Anyone heard the new VPI Classic?

Wayner · « **Reply #40 on:** 21 May 2009, 01:02 pm »

If I hadn't bought my new truck, I'd be sending you a payment.

Wayner

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #41 on:** 21 May 2009, 02:01 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 21 May 2009, 03:54 am

Its a good product....that's why..

Off topic....is the new flat cart finally out John ?

WolfyChris - still, it's $25-$30 for cash strapped folks and if one made it this far in life without one, surely it's not a life-saving item that one must-have. And yet, it continues to sell quite strongly against the a difficult economic landscape (frankly, we keep waiting for the 'shoe to drop'

)

The Magna Cart Flatform is not out until September now as we have zero production capacity in China to allocate to it...it's all taken up by the current product. It was pushed back from original release date of July for that reason. It's a weird 'problem' to have, but a problem nonetheless

Quote from: hondo

An old VPI ring fit my Classic.

Cool hondo...I think mine (from Sound Engineering LLP) will fit it, too

Quote from: Sonny

John,
if you need help....setting it up or want company setting it up, let me know...I am just around the corner and still unemployed, so there's lots of time on my hands! Let me know John!!!!

Tuan - we'll all meet at Bill Berndt's to hear it against his Empire re-do. He's home for a while on extended 'holiday' for a while. We're trying to find a date that meets with our schedules the last week or so. Will letcha' know for sure!

John

richidoo · « **Reply #42 on:** 21 May 2009, 02:28 pm »

John congrats on the new TT(s)

I saw your cart in a store here somewhere recently. I said "My friend makes that!" ooooo - ahhhhhh My companions (kids) were mighty impressed.

When economy turns down, people start producing value for themselves instead of buying the value around them. This means doing things for themselves, which needs tools. A practical tool like Magnacart is very high value, and is so useful, it's not surprising people would use it for a million projects.

Or, they are using it to haul away their dumpster diving treasures.

In anycase, I hope you continue to prosper and buy cool new audiophile exotica for us to oooooo- ahhhhhh!!

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #43 on:** 21 May 2009, 03:44 pm »

Quote from: richidoo on 21 May 2009, 02:28 pm

John congrats on the new TT(s)

I saw your cart in a store here somewhere recently. I said "My friend makes that!" ooooo - ahhhhhh My companions (kids) were mighty impressed.

When economy turns down, people start producing value for themselves instead of buying the value around them. This means doing things for themselves, which needs tools. A practical tool like Magnacart is very high value, and is so useful, it's not surprising people would use it for a million projects.

Rich - I sure hope you're logic is sound, but we're in the Hardware Dept at Costco, and my contacts there tell me they cannot sell hand tools in that department...even marked down 60% as they have done since the October 2008 calamity hit.

There's no cheaper place to buy anything than Costco...yet hand tools (for DIY folks) cannot sell. Yet, our Magna Cart is tearing it up out there (at almost every retailer, frankly)

So, I'm not so sure it's exactly as you described...but, it's something driving sales that I/we don't understand, that's for sure. Maybe we just hit on the next ladder or stapler or Post-it note (items that are in most homes and businesses) and didn't realize it

Anyhow - this is certainly off-topic now.....and I will get down to putting one of these Classic's together soon

John

Berndt · « **Reply #44 on:** 21 May 2009, 05:43 pm »

Quote from: Sonny

John,
if you need help....setting it up or want company setting it up, let me know...I am just around the corner and still unemployed, so there's lots of time on my hands! Let me know John!!!!

Tuan - we'll all meet at Bill Berndt's to hear it against his Empire re-do. He's home for a while on extended 'holiday' for a while. We're trying to find a date that meets with our schedules the last week or so. Will letcha' know for sure!

John
[/quote]

John and Tuan, lets shoot for a get together next week?
The UKaudiomods RB250 will be back on the Empire. Maybe the 28th?
Regards, Bill

twitch54 · « **Reply #45 on:** 21 May 2009, 06:21 pm »

Wayner...John, I'm glad both of you have done your level best (truck & TT) to help our strugling economy !

Congrats to both !

Wayner · « **Reply #46 on:** 21 May 2009, 07:20 pm »

I should have ordered a truck with the turntable option.

Dan Kolton · « **Reply #47 on:** 21 May 2009, 08:09 pm »

John/Chair Guy,

Off topic, but can you give a website address for your products? PM me if necessary.

Berndt · « **Reply #48 on:** 21 May 2009, 08:22 pm »

Quote from: Dan Kolton on 21 May 2009, 08:09 pm

John/Chair Guy,

Off topic, but can you give a website address for your products? PM me if necessary.

http://www.amazon.com/Magna-Cart-Personal-Hand-Truck/sim/B000HVVSDU/2

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #49 on:** 22 May 2009, 12:46 am »

Quote from: Berndt on 21 May 2009, 05:43 pm

John and Tuan, lets shoot for a get together next week?
The UKaudiomods RB250 will be back on the Empire. Maybe the 28th?
Regards, Bill

Bill, what would be an alternate date just after that if need be?...there might be something in the way one week from today (the 28th).

Tues/Wed/Thursday normally best for me.

Thx, John

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #50 on:** 22 May 2009, 03:06 am »

Thanks for the info John....good luck with the new TT !!

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #51 on:** 23 May 2009, 02:09 pm »

Chalk one up for being very impressed with the presentation of the new VPI Classic here.

I (finally) opened the box and set it up with a Grado Gold this morning (I woke at 4AM and had all the energy in the world to work on this today)...and I have to say I am impressed.

It comes with a screw-on spindle, a Shure stylus force gauge, a very trick and easy to use arm/cartridge alignment gauge, a reasonably informative owners manual, and included silicone damping fluid (in a handy dispenser) for optional fluid damping in pivot arm (very much recommended when using Grado's).

As there is no suspension, it's as easy as leveling the whole shebang with a bubble level (not included). As it doesn't have suspension, I have found in the past, absolutely perfect leveling is about as good as pretty good leveling (as opposed to suspended decks that really need perfect leveling.

The arm is a well cast beauty....nicer in looks than my $2700 Origin Live Illustrious (somewhat subjective, of course). And it's 10.5" - woohoo - all the better to track with

and more tolerant of imperfect cartridge overhang (tho dialing in the azimuth may actually be more important the longer the arm

)

Given that the deck and arm currently cost $2500 today as I write this, makes it something of a fine value even without hearing it.

The motor is considerably quieter than the HW-19's (and I had two of them and choose the quietest among them). Having the pulley/motor in the front is inspired genius that all makers should copy....it not only places the motor physically further from the arm pivot, but it makes threading the belt easier, too. The belt, as with all VPI's, is round and black....not flat, as they typically were with decks of yesteryear like the Empires and Rek-o-kuts that this deck pays homage to.

I'm running it in now - it is spinning away for several hours before I use it. Why?

- you may ask. As I found with the purchase of a new bearing for the HW-19 several months ago...it took about 20 hours for the sound/speed/whatever to settle in. It was VERY noticeable to my ears. The Classic owners manual coincidentally mentions the same - 20 hour break in required. It's not voodoo - it's just mechanical parts wearing in that is the reason.

Each unit, so says the manual, is run-in for 4 hours at VPI before shipping

The pulley is extremely tight tolerance...something like 0.005" leeway and it's necessary to take great care not to bump it around and lose it's balance.

The 20 lb platter is immense and of fantastic build quality to my eye.

NOTE: BoneDocPaul/orthobiz....the non-VPI made ring, which fits the HW-19 and Aries just fine, does not fit the Classic. So, it's available now aa (the Classic platter is about 12 1/8" wide, and one need have a platter that is the same size or smaller than the 11 7/8" to 12" record itself for it to be used.

So, color me impressed, Easy to set-up, terrific build quality, innovative features and a quiet motor. I'm looking forward to hearing here thoughout the weekend. Some pics for you vinylporn fans

John

Scottdazzle · « **Reply #52 on:** 23 May 2009, 02:52 pm »

John,

Mine probably won't arrive for a few weeks and your photo shows no platter mat. Does it come with one or are you supposed to put your record directly on the metal? That seems static-y to me.

Scott

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #53 on:** 23 May 2009, 02:57 pm »

Quote from: Scotthobby on 23 May 2009, 02:52 pm

John,

Mine probably won't arrive for a few weeks and your photo shows no platter mat. Does it come with one or are you supposed to put your record directly on the metal? That seems static-y to me.

Scott

No platter mat included...very odd, but that's what it is.

I plan to put my Herbie's on it....not a deck I've found that it hasn't improved. I'm not so concerned with static myself as I am with hard aluminum versus soft (relatively so) vinyl. Doesn't seem to be a good idea

John

Berndt · « **Reply #54 on:** 23 May 2009, 04:01 pm »

sweet looking

Will firm up a date to hang once I get the ukaudiomods rb250 mounted and am happy with its presentation.
Regards, Bill

mountaineagle · « **Reply #55 on:** 23 May 2009, 05:06 pm »

Waiting here in the UK to hear the Classic! On order and will be heard with Dynavector 20 X.

This is very exciting for this guy who intends after many years to return to vinyl after selling all his LPs many years ago. Got an "in betweeny" system of Rega Apollo, Brio 3 & Dynaudio Audience 52s and find the sound a little lacking in sharpeness. Not an expert in these matters and I am rather hoping that if I like the Classic it might be my first and last t/t. I read a lot about the contrast between the "sound" of Linn/Rega as compared with the "American" sound of VPI and would be grateful for you guys opinions! I listen to Ryan Adams, Neil Young, Wilco blues & country etc and I am looking for that live feel that I remember from someone like Joni Mitchell. What do you guys, at a reasonable price, think would go with the VPI, if you reckon it is better than the UK equivalents, as per amp and speakers and also a cd player? I hav thought of Naim and the Ayre 7 series?

Give my regards to the Colorado I rafted it through 250 miles in 1997 over a 100 rapids!

Greg

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #56 on:** 23 May 2009, 08:19 pm »

I'm playing it now and it has the artifacts I noted of bearing run-in from the HW-19 months ago. Ie, it sounds slightly etched and something awry with pitch accuracy right now. About 11 hours until the bearing reaches the minimum 20 hour mark

This two-time bearing experiment now tells me loud and clear that the slight 'etch' I heard with my beaten old Technics SL-1200 is likely a worn bearing issue rather than anything endemic with the deck itself.

But, aside from that, it sounds quite good. The noise floor is so low I had to check to make sure the needle plopped into the lead groove once or twice...it's THAT quiet.

Bass is powerful and succinct, midrange is full, treble range sounds realistic and 'tingly'. All in all, I'd defy most to hear the difference between a belt and direct drive on this one. It's solid sounding.....and as footfall resistant as the JVC QL-Y66F (direct drive machine that has been my standard the past ~ 1 year).

All in all a good show

The unipivot is freaky tho...fortunately I spent some time over Sonny/Tuans and his VPI Aries with unipivot to see how jiggly they are so I wasn't freaked.

At least in my system, no ground wire needed to preamp chassis. Using a Monster Cable M1000i interconnect (sorry Monster loathers - I think they sound just fine and are well shielded) there is near literally no hum at all at any volume level.

I've been playing some piano and xylophone pieces, music that notoriously show up pitch issues on decks, and they sound fine to me (and will sound better after bearing wear-in I'm nearly sure)

Damn, I sure do miss auto-lift tho. If the Classic is staying long term, an end-of-arm up device of some kind is mandatory. I cannot be bothered running for the needle as it ends the playback side to save the precious stylus crap game

Welcome to VE, mountaineagle....we need the international flavor you provide around here

John

mountaineagle · « **Reply #57 on:** 23 May 2009, 11:21 pm »

Thanks TheChairGuy

looking forward to hearing more as the Classic runs in and also on any suggestions for an arm up device for the reasons you state.

As I said I want to build a system so any suggestions at this price range much appreciated.

Greg

doug s. · « **Reply #58 on:** 23 May 2009, 11:59 pm »

Quote from: mountaineagle on 23 May 2009, 11:21 pm

Thanks TheChairGuy looking forward to hearing more as the Classic runs in and also on any suggestions for an arm up device for the reasons you state.

As I said I want to build a system so any suggestions at this price range much appreciated.

Greg

see this thread for tone-arm lifters:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=67988.msg628995#msg628995

also, while this new vpi is undoubtedly a fine deck, i would strongly consider finding a used empire...

doug s.

rajacat · « **Reply #59 on:** 24 May 2009, 03:44 am »

Quote from: doug s. on 23 May 2009, 11:59 pm

Quote from: mountaineagle on 23 May 2009, 11:21 pm
Thanks TheChairGuy looking forward to hearing more as the Classic runs in and also on any suggestions for an arm up device for the reasons you state.

As I said I want to build a system so any suggestions at this price range much appreciated.

Greg
see this thread for tone-arm lifters:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=67988.msg628995#msg628995

also, while this new vpi is undoubtedly a fine deck, i would strongly consider finding a used empire...

doug s.

Geez, what a curmudgeon

. A Memorial Day weekend wet blanket.

..Roy