VPI Motor Upgrade Kit


Does anyone have any experience with what is described as a 300 rpm upgrade kit for the VPI Scout, Aries, or TNT? If so, would you describe whether any improvements could be discerned?

Thanks in advance!
mknowles16
You might want to check out the threads on Vinyl Asylum. At the same time you should check out the threads regarding using a Teres DC motor on your VPI. The comments indicate that upgrading to the Teres motor would be more beneficial than upgrading to the VPI 300rpm motor. YMMV
what's involved in upgrading to a teres dc motor. it's not just popping the motor in, right?
The Teres motor is four inches tall, so you'll have to address the incompatability in height somehow. You also drill a hole in the plinth to install a speed sensor, and install a strobe disc on the platter. I also considered this modification untill I read the numerous threads about this subject on AudioAsylum's site. There is a wide disparity of opinion as to whether an ac or a dc motor sounds better. Vpi's opnion is that if a dc motor sounded better, they'd offer one. Obviously, other people disagree.
Note that the Teres strobe disc mounts to the **underside** of the platter and the speed sensor is mounted to the plinth directly beneath the strobe disc. Both the strobe disc and speed sensor are out of sight when the platter is in place.

I choose the OL DC motor for the Well Tempered table- fairly easy to install. Don't know enough about the VPI to say how easy it might be for your model, but you might want to check out their website for directions if you're interested.

Regards
Jim
I am running the new 300 RPM from VPI as part of the upgrade on my Scout to Scoutmaster. Speed is far more consistant so far. It's only been a week and the motor control is also being handled by a Walker Precision Motor Controller too. The pulley system is more robust and VPI is using a new material "black belt" which eliminates the bumpy seam that was in the older clear belt.
would there be any need/benefit upgrading to the 300 rpm if im already using an sds?
Depends on which of the three tables you mention you are refering to. I know that some early Scouts reported noisy/vibration prone motors. To my mind the addition of the SDS or Walker motor controller benfits ANY motor running on it. Provides clean stable AC as well as an easy way to switch between 45 and 33 RPM.
im running a scout, a later model, and really happy with what the sds has added. but of course, im wondering if the 300 rpm would provide any added benefit. is there anyone who has just done the motor upgrade with a scout and sds can comment?

thanks
Second what Photon46 said. That's a good summary.

Several months ago HW offered to ship me a 300rpm motor to A/B on my Teres and post a review. That would have been fun and I accepted. It hasn't arrived yet, so I presume VPI's been busy making stuff for real customers.
Coming in a little late here. My question is why do you have to install the speed disc and sensor when using the Teres motor?
Does anyone know if VPI will be changing the Scout to include the 300rpm motor in the future? Is the currently included motor a cost saving aspect of the table?
Don't know about that, but I did read in the current Stereophile that they will be including a real antiskate mechanism sometime in the future.
Toddwj,
The Teres motor controller circuit is unique (AFAIK) because it maintains the speed of the platter (NOT the motor) at exactly 33 or 45rpm. To do that, of course, the controller needs to know how fast the platter is spinning.

A strobe disc on the underside of the platter is read by a sensor positioned 1-2mm below it. The sensor is connected to the motor controller circuit via a cable that runs down through the plinth and out to the motor.

Full info and details of this ingenious design are on the Teres website. AFAIK all other controllers measure the speed of the motor, rather than measuring what we actually care about.
I have the 300rpm motor kit, worthwhile upgrade IMHO. You should talk to Harry W @ VPI and get his feedback. He has some insite as to why VPI has chosen AC motor VS DC. Search the thread over on AA, this has come up before and Harry has commented on it.

- tb