New VPI

I don't own a VPI(disclaimer),but have numerous friends who have owned everything from 19.5 to the TNT(very latest),using arms from Immedia,Air Tangent,Graham,and different VPI's,with a host of different "super-cartridges".I am VERY familiar with these products,and the systems housing them.
The different criticisms pertaining to much of the VPI stuff is downright "laughable"!These are well thought out products,and though almost any audio product cannot really be called "neutral",the VPI "tables" come damn close(I'm not referring to the arms)!What is the problem?Are the prices too reasonable?
Just like many other superb tables from Sota(I own a wonderful Cosmos IV,btw),Basis,Immedia,Walker and the host of other fine products,these are fabulous products.Well conceived,and very thoughtfully priced.
Harry W. is a caring and creative designer,and is dead serious about vinyl playback.I've heard his products in "serious" systems,owned by audiophiles who "truly" know how the best LP's "should" sound.....Impressive!!
There is a host of superb tables out there,and the best way to get the absolute max from a front end "vinyl playback system is to stop worrying so much about the relatively small differences between the "better" tables,and spend more time re-thinking the voicings available from the best arm/cartridge combinations.That is where the real "magic" can be found.Hands on,with good vinyl,and "boring as hell" repeat listening,at different settings!Anyone else having a better solution?I'm all ears!-:)
Just my opinion.

BTW,I was recently at a friend who has the very latest TNT/new heavy platter/Titan-i/12.6 arm(soon to be a 12.7)."Magnificent" LP collection(most important of all,actually).
I always scope out his stuff,as they are working,and did notice his belts would sort of "skip/move about" as the platter moved.Like a little jerky motion,as a complete revolution was completed.He is not in the least bit concerned about this,and in truth there was absolutely no indication of any abnormality through listening!!!He has an absolutely "world class" set-up(CJ ART,big Infinity speakers,etc)and a truly great room.If there was the slightest audible problem we would hear it.None,to anyone not having a doggie's hearing!
My apologies to the "contrarians",I'm sure you will find something to criticize!
Best to all

My apologies to Teres and Am_dial.
I was mistaken about the "Teres" I heard. The table I saw and listened to was a Teres clone. At the time it was presented as a Teres but that has been cleared up.
I take it back.

I knew about this from Mike of VPI. I own a TNT VI w/superplatter and VPI IV Sama...(for 78s).

Motor noise is an irrelevant comment, baseless. The biggest problem I have is with the table isolation. I use a seismic sink under the tables which makes these tables top high end decks. Without the seismic sink, they are also rans. I haven't tried too many other products but on my stands its seismic sinks (Townsend) or forget it.

Harry purchased an expensive older and highly successful rim drive years ago and wondered how he could implement it into the VPI designs. It's not an experiment. Just as the superplatter is superior to the all acrylic platter. With the latest superplatter, it should be a cinch, remove the existing flywheel, reverse power leads on the two motors and no more belt replacements.

In early 2006, Mike sent me the new belts for the flywheel and platter which are thicker on the flywheel and thinner on the platter than in 2005. The earlier belts tended to waver (alot, .3 to .6 per hour on SDS). The newer belts hold their speed within .05 digits (adjusted for the first 20 minutes) then less than .01 digit change for hours and hours which I consider very stable indeed. Most of my friends use VPI tables or want to upgrade to a VPI from older high end tables.

Mike told me in July that the rim drive will tremendously increase bass solidity and dynamics while significantly improving speed stability and tonal balance. It's the tonal balance part that I have to hear to believe, the first two are a given as superior based on historical results of rim drives. The rim drive should be much less expensive than the superplatter.

The MusicDirect photo doesn't look right or doesn't fit because the RM is oversized and sitting under the platter. Later this week, VPI will provide answers on the retrofit.

Fleschler,
Thanks for your informative comments.

Would you please explain what you mean by "RM"? I was looking at the ad photo, but I couldn't figure out what you were referrring to.