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VPI 2nd Pivot for 3D

I just installed mine and discovering my old records anew.  I thought I knew everything there was to know on the original pressing of Fleetwood Mac's Rumers......but no - there's more.  You immediately hear a more solid bass, but then the dynamics hit hard.  It sounds like my amp is on steroids.  More cleanliness, - everything is better.  Very highly recommended.
128x128stringreen
slaw's avatar
slaw
22,042 posts
 
I’m reminded of the Art Dudley video. Anyone watched it? In his wisdom he states that we are all listening to distortions in some form or another. It comes down to which distortions agree more with one’s own perception of their musical truth.

Sorry Raul, while I tend to side with you in this particular discussion, your "...enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS" is a valid pursuit, but not a reasonable ultimate reality.

I think the best compromise to the "2nd pivot" is @robes initial question regarding the Townshend trough. If available, it would not only address the "swaying" without adding a "2nd pivot" thereby changing the whole arm’s reason for being, but positively affect the cartridge resonances. A more perfect option.

@stringreen’s statement earlier that the cartridge’ suspension should take care of the 3D arm sway is I think, asking too much of the cartridge.
slaw's avatar
slaw
22,042 posts
 
In conclusion?... Is this yet another of VPI' finding a way to make a product that at the time, was (well thought out) and later developed an accessory to make that product better? Probably. But we've been through this before, time and time again. And yet we still fall in line to buy, time and time again. At once it's an on-board motor, then an out-board motor, then a tri-pulley, then a rim drive, then a 300rpm motor then a 600 rpm motor then a mag-drive, the a direct drive.  In the end, we're all trying to figure it all out while they are reaping the rewards, time & time again. If you are like me, It's hard to figure out exactly what part I have from which vintage VPI TT? I think looking at their homepage, even they are wrong on the product dates! Shew!..I'm really tired.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,941 posts
 
So true, slaw. While having made a number of turntables worth owning (though not tonearms---unipivots suck!), VPI has little credibility in terms of a design point-of-view or philosophy. Or, I guess Harry can claim, it has "evolved" ;-).
stringreen's avatar
stringreen OP
6,484 posts
 
Slaw - isn't the goal of a company to make a product better, and bring in additional capital for that effort?  Honda is a better product now than it was in 1960, as is Apple,  Boeing, et al.  People vote as to the success/failure of the innovations with their checkbook....the American way.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,941 posts
 

stringreen, it's not VPI's (or anyone else's) attempts to keep improving it's product(s)---making incremental improvements to a model over time---that it's detractors find objectionable, but rather their history of first embracing one design philosophy, then abandoning it for a second of a completely different nature, then a third. And with each new design, claiming it to be the best way to make that component. I myself don't feel that way, thinking that Harry just came to embrace different designs at different points in time honestly, not cynically. One may buy whichever VPI design one prefers. Or none of them!

There are more extreme examples that can be cited, particularly the myriad of different models offered simultaneously by some speaker companies. Making different speaker models for different applications, room sizes, maximum SPL and/or bass extension capabilities is a very sensible and justifiable practice. But to make speakers of rather different design for the same application does not speak well of a company's integrity. A few speaker companies not exhibiting this lack of integrity are Vandersteen, Magnepan, Eminent Technology, and Wilson, perhaps one factor leading to their long-term success. 

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