VPI's new "Vanquish" Ultra High-End turntable is a STUNNER!

As the owner of a Teres table and Verus motor for over 15 years reading about this VPI and the reaction to it is almost comical. Chris Brady developed a direct drive way back then, and was a lot more open with it leaving little doubt the vast majority of the cost went straight into the hardware. Compared to this VPI where it seems the vast majority of the cost went into the candy apple red paint. I bet you $500 the bearing in my Teres is at least as good.

Then there's the arm. I hear VPI is already working on a 14. Feet, that is.

I mean this thing is a joke. Metal and acrylic, same crap they been using for decades. Different shape, new color, dudes lap it up. That arm board- is it anything other than a hunk of aluminum? I mean okay, maybe it is. I don't know. Honestly just looking at it, knowing what I know about turntables, and VPI, my bet is aluminum. Not that you can't build a really good table with acrylic and aluminum. You can. For this kind of money though, if that's what VPI did, then it goes beyond rip off and shows just how little respect they have for their customers.

Only thing more hilarious, the idea of "findings" as if any of this has anything to do with technology. Hello? See above. 15 years ago. Sheesh. "Findings?" Yeah. As in, wanted to find out how many suckers there are. And that's how many they will build.

Perhaps it is just me.  If I had so much money like Warren Buffet the VPI would be affordable.  Affordable is a word that is an oxymoron.  I personally would help many people in need and opt for a Lynn Sondek at 10 or $15K and the Lynn would be amazing!
98% of the world's population cannot afford this VPI. Also. The $10,000 interconnects, or the $50,000 speakers, or the $80,000 Electronics to run it.  An Audiophile needs much money to collect music. Now, with streamg technology, people like myself with lower income who loves music can have great benefit. We also can enjoy great sound for less than $4,000 Which is a huge investment for us.  $$$$  Does not have much for the love of technology and the love for music.

If you are going to ask for a TT to sit beside your new Wilson Chronosonic speakers, that would be the one.  Just how much of that price is 'because we can' plus the blingy bits would be interesting.

I have never been a huge fan of their tonearms, but when I asked a local dealer if they supplied arm boards for one of their then higher end tables, that would take a different manufacturers arm (I am a long time SME V fan) they acted as if I had sworn in church.

No doubt the new table will perform very well - but I'd like to see a blind listening test from know reviewers, between it and some of their best top end models like the Avenger. My bet would be that if they didn't know what they were listening to, the increment in performance would be nowhere near the increment in price.

@wspohn-  That's an interesting point. You can compare the incremental improvement in SQ of this set up, but compared to what?  I seriously doubt anyone with a $8K analog front end and $20K total system cost would install this TT into their system and notice any difference at all.  You certainly would not put an $800 cart on a $120K TT or listen to it through a pair of $1600 speakers.

I wonder how much of the incremental SQ improvement is due to the uber high end cartridge, cables, pre-amps, amps and speakers connected to this monstrosity?  I wonder how it would compare to a TechDas TT or other high end table connected to the same equipment list?

@jsautter, what was your experience meeting Matt?

I don't have a TT at this point in my life (nowhere to put a giant system in current house). I do miss my vinyl, but after reading this piece, t's almost a relief to not be in the game... 

I know manufacturers do this 6-figure launch thing partly out of a sense of market compulsion, needing to keep up with other big-ticket launches; also the battle to stay visible & relevant (ie, an arms race). Still, it's kind of ridiculous to see stuff like this, particularly when so  few younger people want to/can afford to enter the hobby. 

Can a 7-figure launch be far away? 

I have a sentimental attachment to VPI, because my 1st serious table was one of theirs (in mid-'80s). But this does seem excessive.

At least w/an Aston Martin, I could go to the grocery store & run errands...