VPI Turntable Owners Thread
- Thread starter MikeCh
- Start date
schastleevo
New Member
New (for me) VPI
Well I just joined the VPI crowd today. The FedEx truck stopped by this afternoon to deliver the VPI Scout with a JMW 9T, & a 300 RPM motor. I've just ordered a digital scale, & I can use one of the OEM power cables that came with one of the components in my stereo system. That is until I make one myself, or just breakdown & buy one from someplace (Morrow, The Cable Co, etc).
I haven't installed the Grado Prestige Gold cartridge yet. Unfortunately the previous owner mentinoed that the little adapters that came with the cartridge are not the right size for the JMW pins. So I'll have to source them from one of the stereo stores down in Indianapolis.
I was a little surprised that the VPI alignment tool only had 1 location on it to set the cartridge alignment. All the other tools have at least 2 positions for alignment setting. Is it better just to use the VPI tool, or get one that has 2 different locations to set the alignment?
I'm looking forward to getting the VPI all setup, & then listening the vinyl collection I have. :thmbsp:
And none of the LPs have been out of their sleeves in decades.:thmbsp:
Well I just joined the VPI crowd today. The FedEx truck stopped by this afternoon to deliver the VPI Scout with a JMW 9T, & a 300 RPM motor. I've just ordered a digital scale, & I can use one of the OEM power cables that came with one of the components in my stereo system. That is until I make one myself, or just breakdown & buy one from someplace (Morrow, The Cable Co, etc).
I haven't installed the Grado Prestige Gold cartridge yet. Unfortunately the previous owner mentinoed that the little adapters that came with the cartridge are not the right size for the JMW pins. So I'll have to source them from one of the stereo stores down in Indianapolis.
I was a little surprised that the VPI alignment tool only had 1 location on it to set the cartridge alignment. All the other tools have at least 2 positions for alignment setting. Is it better just to use the VPI tool, or get one that has 2 different locations to set the alignment?
I'm looking forward to getting the VPI all setup, & then listening the vinyl collection I have. :thmbsp:
And none of the LPs have been out of their sleeves in decades.:thmbsp:
The Scout will be fun and should sound great. I got one about a year and a half back and it's moved me into the type of LP sound I've heard at shows and from great turntables, but never dreamed I would have in my house. There are many, I suppose, that are better, but it's an entry into the higher end and has made me love my LP's again. I'm using a Denon DL-304 LOMC on mine with a tube phono preamp.
Have fun,
John
JRSBat
Well-Known Member
Well I just joined the VPI crowd today.
I was a little surprised that the VPI alignment tool only had 1 location on it to set the cartridge alignment. All the other tools have at least 2 positions for alignment setting. Is it better just to use the VPI tool, or get one that has 2 different locations to set the alignment?
I'm looking forward to getting the VPI all setup, & then listening the vinyl collection I have. :thmbsp:
Congratulations on the new Scout! I got mine a couple years ago. It was a huge step up from my Pioneer PL-610. I agree with joel27's comment above. You should do fine with the VPI protractor. I have gotten good results with the protractor that came with the original JMW-9 arm and the one that came with the Classic tonearm I recently purchased.
Enjoy your new table!
Pio1980
AK Member
JRSBat
Well-Known Member
It will take a while to save up for the 3D Epoxy Classic armtube at $2,499.99 (Elusive Disc). Good thing they are not charging a crazy price like $2,500!
VPI allowed a swap of my JMW-9 tonearm assembly plus cash for a used Classic 2 tonearm assembly (with new Discovery wiring). It would be interesting to see if they will swap my used Classic armtube plus cash for the new armtube. The 3D armtube also uses Discovery wiring so I could use the same junction box. I could see saving up for that.
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Mister Pig
Pigamus Maximus
Test run w/Digitrac cart;
Cool! Glad to see you are up and running, at least at this initial stage. The ET arm is such a marvel for its simplicity and quality. Bruce Thigpin is a great engineer, his designs are so innovative. Snapping a picture with flash and all that acrylic is pretty tough, and you still got a great picture. Can't wait till you got it all sorted out and the OC9 II installed. Will it get transferred to the big system?
Regards
Mister Pig
240sx4u
Lunatic Member
Thinking of taking a step down, huh? Doing a little slumming?
I hardly view it as a downgrade
The simplicity of setup compared to a suspended oracle is attractive.
I hardly view it as a downgrade
The simplicity of setup compared to a suspended oracle is attractive.
You know I'm not gonna say more in a VPI thread.
Yup, that was the top of the market back then. And the modern version of each are still great tables.
schastleevo
New Member
OK, here's probally a silly question. How is the speed of the platter controlled?
I've looked at the motor; all I've seen were the power input, & the on/off switch. Since there isn't a strobe light built in, I can place one of the speed "discs" from "The Vinyl Engine" on the platter to see if the VPI is turning at the correct speed. But if it isn't, & obviously nothing lasts forever, it will need to be adjusted (or will need to be in the future).
I've looked at the motor; all I've seen were the power input, & the on/off switch. Since there isn't a strobe light built in, I can place one of the speed "discs" from "The Vinyl Engine" on the platter to see if the VPI is turning at the correct speed. But if it isn't, & obviously nothing lasts forever, it will need to be adjusted (or will need to be in the future).
Pio1980
AK Member
OK, here's probally a silly question. How is the speed of the platter controlled?
I've looked at the motor; all I've seen were the power input, & the on/off switch. Since there isn't a strobe light built in, I can place one of the speed "discs" from "The Vinyl Engine" on the platter to see if the VPI is turning at the correct speed. But if it isn't, & obviously nothing lasts forever, it will need to be adjusted (or will need to be in the future).
If they still use the Hurst synchronous motors the speed is determined by line frequency vs pulley-to-platter circumference ratio. If so, the speed is only adjustable with a variable freq regenerative power conditioner.
Pio1980
AK Member
I'm still in a state of disbelief that I've actually committed myself this deeply, I could just sit and stare at it's elegant beauty for hours.
The system it which it goes will ultimately depend on how it fares against the Big Mitz LT-30. The thing with the Mitz is how consistently hassle-free easy it is to get results of that high standard from a totally unknown and ignored user-friendly plug-and-play consumer grade TT with a decent cart.
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JRSBat
Well-Known Member
OK, here's probally a silly question. How is the speed of the platter controlled?
I've looked at the motor; all I've seen were the power input, & the on/off switch. Since there isn't a strobe light built in, I can place one of the speed "discs" from "The Vinyl Engine" on the platter to see if the VPI is turning at the correct speed. But if it isn't, & obviously nothing lasts forever, it will need to be adjusted (or will need to be in the future).
The speed is slightly adjustable using the different levels of the pulley - at least with the type of pulley that came with my Scout. The levels have different diameters that will produce different speeds. As noted above, the only way to produce a completely accurate speed is to use a regenerative device like the VPI SDS. Some people say the much less expensive Music Hall regenerator also works with VPI motors.
Pio1980
AK Member
Have I arrived at last?
Finally got the Digi cart dialed in and time for a bit of intense critical auditioning.
O.M.--!!! The degree of easy spatially divided detailing is just astounding given how deeply I can now listen 'into' a recording with this set-up, and not my 'best' cart by a long shot, 
utterly remarkably sparkling clean clear sound! Whether the arm or the TT or most likely the combination, the effort, technical complication re air supply, and cost seems well worth the results so far.:thmbsp: Once my confidence level is satisfactory setting up and using the player I will install a cart capable of a higher standard of result.:yes:
Finally got the Digi cart dialed in and time for a bit of intense critical auditioning.
O.M.--!!!
The degree of easy spatially divided detailing is just astounding given how deeply I can now listen 'into' a recording with this set-up, and not my 'best' cart by a long shot, utterly remarkably sparkling clean clear sound! Whether the arm or the TT or most likely the combination, the effort, technical complication re air supply, and cost seems well worth the results so far.:thmbsp: Once my confidence level is satisfactory setting up and using the player I will install a cart capable of a higher standard of result.:yes:I'm still in a state of disbelief that I've actually committed myself this deeply, I could just sit and stare at it's elegant beauty for hours.
The system it which it goes will ultimately depend on how it fares against the Big Mitz LT-30. The thing with the Mitz is how consistently hassle-free easy it is to get results of that high standard from a totally unknown and ignored user-friendly plug-and-play consumer grade TT with a decent cart.
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