2. analog
  3. 152583-20132

If I were to replace my VPI Airies1 with a 4k or so budget?

Hello,
I am thinking of changing my turntable not because I have an issue with the performance but becuase of the size- the Aires with the flywheel takes A LOT of real estate and I am trying to shrink my system a bit.  I currently have separates woth preamp (Primaluna Dialogue Premium) and mono's (Pass 60.5's) driving Thiel 3.7's- along with a smaller turntable I am also thinking about a high quality integrated with built in phono.

Anyway, I heard a lot of very good things about Eat C sharp and also the new Triangleart Hathor.  Just wondering if you might have any views on these 2 options - or any other for that matter.  Cartridge will be a Lyra Delos- just waiting for it to ship.

Many thx.
pgastone

Showing 4 responses by bpoletti

bpoletti
1,557 posts
 
I have an Aries 1 (Extended). You will probably be disappointed with anything new in the $4K price range. You might want to keep the Aries. It could be better to spend some small coin on a VPI "Dual Pivot" arm upgrade. IMO, will improve the performance of the arm and help the Delos sing.
bpoletti
1,557 posts
 
You can use a variac instead of an SDS or other controller.  Start the platter with full voltage, then dial back to 65% of "wall voltage" after the platter gets up to speed.  Does the same thing as an SDS at less than $100.  
  
bpoletti
1,557 posts
 
The variac adjusts the voltage.  There is no need to adjust the frequency.unless there is a problem with the pulley size.  A VPI pulley is stepped to adjust between 33 /13 and 45 RPM.  The 60hz line frequency does not vary.  That's a myth.
bpoletti
1,557 posts
 
In my opinion....

"Speed regulation" is an insignificant factor.  Look up the actual the variation in 60hz grid frequency and what happens if a power generation device is out of synch at all with that 60hz signal.  The 60hz signal is stable regardless of all the misinformation and power mythology floating around.  And there is certainly no audible variation.  By far the biggest pitch variation is by off-center holes in the middle of a spinning vinyl record.  That "wow" is quite audible.  

It's ALL about voltage.  Getting rid of the ac synch pulses that travel through the belt and onto the platter that is critical.  The ONLY possible improvement is an automated means of measuring the absolute minimum voltage that will stabilize a spinning platter RPM.  But in the meantime, if variac trial and error indicate that (for example) 65 volts provides that stability, using an automated voltage regulation that reduces the voltage to 63 volts won''t matter.  

The ONLY advantage to an automated system is that it's automated.  Hit one switch and it's done.  With a variac, the voltage must be quickly manually increased to the starting voltage and then manually reduced to the stable operating voltage when the platter is spinning at full RPM.  Then at the end of play, voltage quickly manually decreased to zero.

In my opinion, any other argument is snake oil.
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