My guess is this is the result of specific decisions by the managers of VPI.
First, there aren't too many HR-Xs around to make it easy to send one out to review. The first production run consisted of twenty-five units, all spoken for early on. The second run was another twenty-five, and there was no problem selling them out either. VPI is well regarded and is able to sell out HR-Xs through its dealers' recommendations and word of mouth.
Second, VPI has been concentrating as a business on higher volume, lower price-point offerings, like the Scout. As a company, VPI would be better off sending out a high volume product for review versus the HR-X.
Third, I am not sure how comfortable VPI might be with a magazine review of its top table. Fremer at Stereophile was critical of the original JMW arm, and there is no reason to expose themselves to the uncertainty of a fickle reviewer if the HR-X is already selling out its production anyhow. Notably, VPI does not buy any magazine advertising, while its competition spends substantial sums (just check out Transrotor in Stereophile). While this is not supposed to make any difference, certainly there is no residual goodwill.
Amateur listeners seem to agree it's a good table. Especially with the ring clamp, it seems to show excellent detail with a tonally balanced presentation from a very quiet background. Yes, I have one, but my experience is not useful to most because I have a custom HR-X with a Graham 2.2 mounted on it. (I have already ordered a Graham Phantom, which I am told will fit in the same cut out.)
First, there aren't too many HR-Xs around to make it easy to send one out to review. The first production run consisted of twenty-five units, all spoken for early on. The second run was another twenty-five, and there was no problem selling them out either. VPI is well regarded and is able to sell out HR-Xs through its dealers' recommendations and word of mouth.
Second, VPI has been concentrating as a business on higher volume, lower price-point offerings, like the Scout. As a company, VPI would be better off sending out a high volume product for review versus the HR-X.
Third, I am not sure how comfortable VPI might be with a magazine review of its top table. Fremer at Stereophile was critical of the original JMW arm, and there is no reason to expose themselves to the uncertainty of a fickle reviewer if the HR-X is already selling out its production anyhow. Notably, VPI does not buy any magazine advertising, while its competition spends substantial sums (just check out Transrotor in Stereophile). While this is not supposed to make any difference, certainly there is no residual goodwill.
Amateur listeners seem to agree it's a good table. Especially with the ring clamp, it seems to show excellent detail with a tonally balanced presentation from a very quiet background. Yes, I have one, but my experience is not useful to most because I have a custom HR-X with a Graham 2.2 mounted on it. (I have already ordered a Graham Phantom, which I am told will fit in the same cut out.)