VPI Turntable Owners Thread
- Thread starter MikeCh
- Start date
Pio1980
AK Member
True but not necessarily with the ET-2 LTA, guy got back to me & he really wants to sell me the complete set-up for about the price of a Dynavector 17D3 & split shipping cost. Mk-III, tall DC, power conditioner box, ET-2 w/ WISA pump & surge tank. I'm so tempted to pull the trigger.
How much better is the TNT anyway?
Last edited:
Billfort
Addicted Member
I am very happy with my Aries and JMW 10.5 arm but man, would I love to have an ET-2 to try on the Aries - Wisa pump and tank even more so.
Don't know what it is about that arm but I've always liked the tables I've heard that used it (including an HW-19) and it's 1 arm I might consider swapping out the JMW for - at least for a test drive.
Don't know what it is about that arm but I've always liked the tables I've heard that used it (including an HW-19) and it's 1 arm I might consider swapping out the JMW for - at least for a test drive.
Pio1980
AK Member
I just bought a giraffe, My life is Great!!
No, wait, that was something else.
I just pulled the trigger on this thing
No, wait, that was something else.
I just pulled the trigger on this thing
DonBattles
Well-Known Member
Went from a modded HW19JR to a Classic 3 running a Shelter 501MKii.
WntrMute2
Super Member
No, wait, that was something else.
I just pulled the trigger on this thing
Congratulations!! I still love mine even though I have a TNT to listen to also. Mine really came alive with the Terminator T3 tonearm. Air bearing linear trackers RULE!
Pio1980
AK Member
Seller seems super-nice fellow a'phile with two VPIs so he's still set up with one.
Pio1980
AK Member
My Mk-III "giraffe" has arrived and has 'issues' related to shipping that I am working thru. Briefly, has anyone disassembled the HW-19 Hurst SP-3923 motor? The bearing boss on this one seems to have been knocked loose of the front housing and could use a re-staking.
Also, the platter appears to be Acetal/Delrin derivative (with a cork underlining) and not acrylic. Is this indeed a Mk-III platter?
OTOH the ET-2 arrived fine and will just need a tidy-up and set-up.
Also, the platter appears to be Acetal/Delrin derivative (with a cork underlining) and not acrylic. Is this indeed a Mk-III platter?
OTOH the ET-2 arrived fine and will just need a tidy-up and set-up.
Last edited:
WntrMute2
Super Member
Just to re-assure you. The whole motor assembly was recently available from VPI for $110.00. Not that you have to replace it but it is nice to know you CAN if non-repairable. That is the platter I have and would not trade it for the acrylic one for anything. It may not be the "super platter" but it is next in line. You should love it. If you want to improve something , Applied Fidelity rebuilt a bearing for me with a larger ball and sapphire thrust plate. Noticeable improvement. Additionally, the Music Hall Speed Controller works well as a little brother to the SDS at about 20% of the cost. Get the SDS, but is you can't afford it, get the Music Hall.
Pio1980
AK Member
Thnx!
Have motor apart, the bearing boss knocked off it's perch in the housing. Bedded back into JB weld and curing now. I will probably use double-sticky thin foam tape to remount it for now when done if it works.
Mine came with the 2-knob VPI power conditioner, which I've De-oxited the speed switch and IC sockets and Fader Lube'd the pots. The spindle bearings will get close scrutiny as it slowly goes back together.
Platter weighs ca 10lbs, appears lead-loaded lathe-turned Acetal w/cork underlining.
Last edited:
Pio1980
AK Member
Motor surgery appears a success, silent smooth runner. Decided to go with JB weld epoxy again to remount the housing to the mounting plate from which it had detached. JB weld has good higher temp tolerance and shear strength so an appropriate choice over-all for this project. I ran the motor for it's heat to accelerate the curing of the 2nd phase glueing of the mounting plate.
Next to remount to shock mount plate and the plate into the base.
BTW what does Applied Fidelity want for the spindle bearing and thrust plate job?
Next to remount to shock mount plate and the plate into the base.
BTW what does Applied Fidelity want for the spindle bearing and thrust plate job?
Pio1980
AK Member
Motor re-installed in base frame, still running smooth and silent with no run-out on the long pulley. I think the repairs brought a better-than-stock motor re vibration and noise potential due to the 'hard' epoxy remounting mounting rather than the pliant silicone sealer originally used. Next comes the platter, bearing well, and grounding wire attachment. After that the remounting and set-up of the ET-2 arm
Pio1980
AK Member
Update on the "giraffe";
The motor surgery was beyond successful, better than new IMO due to better installation of the bearing boss to the mounting plate as well as the housing for better 'sinking' of noise and vibration into the appropriate structure. Also much stronger than stock.
There is some wear on the platter spindle sleeves, shaft, and thrust ball and plate that should get attention later, for now I slicked it up a bit with crocus cloth and lubed the shaft with bicycle bearing grease and the thrust bearing with anti-gall moly paste, good enuff for now and free-spins and coasts smoothly for a while.
The oak base frame cleaned up much better than anticipated with plenty of WD-40 on a paper towel, it all looks pretty good with the Florida coast salt air rust & corrosion wire-brushed off the metal parts and the acrylic plates damp-cleaned. The air hose wouldn't hold pressure after changing the internal cotton wool pump filter and putting it all together and found a cut 2/3 of the length of the hose, and as it was longer than needed just cut it off and reconnected it all. The arm slider-shaft needed a fair cleaning for tape gum and then floated free and frictionless as it should when pressurized. It is ready for a cart and auditioning. Quickie cell-phone pix attached.
More to follow---.
The motor surgery was beyond successful, better than new IMO due to better installation of the bearing boss to the mounting plate as well as the housing for better 'sinking' of noise and vibration into the appropriate structure. Also much stronger than stock.
There is some wear on the platter spindle sleeves, shaft, and thrust ball and plate that should get attention later, for now I slicked it up a bit with crocus cloth and lubed the shaft with bicycle bearing grease and the thrust bearing with anti-gall moly paste, good enuff for now and free-spins and coasts smoothly for a while.
The oak base frame cleaned up much better than anticipated with plenty of WD-40 on a paper towel, it all looks pretty good with the Florida coast salt air rust & corrosion wire-brushed off the metal parts and the acrylic plates damp-cleaned. The air hose wouldn't hold pressure after changing the internal cotton wool pump filter and putting it all together and found a cut 2/3 of the length of the hose, and as it was longer than needed just cut it off and reconnected it all. The arm slider-shaft needed a fair cleaning for tape gum and then floated free and frictionless as it should when pressurized. It is ready for a cart and auditioning. Quickie cell-phone pix attached.
More to follow---.
Attachments
Last edited:
Looking good, Bill!Updated my picture to show the BDR clamp and Boos hard maple cutting board I now use on the Torlyte stand.
Not sure if it holds true for other VPI tables but the Aries seems to work well sitting on a substantial piece of maple.
MikeCh
Super Member
Love that design Bill!
My want for an Aries was what ultimately drove me to the Classic model that I now have....could not afford the Aries but wanted a similar build with the VTA adjust, good isolation feet, and mondo-platter, etc. I'm very happy with the Classic 2 and now with the Periphery Ring it's cranked up the performance one more notch. Love it!
Mike
p.s. mine sits on a sand filled stand on concrete slab so no doubt adding mass below (and in your case, the maple block) is sure to help.
My want for an Aries was what ultimately drove me to the Classic model that I now have....could not afford the Aries but wanted a similar build with the VTA adjust, good isolation feet, and mondo-platter, etc. I'm very happy with the Classic 2 and now with the Periphery Ring it's cranked up the performance one more notch. Love it!
Mike
p.s. mine sits on a sand filled stand on concrete slab so no doubt adding mass below (and in your case, the maple block) is sure to help.