinnacle products were never seen or sold outside of Japan.
 
Bigerik said:
And I'll be getting rid of my idler and my DD for a belt drive, high torque, German made AC motor in a beautiful belt drive Oracle. And the drive system is about the least important attribute on my shopping list.

Interesting read on the Bardo. Brinkmann went direct drive to enable them to produce a cheaper table than their belt drive models. Unique approach too - low torque motor with heavy platter - kinda the opposite of the traditional DD table. I'd love to hear one!
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Lower mass (I'd not call the platter on my SP-15 exactly "low" compared to some belt drives I've known) and high torque make sense in the fast start/stop, broadcast/DJ environment many of DD tables were meant to work in. Coming from a strictly audiophile standpoint it makes more sense to keep the motor smaller and presumably quieter and increase the mass. I presume those virtually instant starts will be lost, but in the context it is not important.
 
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