Sota Eclipse packages for VPI tables.


My VPI PLC died a few months back. I’ve since upgraded the motor to the 300 RPM motor, but have been looking to replace the PLC. Even used, the SDS and ADS are quite pricy and the reviews are mixed at best, especially with the ADS.

I ran across the Sota offering, which includes a DC motor and speed controller. It costs roughly the same as a used SDS. There’s also an optional tachometer .

Has anyone done this upgrade to a VPI or other non Sota tables? How did it work out for you?

Thanks for your consideration.
vinylzone

There are no critical issues between bearings and platters other than the bearing has to be able to support the weight of the platter. 

VPI makes mundane bearings. Any magnetic thrust bearing is going to create less than 1/2 the noise. The spindle bearing takes relatively minimal stress. The mass is focused on the thrust bearing. What is going to make less noise and be more reliable a ball and thrust plate bearing or a magnetic field thrust bearing. The answer is obvious.  @lewm, Clearaudio makes significantly quieter bearings than VPI, the company that told you anti skating was not necessary and shafted people with a poor quality unipivot arm. Give me a break! Clearaudio even uses ceramic spindles!

@vinylzone , You have to remove the bearing from the plinth and see what you have. Go to Clearaudio's web sit below. Look at the bearings. You have to get one the thickness of your platter or a little less. You would punch a hole in the platter the exact diameter if the bearing housing. Then you need a hole in your plinth the size of the lower housing. If you look at the bearings you will see immediately what has to be done. I do not know if this is practical to do on your turntable. You have to figure that out on your own. The bearing is most definitely better. 

For those who think designing a turntable is complicated and difficult, it is not. Turntables are extremely simple devices. Then why doesn't everyone make dynamite turntables? Because they are more interested in money than producing the finest turntable. There are a few exceptions. David Fletcher wanted to make the best turntable for a reasonable price. He learned from Edgar Villchur and came up with the Sota Sapphire, the rave turntable of it's day that many could afford. His good friend AJ Conte decided to take the same design to the max and founded Basis. People thought nobody would pay that much for a turntable but they did. Of course there is always a chance that a company really has no idea what they are doing and there are a few companies that fit this description. 

 

I am looking for advice as to whether it would be worthwhile to add the SOTA speed controller for a simple VPI scout turntable. Is that inconsistent with the value of the turntable, or worthwhile?  Thanks in advance.

@peter_s 

If I understand your question, the speed controller alone won't work with the VPI motor.  The Sota system comes with a motor that will fit most VPI motor housings.

The Sota motor is better than the Hursts that VPI uses.  It runs with much less vibration and there is no cogging.

IMO, the Sota package is better than the VPI motor with SDS, which I have on my second table.

If you do go with the Sota, I would highly recommend getting the Roadrunner with it (Total Eclipse Package).

The SOTA ensemble will transform your VPI, and you can keep it if later you upgrade to a better VPI.

But I don’t think the SOTA motor is totally free of cogging bc it is not coreless so far as I know. Don’t worry about it at all.