classic rock lps on VPI

What don't you like about the VPI? What is it sitting on?

The VPI simply illuminates all the warts of mediocre and poorly recorded lps. I want to ameliorate those warts so that classic rock records will be more enjoyable.

My table sits on a DIY wall shelf. 1200lb. capacity supports, 3" thick solid maple spiked to supports, Bright Star Big Rock sitting on maple, VPI on Big Rock.

I've tried the VPI on a Ginko base and siting on bare maple, prefer the Big Rock over either.

Dgarretson, I noticed your using a thread drive on your VPI. I just installed a thread drive on my VPI, I have it so there is minimum slippage, but I suspect higher side forces on both tt motor bearing and tt bearing because of increased tightness of thread. I notice your guide roller system, I would like to implement the same system. Is this something I could do myself, or perhaps you could supply to me?

I have yet to hear my table with the thread installed, perhaps tonight.

Scott,

My suspensionless TNT is great with rock music & your Scout is very close in design, so you should be able to get there.

Regarding siting, you have exactly the same Scout/wall mount/Bright Star set-up as a fellow I know who benefitted greatly from adding springs under the Bright Star. If you like I can forward you his contact info. Try this & forget the VPI minifeet. This should eliminate irritating glare or tizziness that may be mistaken for resolution in the VPI. With large, low-resonance springs under the heavy Bright Star, the VPI becomes more resolving but sweet & supple across HF. Also, it's worth cutting up or making a replacement birch ply top for the Bright Star, so as to isolate the motor and each plinth foot from every other foot. With this step you eliminate vibration & ringing across the sandbox top from returning to the TT.

With these changes and maybe some tweaks to MC cartridge loading, you should find what you're looking for. If not then move on to another cartridge.

Try five $7 springs on-line from McMaster-Carr P/N 96485K125. The center spring is to be moved around for leveling. They are 1-15/16”D x 4”L and use .148” diameter wire ground flat at the ends. They compress 23.7lbs/inch, up to a total deflection of 2.88”. So a 50lb load compresses each spring about half way down and leaves .88” of unused travel before the spring binds. You can also buy sorbethane sheets from this vendor to wrap around the central windings of each spring for dampening.

The part of my tensioning pulley system that will help you the most is the relatively easy to construct pulley on the motor housing. This is cobbled together with a pressure roller bearing assembly from Boca Bearing & sleeve, alum bar stock, and allen bolts from Ace Hardware. You do need a few tools & thread taps to make it. The added tensioning wheel at the motor lets you reduce lateral tension on the motor & platter while still obtaining grip with the thread. Finally, for smoother treble, try running the thread on the flat section of the platter between the grooves.

http://www.bocabearings.com/main1.aspx?p=showsearchforpage&cat=industry&label=pr

I adapted my pulley system from Frank Schroeder's new tape drive TT. Email me if you need more details.

Dave