Vpi vs. TW Acustic

I find Audiogon threads to be informative and entertaining. When I first read the original post, I thought that this thread would be the former. However, it has become the latter.

I was asked by a poster here to jump in and add my thoughts, being a Raven One owner.

First of all, I never understood why some people give VPI a bad rap. It seems like a well built, well engineered product. I don't have enough experience with VPI's as to even comment about their sonic characteristics.

As most people realize, auditioning just the table part of the equation is rather difficult, but David seems to have some experience hearing his Raven against some other tables in his own system, so I'd like to hear more of his opinion on the matter.

Personally, I went from a tweeked out WTT classic to the Raven One/Phantom in stock form, and got a massive upgrade in sound quality, using the same cart.

Since that point I have tweeked out the Raven a bit, adding a sistrum SP-1 stand, TTWeights clamp, platter, and periphery ring, and just recently, a Halcyonics platform.

I never used to be a believer in suspensions, but having heard what an excellent (though expensive) suspension can do for performance, I now believe in using one.

The Raven in stock form I believe represents an excellent value, and allows much room for growth and improvement through tweeks and add ons.

Maybe I am being naiive, but I feel at the current level of performance, realism, and master tape type sound I am getting with this set up, that I can't imagine many turntable setups being able to significantly "better" the playback I am currently getting with this rig. Ignorance is bliss I suppose.

Thanks, Sirspeedy for the information.

Hifigary - I think the Raven One would be a huge improvement over the Aries, and you will enjoy great music for many years to come.

There appear to be four discussion points on this thread: price, engineering, sound and the US dealer.

Price - The Raven One is quite a bit less than the SME 10 as a price point example, and there is no comparison between the two. The sonic qualities of the Raven are simply outstanding. Even the Raven Two is less than the SME 10. And as for the AC-1 - it is much less than the SME20 and a bit over half the price of the SME30. I'm not trying to pick on SME, but am simply using it as a pricing point.

Engineering - the Raven and AC are finely engineered tables - from the bearings to the platter, motors and isolation. There is no doubt that Thomas did his homework from an engineering perspective.

Sound – I have had both musicians and recording engineers comment that the table has the “best timing I have ever heard in a table”, that the “nuance in this table is unbelievable". And finally: "Musical - as close to being in the room with the musicians as you can get". When this comes from both the guys in front and behind the control room glass this says a lot.

Dealer – Jeff Catalano of High Water Sound is a fair, honest and reputable individual beyond reproach. He wants folks to be able to enjoy their system, and will work with them to match components to their specific systems. From my personal dealings with Jeff he has advised me on where it is worth spending money and where it is not – whether those funds be spent with him or with another dealer. He is not a high pressure sales guy but one who is interested in satisfied listeners in the end.

I own an AC-3, and as you can tell from my “sound” comments above I feel it has taken my analog rig to a new level. I am a happy, happy listener and that is the highest praise I can give to the price, engineering, sound, and US dealer of the TW Acustic tables.

I own both a TW Raven AC-3 and VPI HRX tables.

Both are wonderful sounding tables and each has their positives and negatives.

While I can appreciate Speedy trying to hype up the buy American view, stating that the TW or Transrotor or any other of the multiple German tables as being inedequate is plain silly.

We all should be rejoicing that turntables and analog in general is growing and we have more quality choices we can make than ever before.

Why did I buy my TW raven AC-3. Easy - freedom of choice. It is a well made product that will last forever. It's speed control is exceptional. The main selling point for me is the multiple arms and cartridges you can run at the same time. You can do it easily and it makes analog more fun - period.
I agree with Raul that tonearms with interchangable headshells is a great way to play with multiple cartridges.

BTW, Thomas's new VTA armboard looks like a Godsend for any great tonearm out there that does not have VTA on the fly like the VPI, Graham or Triplaner. This gives you more choice of tonearms.

anyway, support analog and spread the money around all the worthy global choices and we will all enjoy analog for a long time more.

cheers