There are plenty of turntables at $30,000 or above so no need to single out VPI about ridiculous price. Most people in this web are also adult who earn their own living so no need to lecture how to spend his or her own money either, I would think. Hifi is luxury item and is not essential, price can be outrageous but there is not need to get upset over pricing. Nobody is going to die from not being able to afford highend turntable.
I agree that at least cosmetically, the DD will look bad as it looks too similar to the much lower cost product despite all the differences inside. If HW feels that there is no need to make radical change to the looks that may add another $5-10k or more without sonic merits then more power to him.
Submarine motor angle left me a bit uneasy. Not sure if I should take that as a super well engineered motor that is going to be better than motors found in other turntable
out there or if it is going like one of those $80,000 toilet installed in the Pentagon that does exactly like a toitet you can get anywhere.
However, having never been disappointed by VPI and rather like their sonic attribute, I am eagerly waiting to hear the DD. |
Dear Raul, I have a Classic 3 with SDS in my system!
Why would you think that I would not pay attention to $5000?
Micro Seiki SX-777Air does not cost much more than that either. Let just leave our spending habit alone as you obviously know nothing much about my personal life so why don't you just stick to what you know instead? Those, I certainly can appreciate more and find helpful from time to time. |
Dear Raul, don't worry, things are rather worrisome over here currently and lots of emotion and anger flying around! So I am not the most civil person right now.
Anyhow, VPI DD should be available here sometimes next month and I definitely am looking forward to hear it. Want to hear about this $4000 motor. I guess if parts cost 5-6000, technically $30,000 would be a relatively standard MSRP pricing.
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Hiho, I understand your point. However I feel that unless VPI changes the look (which means the whole platform), calling it VPI Direct Drive, the sceptics will still not be satisfied and said that it looks like a Classic, a Classic in disguise etc etc. Either way, VPI can't win so might as well being up front. Those that are satisfied will be satisfied either way, those that are not, omitting or not omitting Classic moniker is unlikely to make a difference, I would think.
I wonder, since VPI make this new built in mini automatic SDS-like controller into their new Travellers table, does the DD has something similar built in so there is no need for speed controller? |
It is tough for VPI. I think that if they come out with a brand new DD table that is not based on the Classic, the added cost of design, retooling etc will add up. If you go by cost of parts x 5, the new DD probably would cost much much more than $30,000. Basing it on Classic platform would keep the cost down significantly (not that $30,000 is cheap), I would think. Personally, I think I would prefer DD in Classic platform and stick it on Minus-K for addition $3000 rather than having HW comes up with an entirely new platform which may or may not be as effective as Minus-K and will cost a lot more. |
I am curious how many Clearaudio Statements are sold? Even the less expensive but still in the $30,000 + and up turntable, Wave Kinetic NVS, TW Black Knight, Basis Work of Art, Techdas etc etc What is successful sale at this price point, 10, 50, 100, 300, 1000?
I doubt there is one turntable that is universally praise for its look at any price point. Personally I find Clearaudio Statement, Techdas and Continuum among the uglier tables but some people really like their looks. To each his/her own. I rather like the understated look of Classic 3 but have not seen the DD in person yet. Some tables like TW Black Knight looks rather blah in picture but rather stunning looking in person. DD in rosewood is a looker at least in picture as well! |
PS, regarding retooling, even if VPI outsource all the parts, if VPI comes up with a new platform, someone somewhere will most likely have to do some retooling and the cost will be passed along to VPI in the end. I doubt VPI uses only off the shelf parts in their turntables. |
I was told that Fremer also has one for review as well. VPI sent DD out to 3 reviewers from what I was told by my local dealer. I hope we will hear something soon. I think it was in Fremer's interview with HW that the motor was further modified by a VPI client that HW knows and there was a reference to a company that makes motor part for submarine?
There was supposed to be one DD coming over here by the beginning of this month but I guess it got delayed.
I have not seen any reference regarding MDF armboard but saw that plinth is 1/2 inch aluminium bonded to 2 inch MDF or something. Armboard on my Classic 3 is aluminium though. |
There was a review of VPI direct drive last month in one of the online magazine. It was named turntable of the year by that magazine as well but I just can't remember the name right now hmmm.. |
I am curious about status of VPI. In the past TNT I thought was highly regard as among the big league table. HR-X was also no slouch. At that time, it may not be a Rolls Royce of turntable but probably quite a bit more than a Toyota, I would think.then it seems that in the last 6-7years, while many companies start making outrageously priced table, VPI went the opposite direction and aim for mid market instead with the Classic line. other companies then introduce cheaper tables as triggered down product while VPI made trigger up (is there such a word?) product, continuing to evolve Classic Line into more expensive products. Kind of strange. At one stage, I heard that VPI was even going to make a whole new table with DD that would come with its own stand and all but may be it proves to be too costly or HW may thing it would be too big a jump in their price structure? I definitely am curious to see if VPI rather unorthodox approach is going to work or not. No big word out of Miles yet but his one liner on wbf seems to be very positive for DD so far. |
Matt, now that you are on this thread, when is that DD going to make its way to Bangkok. I am eagerly waiting to hear one now :) |
I suppose $30,000 is never going to be considered basement bargain price but if
it outperform its competitor at the same price point and competes at the same level as tables 3-4 times its cost, a bargain is not exactly misleading either. Somehow, I doubt this review will have any impact on VPI dissident. Personally I am looking forward to hear one for myself very soon! Positive Feedback review should be coming out soon as well and early words sound like it will be along the same line as Fremer's impression as well. |
