VPI acrylic vs. aluminum

Actually, the original VPI platters were of aluminum with a lead ring insert.  When VPI moved to acrylic, also with a lead ring insert, it was hailed in TAS (then a credible mag) as a major improvement.  I went through that transition and agreed.  My near to original (but updated) TNT has the acrylic/lead combo at about 20 lbs.

VPI then gave up on lead (for environmental reasons, they say) and provided other acrylic sandwich platters for a while, including the super platter.  Then for a while it offered acrylic alone; these were clear and not black.  Then it gave these up for aluminum with a steel plate, probably for the weight and for any dampening it might offer.  VPI claims good acrylic is hard to find (expensive), and maybe hard to machine.

I'm not going to get in a debate about what's the best, but I have never been willing to give up my acrylic/lead platter for anything that came later.

MY final word: I have been dealing with VPI for many years and do not believe Harry is the cynic you claim.  I believe he combines his personal interest as a hobbyist (just like us) with a need to keep a serious business in the black.  If you don't agree with changes being made, keep the old stuff, it will outlast you and your kids.  Or, if you are just beginning and favor the older designs, you can buy on the used market with the assurance that VPI will offer you the same customer service as if you bought new.

To me its not a tradeoff.   The Classic platter is a "WOW" definite improvement to the accrylic.   I had both and I tell it how I hear it.  You might also want to give the mag/lev platter a try.

coolhunter, 

What do you mean by "more musical?"

coolhunter and stringreen,

Do you mean the pure (clear) acrylic platter?

What people miss by saying acrylic or aluminum platter (depending on the era) is the latest platters are offered with an inverted bearing that has a substantial impact on it's own. By just referring to either of these platters without including whether or not it's an inverted or non-inverted bearing is missing part of the equation, IMO.

I've have personal experience with a Mk.III platter/non-inverted bearing (TNT 3.5) on my highly modded HW-19 MkIV and in blew away my TNTII platter/ non-inverted bearing combo. (quieter, more bass expression/ impact, more musically involving).

My Classic 3 Sig. SE has the new platter/inverted bearing. A comparison between these two tables is not fair. I will say that one noticeable improvement on the metal platter is there is no static charge and the presentation is much quieter.

IMO you are exaggerating the effects of the bearing types. Notwithstanding some theoretical advantage of the inverted bearing, the non-inverted bearing has the clear advantage of a continuous lubrication bath top to bottom. Also the bearing pivot, which is the part that tends to wear, is closer to the stylus in the inverted type. By and large, though, I think the two types are indistinguishable in normal usage. VPI must agree as it has returned to the non-inverted bearing as the main bearing in its most sophisticated platter, the magnetic one.

What you may have heard is the simple advantage of a better bearing, just as I did when I replaced my original bearing with the Mark V bearing, both non-inverted.

There is no static charge that I am aware of on my acrylic/lead platter and it’s about as quiet as it can be. I don’t understand how a platter can be the origin of noise. Years ago, when I went from aluminum/lead to acrylic/lead (with everything else exactly the same) I heard a clear advantage. So did the TAS critic.