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VPI TNT Turntables

Many years ago I owned a VPI HW-19 Jr turntable + Sumiko Premier FT arm, which I soon replaced with a Merrill Heirloom + ET2. After may years of digital reproduction, I wish to go back to analog reproduction and I would like to buy a VPI TNT with, again, the ET2 arm. Unfortunately (or fortunately), many models/upgrades exist for TNT. Therefore, I would be very grateful if some experts of TNTs could describe the sound/performance variation from TNT Jr to most recent ones so as to help me in my choice. 

Thank you very much!

Luca
luca58
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,715 posts
 
ET designer Bruce Thigpen is one of Hi-Fi's true geniuses, and all his products serious over-achievers, very underpriced for their performance capabilities. Why isn't ET higher on the radar?! VPI's are THE table for the ET arm.
analogluvr
859 posts
 
I think the ETs aren't more popular because people are afraid of them.  Although they shouldn't be, while very different the set up is actually much easier than with a pivoted arm once you figure it out. 
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edwyun
244 posts
 
That plus all the tubes, pumps, etc.
luca58 OP
16 posts
 
I thank you all for your opinions. 
jollytinker
213 posts
 
Not that this helps the OP but ...

The discussion never resolved the question raised by phoenixengr: why is there an improvement in sound when using a flywheel? Seems to me a likely cause is motor isolation. The flywheel adds a buffer against vibrations. Those VPI motors are noisy in my experience. I found that moving to a teres verus motor on my Aries 1 - essentially making it an idler wheel tt - improved the sound dramatically. So much so that I can't see ever going back to a belt drive.

The VPI Rim Drive had similar strong reviews but they seem to have mothballed it.
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