Sota Eclipse packages for VPI tables.

@hattrick15 

Sorry, I didn't see the question until now.

For the TNT, it was a matter of removing the old motor and the old captive power cord, I removed the the switch and routed the power in connector where the switch was mounted.  The Sota motor fit, but was slightly too tall to sit directly on the motor housing, so I used some small washers as a spacer.  Then I wired everything up with their connectors, as there's no motor control circuitry required.

Installation is considerably easier if you have an IEC power connector on your motor housing, as Sota can provide a replacement that routs the power connections thru.

I could have had Sota mill the motor well out another 1/4" or so, but I decided not to.

Then the power connector attaches to the output of the Condor, the Roadrunner attaches to the the Condor, and also to a sensor board that you install according to instructions.  Then you attach a small magnet on the underside edge of the platter, and attach the sensor board to the plinth so that the magnet passes over the sensor.  It took me maybe 45 minutes, and was pretty easy, but I'm very comfortable with electronics having built tube preamps and amps in the past.

I couldn't be more happy, speed is +/- .005 rpm.  The motor is audibly more quite and produces much less vibration than the stock Hurst motors that VPI provides.  If you run a VPI motor without the housing, you can literally feel the motor cogging when running free.  There's no vibration from the Sota motor under any circumstances that I've observed.

I have another table with a VPI motor, same platter, and a SDS.  Speed stability is slightly better with the Sota package, and though it's hard to tell because they have different suspensions, plinths and tonearms, I think the Sota setup is quieter, has better pace, and better, deeper bass.

@hattrick15 Any time.  I'm always glad to be able to share my experience if it's relevant.

 

@mijostyn 

On top of the plinth or on top of the outer housing?  

Machining would probably make the Clearaudio bearing fit?  Looking at their bearings, you would have to completely obliterate any chance of going back to the original bearing in order to try the Clearaudio, based on what? Pure conjecture?

Do you realize that a platter and bearing are designed as a system?

Thanks for that. I have the TNT 4, which has the massive separate motor housing and separate flywheel.  Based on the drawings, the motor should fit but might require a small spacer between the motor and base, or maybe have a machine shop slightly deepen the motor well.

@earthtones, Thanks.  It's the stand alone, extremely heavy motor, also a separate flywheel. 

@lewm

The Eclipe package with motor (without the roadrunner) is $750 US. The Total Eclipse has the roadrunner for $1100.  The Roadrunner can be added later.

@lewm 

I'll take that under consideration.  I'm not sure I will need it with around 30 lbs of spinning mass though.  The inertia of the table should negate the need for constant correction.  And I can always add it later, there's no discount for purchasing it in the package.

I guess the only way to tell is to get it and see.  It's not expensive in either case.

Walker Audio?  No thanks.

The next thing you might want to consider is an isolation platform you can put it on.

My turntable has an air bladder suspension.  The stock VPI suspension required you to fill each bladder separately, but since I was already running my ET 2.5 off of an air compressor with a precision low pressure regulator, I removed the valves from the air bladders and ran tubing from each of the towers to another precision low pressure regulator.  It made a huge difference vs the stock setup.  I can literally tune  the resonant frequency of the suspension while the table is running.  I can hit the shelf (1.5" thick maple) with a mallet with no sonic issues whatsoever.

I'm going to go with the full package.  I think I'm going to need to have the well of my motor housing milled out first.  Apparently the Sota motor is deeper than the VPI Hurst motor.

I pulled the trigger on the Total Eclipse package, an early Father's Day gift from the wife :).  I spoke with SOTA about it and it seems it's a simple upgrade to the VPI motor, with just a spacer needed to account for the greater depth of the new motor, and some minor wiring.  

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

@peter_s 

If I understand your question, the speed controller alone won't work with the VPI motor.  The Sota system comes with a motor that will fit most VPI motor housings.

The Sota motor is better than the Hursts that VPI uses.  It runs with much less vibration and there is no cogging.

IMO, the Sota package is better than the VPI motor with SDS, which I have on my second table.

If you do go with the Sota, I would highly recommend getting the Roadrunner with it (Total Eclipse Package).