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VPI Turntable Owners Thread

andyecon said:
That is interesting, I didn't realize the longer arms could be dropped into Scout tables like that... I might have to call them and inquire about this sometime :)
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The longer arm works on a Scout 2 or Scoutmaster 2 - not sure if it would work with regular platters. Another thing to watch out for is quirks with older Scouts. My Scout is older and must have larger leg caps than newer Scouts. The arm riser did not fit to the plinth because it hit the leg cap. I had to use an oscillating sander to remove enough material for the riser to sit down on the plinth. I had the same problem with the arm riser when I upgraded to the Classic platter. Attached are the before and after pics of the arm riser.
 

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Sure. The motor now sits on a separate shelf from the turntable. It may have been my turntable, but I could never quite isolate the motor from the tonearm. The motor itself is a Premotec motor, which is of lower torque. The belt is Doug Deacon's mylar belt.

Don
 
Grbluen said:
Sure. The motor now sits on a separate shelf from the turntable. It may have been my turntable, but I could never quite isolate the motor from the tonearm. The motor itself is a Premotec motor, which is of lower torque. The belt is Doug Deacon's mylar belt.

Don
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Here's a cheap tweak. Place a mouse pad underneath the motor, flipped over, so the rubber side is face up. You can get them at the dollar store.
 
Lovin' the JMW-10.5i tonearm!

After I got the new tone arm dialed in for a regular thickness LP the Scout's sound seems much better than with the 9" arm (worth the cost? opinions may vary). But that is not the best part. The arm's on-the-fly VTA adjustability is going to completely change how I listen to LPs.

I put a Pretenders album on the TT yesterday. I think its from the 80's - it is darn near paper thin. Using the regular thickness album's VTA setting the sound was also thin - no bass, no depth. It took around three full turns to lower the arm to the point where the bass came alive, her voice has depth and even has reverb detail. The ease of making VTA adjustments and being able to record the amount of adjustment has made listening a whole new experience.

This is probably old hat to Classic owners and others with this type of arm. For me this is a new experience and it looks to be really fun.:D
 
I joined the club a couple of years ago. I drove up North 150 miles to get a VPI 16.5 RC and came home with a VPI Classic 2 with a Dynavector 20x2. Made me an offer I couldn't refuse ;)

Never a regret.

 
Maxed Out HW-19 Jr-Plus

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This turntable has undergone several incarnations:
I first bought it in the early '90's. The Jr+ was a significant upgrade from the HW-19 Jr. I included the TNT platter and the
MK-3 bearing. Several years later, I upgraded it to the HW-19 Mk IV with upgraded suspension, plinth, SAMA motor, original JMW 10 tonearm, and the original Power Line Conditioner. Somewhere along the line, I bought a hand-made wooden HW-19 body on da 'bay. I have had the tonearm re-wired with the Valhalla wires.
I replaced the power conditioner with the SDS. I purchased the peripheral ring, clamp and Sound Points from TTW Audio. The turntable sits on two marble boards (thanks IKEA) with a layer of Sorbothane in-between. This all rests of 4 dense foam wedges (thanks Teo Audio).
I have a Bob's Devices CineMag 1131 Blue step-up transformer for the Ortofon Windfeld. This all runs into a Sam Kim modified HK Citation I preamp.
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Whew!
I'm very happy with the sound. We have used this set-up several times in our NFS Audio room at the THE Shows in Las Vegas during CES.

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Cheers!
Mike
 
mjalazard said:
No, why do you ask?
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The amount of debris collecting in the stylus well could be a concern if playing clean records, I consider it a signal for inspection. Yes, it's a risky PITA with a costly MC in an arm without a removable headpiece.
Other early signs of tip wear will include loss of inner-detail resolution toward the inner portion of the record with subtly 'edgy' tracing distortion, the high cost of remediation tells us nothing is really wrong until it eventually becomes intolerable.
 
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Pio1980 said:
Thinking seriously of getting a VPI-HW19/ ET-2 package deal as my "last& final" 'good' player, thoughts?
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I doubt it will be your last and final. Something will pique your interest and you will have to go and tinker with it. :)

Great table tho!
 
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