@mechans are you familiar with Direct Drive turntables ? I hope you understand why Coreless Direct Drive motor is better than any belt drive or idler drive or whatever. So why do you compare a VPI and Technics ?
One VPI Direct Drive cost $30k another one cost $15k
Technics Direct Drive cost $1700 for GR and about $4000 for G
Technics SP-10R without plinth and tonearm is $10k
Technics SL-1000R with plinth and tonearm is $18k
https://www.technics.com/download/brochures/us/SL1000R_SP10R_US_Print.pdf
Please recall any other NEW Direct Drive with a motor equal to Technics SL1200GR ($1700 new) or coreless G/GAE or SP10R for what they are asking for ? Technics is definitely the best priced NEW High-End Direct Drive turntable today. And Matsushita is the most experienced company in that field today.
Here is all info about G
http://www.technics.com/us/products/grand-class/direct-drive-turntable-system-sl-1200g.html
And everything about SL1200GR (black version is SL1210GR):
http://www.technics.com/us/products/grand-class/direct-drive-turntable-system-sl-1200gr.html
If you prefer belt or idler drive for some reason then it's another story.
I don't even know of any modern turntable with the same build quality as Technics, only vintage Direct Drives are better in my opinion, but then we have to remember SP-10 mkII and EPA-100 tonearm.
One VPI Direct Drive cost $30k another one cost $15k
Technics Direct Drive cost $1700 for GR and about $4000 for G
Technics SP-10R without plinth and tonearm is $10k
Technics SL-1000R with plinth and tonearm is $18k
https://www.technics.com/download/brochures/us/SL1000R_SP10R_US_Print.pdf
Please recall any other NEW Direct Drive with a motor equal to Technics SL1200GR ($1700 new) or coreless G/GAE or SP10R for what they are asking for ? Technics is definitely the best priced NEW High-End Direct Drive turntable today. And Matsushita is the most experienced company in that field today.
Here is all info about G
http://www.technics.com/us/products/grand-class/direct-drive-turntable-system-sl-1200g.html
And everything about SL1200GR (black version is SL1210GR):
http://www.technics.com/us/products/grand-class/direct-drive-turntable-system-sl-1200gr.html
If you prefer belt or idler drive for some reason then it's another story.
I don't even know of any modern turntable with the same build quality as Technics, only vintage Direct Drives are better in my opinion, but then we have to remember SP-10 mkII and EPA-100 tonearm.