Technics 1200G vs VPI Forever Model One
This is a bit of a loaded question, and the Forever line is probably still too new, but I'm going to toss this out anyway.
For backstory, I currently have a Mofi Ultradeck and it's treated me very well, but I'm starting to think about the next step and which piece I'd like to save for.
The Technics obviously has a legendary status, and is probably one of the lowest maintenance tables on the market. However they have become much more difficult to demo and you really have to purchase on blind faith that it will live up to expectations. The only time I've ever seen a 1200G was when I purchased my UD back in 2018 I demoed it alongside a 1200GR the dealer has one on display but I didn't get to hear it. That was before Technics scaled back to only higher volume dealers, which is somewhat annoying as a customer. But it's also the more affordable of the two options and I've also noticed the number of reviewers that continue to depend on the 1200G for their main systems. Obviously the option to quickly change headshells is part of the reason for reviewers, and that wouldn't really apply for me because I'm much more of a one cart type of person. But none the less, the 1200G sounds like a no brainer on paper.
However, I've always loved the looks and sound of VPI tables. I've heard several over the past decade, and every time I've enjoyed the sound and performance regardless of surroundings system and cartridge. It also helps that I normally hear them in fairly high end systems with quality cartridges. Last weekend I also got to meet Mat Wiesfeld at SWAF and got to spend a solid amount of time evaluating the Forever Model One. I really liked the sound of the table, love the look, and the modular design is interesting but also might be annoying. But the upgradability and repair options does have a real appeal to it, especially when I think about long term upgrades. The ownership experience will not be as easy. Replacing belts, oiling bearings, manual belt speed changes, suspended design. While it certainly seems easier to own than the older unipivot arms, it will require more effort and TLC. But it does have a cool factor that I just don't get from the Technics, and the idea of upgrading speed controls and arms over time does sound cool. I also have more faith that VPI will continue to honor service well past the production period of the Forever One. I'm not sure I have that same faith in Panasonic once the 1200G is discontinued.
Would love to hear thoughts from others on which direction you would go and what pushes you that way.
Have you had any issues or just quirks with it? Curious if you were to ever upgrade what would you be looking for in a new table that the 1200G doesn’t quite offer? |
tablejockey, The HW-40 is pretty much a state of the art turntable and would be suitable for use with any tonearm in my opinion. One of the interesting things to ask is: Are any of the arms you mentioned really better than the one it comes with. I do not know, but have set up Tri-planars twice over the course of time and they do not perform measurably better than it does. By that I mean to say the arms properly set up trace test records similarly. I cannot comment on comparative sound quality as I did not have them at the same time. Moreover it requires two identical cartridges to do a proper A-B comparison of arms and that is extremely difficult to obtain. In fact I doubt there is any such thing as two identical MC cartridges. Of course to your question the HW-40 would make a nice base for any nice arm. |
"Are any of the arms you mentioned really better than the one it comes with." "have set up Tri-planars twice over the course of time and they do not perform measurably better than it does." billstevenson- Your comments could raise eyebrows for those with hyper setups!😄 Confirmation of my immediate thoughts. The VPI gimbal & unipivot are both low tech and simple, yet effective. I've been curious about what a gimbal upgrade would do in my Classic, since it's a drop in mod. "I would certainly plan for the ADS if I went that direction," displayname- Sota/RoadRunner is superior to ADS, if you're serious about VPI. https://sotaturntables.com/products/eclipse-package/ The website is not the greatest, but the RR is what VPI failed to implement for their products. Real time speed correction and more precise. My understanding is they were in talks with original designer, but no deal. SOTA purchased design.
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I can speak to what I have personally observed. I set up quite a few turntables and arms starting in the 1970s using test records and "O" scopes. Over time anyone who has this experience can tell you that you get a feel for these things. I can tell you that there is reason to be skeptical when it comes to tonearms. Sometimes simple designs work quite well. Hence wooden ones from Germany for example. I have not yet set up one of the new ones that Ortofon offers made in Japan, but I'll bet it is superb. The Fatboy is an excellent tonearm. The Triplanar works fine, but it reminds me of an old Jaguar XKE I had years ago.... We needn't get into that. When I owned a VPI Prime, I bought a Roadrunner/Eagle to get the damn thing to play my records at the correct speed. That technology worked and that is Phoenix the company that SOTA bought. The back story is that the owner of Phoenix Engineering, Bill Carlin, disclosed online in a public forum the name(s) of certain supplier(s) to VPI, which was unprofessional. Harry Weissfeld never forgave him. So when Phoenix needed a buyer, VPI, which otherwise would have been a natural fit, felt more like a hostile take over. Sota benefited in the breech. |
