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Are VPI tables considered musical and involving?

My apologies if this ground has already been covered here, but I could not find it with the Search feature.

I know VPI is well respected for build, value and sonics. But over the years I have come across comments that they are just a tad dry and somewhat clinical and hi-fi'ish in character, and possibly not the best choice for a listener that prefers an enchanting, seductive and emotional listening experience.

Is this a fair assessment of the VPI sound? Is it's presentation a bit cool, matter of fact, and mechanical?

For example, are VPI background silences blueish and cool rather than a warmish jet black? It is the difference between a quiet warehouse and an empty church at midnight (or the warm and expectant hush of a concert hall right before a performance starts).

If one prizes tone, fluidity, bloom, harmonic texture and a sonic beauty that is organic and "whole" sounding, will VPI provide it?

I do like detail (natural), space, staging and other hi-fi attributes, but ultimately I wanna be seduced when I listen. I want an emotional listening experience, one in which I feel connected to the music and the performers. So I guess a slightly warm, embellished and romantic sound is preferred.

Obviously, I listen with my heart and soul rather than my brain. Involvement and musicality are what I seek.

I am open to all suggestions. New MSRP in the $1000 to $3000 range for table and arm.

Thanks in advance for all input, comments and recs!

~John
spelly

Showing 2 responses by dlcockrum

dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
I have a TNT 3 that I bought new in 1999 and have done a few things over the years to make it a bit warmer that might be of interest to you.

First, at Harry Weisfeld's recommendation, I got a Zebra wood armboard for the JMW12 tonearm to replace the acrylic one and also the Firestone air bladder feet instead of the springs. Both helped to balance the table toward the warm and rich side with minimal loss of detail. The SDS power supply should be considered a must have accessory also.

While there are certainly many tables with a more "romantic" sound, I don't think that you will find one that is more solid and reliable and, most importantly, that provides a better balance of warmth and accuracy for the ~$2500 that used TNT 3's (with the JMW12 arm) are selling for right now. If you can find one that betters the TNT/JMW12 combo for that money, buy it!
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
"Some amps sound warm and involving...some sound cool and distant. The same can be said about speakers. And most folks don't dispute this...generally. Can the same be said be said about a table / arm combo?"

John, turntables are much different than CDPs, preamps, amps, and even speakers in that they take on very different sonic personalities depending on how they are configured. Everything, and I mean everything, changes the sound, sometimes drastically. That is why VPI offers so (too?) many tuning options via their accessories.

The sound of a VPI table/arm combo can be made to lean toward cool and analytical or warm and musical depending on how it is setup (suspension type, platter type, armboard, base platform material/construction, etc).

Regarding a VPI "house sound": Just as Stanwal points out, the older suspended VPI's (HW-19/TNT) tend to sound ricker and darker ("a slightly warm, embellished and romantic sound") and the newer ones with spikes and rigid suspension tend to sound more detailed and faster (accurate and incisive). The cool thing is that you can vary the sound of any of them quite a bit by changing their setup.

I hope that you find this post more helpful than my last one.

Good luck.
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