[BobM]

Who uses one of these periphery record rings, like the VPI? Theoretically they make a lot of sense. What is your experience with them?

Has anyone seen this auction over at Audiogon ...

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?accstwek&1235444247&1234963855

It's a brass ring without the outer downward facing "lip" on the VPI ring, which won't work on all tables due to lack of belt clearance. I would guess brass would be better, since it is denser and purportedly results in better sound than other metals. Anyone seen one of these "ttouter" rings and can vouch for the quality of the workmanship and uniformity of it?

thanks,
Bob

[TheChairGuy]

Waaay more important than inner clamps (best use both, tho)

I have one made specifically for the VPI HW-19 Mk. III platter....I don't think the folks are in business anymore. 

It's one heavy sucker (must be close to 1.5 lbs and has the downfacing lip and there is enough clearance for the belt).  I think it's made of heavyweight aluminum (or unpolished stainless steel - I'll have to check)

John

[spacedghost]

With the added weight, could this have an adverse affect the motor performance? 


Shaun

[Sonny]

With the added weight, could this have an adverse affect the motor performance? 


Shaun

Shaun, I don't think the added weight would cause too much stress on the motor because it's really sitting on the bearing, and as long as the bearing is working properly, it should stress the motor much...now, perhaps at the beginning when the motor turns on...

Btw, how are the cables sound these days?  Any changes to the system?
T

[spacedghost]

Thanks Sonny, I wasn't really sure but I thought I would ask.

Cables are great, #1 choice for my TT setup.

And yes many changes afoot in my setup.... aa

Shaun

[Sonny]

Well, good to hear that changes are to be made...and hopefully, the result will be for the better Shaun...
If you need new cables/lengths, let me know.

On the other hand...since the current VPI ring doesn't fit my older TNT platter, wondering where we can get one that will!

John, do you know?  Perhaps when you come over, we can try your ring on my table?  It should fit, right?

Tuan

[TheChairGuy]

On the other hand...since the current VPI ring doesn't fit my older TNT platter, wondering where we can get one that will!

John, do you know?  Perhaps when you come over, we can try your ring on my table?  It should fit, right?

Tuan

Not sure Sonny/Tuan....but, I'll meander over with it whenever you'd like (weekdays are fine to do...possibly even preferred)

Not certain if it will fit...I asked Mike @ VPI if the ring will fit the new Classic table platter and he wasn't exactly specific on that.  But, it won't hurt to try it on yours and see.

I'm away this whole week...next week sometime is fine (or whenever).

John

[Sonny]

On the other hand...since the current VPI ring doesn't fit my older TNT platter, wondering where we can get one that will!

John, do you know?  Perhaps when you come over, we can try your ring on my table?  It should fit, right?

Tuan

Not sure Sonny/Tuan....but, I'll meander over with it whenever you'd like (weekdays are fine to do...possibly even preferred)

Not certain if it will fit...I asked Mike @ VPI if the ring will fit the new Classic table platter and he wasn't exactly specific on that.  But, it won't hurt to try it on yours and see.

I'm away this whole week...next week sometime is fine (or whenever).

John

Thanks John...regarding a get together, I think during the week day, the first week of March will work...  Right now I am still employed (until the 27th).

So, what day works for you?

[Wayner]

The extra weight will have an effect on start-up torque. Your VPI motor should get it going with little trouble, tho you may want to help the table going if it shows signs of stressing.

Once it's spinning, no problem.

Wayner

[jakelieb]

I've used a Merrill outer ring on my AR for 30 years. It is a great tweak.  Check out the Vinyl Nirvana website for pictures of the Merrill mods.  Purchased the AR and Merrill mods from George in Memphis in 1988.  With center weight and outer ring there is no worry about warped vinyl.

Jake

[Vinyl-Addict]

oops, my mistake.

[TheChairGuy]

Thanks John...regarding a get together, I think during the week day, the first week of March will work...  Right now I am still employed (until the 27th).

So, what day works for you?

Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be my busiest....Wed-Friday (usually) best.

March (Wed/Thurs) 4 & 5 look to be okay now aa

John

[thegage]

Hands down, adding the VPI ring to my 19 MK-IV was the most significant upgrade I've made in a long time, and that includes the Super Platter, SDS, and SAMA. The increase in stability of playback and the way the music became more "solid" was astonishing. It is a bit of a pain to change every record side, but it's well worth the extra hassle.

John K.

[twitch54]

I added the perf ring at the same time I upgraded to the Super platter. While I agree it is an improvement, it is most apparent on thinner slices of 'pizza' (100 &120 gram) with their inheirent warpage tendencies.

FWIW, I always give the platter a little 'helping hand' on start up.

[TheChairGuy]

Yup and yup to the previous responders...it 'settles' things more master tape like.

I suspect taming warp-induced wow is much of the reason....but, probably another is simply damping the vinyl itself so that less errors are transmitted thru the tiny stylus and on thru your system.

John

[doug s.]

the oracle delphi doesn't need this - the combination of its ever-so-slightly concave platter, combined w/a washer under its screw-down center clamp ensures that the edge of your record is firmly clamped to the platter...  before i got theoracle, i achieved the same results w/an ever-so-small piece of insulation running the perimeter of the platter; this achieved the same results, w/a standard delrin audioquest clamp...

doug s.

[Sonny]

the oracle delphi doesn't need this - the combination of its ever-so-slightly concave platter, combined w/a washer under its screw-down center clamp ensures that the edge of your record is firmly clamped to the platter...  before i got theoracle, i achieved the same results w/an ever-so-small piece of insulation running the perimeter of the platter; this achieved the same results, w/a standard delrin audioquest clamp...

doug s.

Doug, the VPI Platters are not concave, but have a indent in the middle around the spindle, which is to be used with the rubber washer underneath the record, then the clamp to do what you are speaking of.  Even then, I find that some less than 180 gram records, either from being pushed / compressed by the clamp/rubber washer, still warp, sometimes, it makes it worst, in my experience.  The VPI system actually creates a sealed vacum that holds the recorc on the platter...but I don't think anything will reduce the warps of a record better than the pheripery ring.
T

[Sonny]

Thanks John...regarding a get together, I think during the week day, the first week of March will work...  Right now I am still employed (until the 27th).

So, what day works for you?

Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be my busiest....Wed-Friday (usually) best.

March (Wed/Thurs) 4 & 5 look to be okay now aa

John

John, I'll PM you about March get together!

[bacobits1]

I just saw this ring. Finally a reasonable price too. Not $600+ BS!
Very nice work up there in Canada.
It is priced the same as Merrill used to price his. I had one on an Heirloom table years ago.
Worked great just an extra step to play a record. Also don't drop it on your foot.

D

[spacedghost]

Sonny,

Did you have the GTG?  Any thoughts on the ring/clamp?

Shaun