2. analog
  3. 133024-3034

aluminum platter vs Acrylic not what I thought

I recently got to hear a VPI scout with an aluminum platter and various platter mats.  I am having a hard time trying to understand where the fascination with aluminum is coming from.  The acrylic sounds far better.  Its not even close to my ears.  Is it that some people just never heard the scout with the acrylic platter?  I would strongly encourage anyone who is looking for a used scout with an acrylic platter to really take a good look at it.  It sounds much more like real music and for what these used scouts are going for, they are an incredible value.  Maybe its just system/cartridge synergy.  I actually thing the scout with the acrylic platter sounds just as good if not better and quieter than the classic with the aluminum platter.  The scout sounds more like an older Aries than the Classic does.  The advantage of the classic is the longer arm but I mean for many people, I am not sure you can do much better table than the scout with the acrylic platter for anywhere near to what they go for used and I would say they you could look at tables costing much more and still not get the music satisfaction in many ways that the scout accomplishes.  They just seem to portray the musical experience in a way that sounds right.  Aries and scoutmasters with acrylic have to sound killer.  The only platter that is as good that VPI made are there lead and hybrid metal aluminum/acrylic platter tables.  I think VPI is going in the wrong direction with aluminum.  To me the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits.  Others may disagree but if you find scout w/acrylic for a good deal, I would be all over it.  Sometimes you just don't know what ya have so I will probably hang on to mine for a while.
tzh21y
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
I use a 4" thick solid aluminum platter and really like it. I haven't tried a 4" pvc platter mostly due to they seem to be hard to find in that thickness. I agree with Lew that the mat makes a big difference. I've tried several and in my experience it depends on the clamp or weight used with it that can make or break an improvement. I like the music hall with a clamp or a heavy weight with the moo mat. The music hall mat sounds best with my clearaudio cartidge, while the moo mat sounds best with the denon. Just my experience.
melm
1,074 posts
 
"The new aluminum plate uses the non inverted bearing."  This appears to be true on the newer, less expensive, TTs with the thinner platters.  "Platter rotates on an oil bath bearing"   Likely too thin to house the inverted bearing.  IIRC it's also true of the lower bearing in the very expensive magnetic drive platter, likely for the same reason.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
He said he is not giving up on the aluminum platter.  Right now, I am liking my acrylic and I am glad I have it.
frogman
7,437 posts
 
For whatever it may be worth, I remember distinctly while deep in VPI upgrade madness years ago that HW felt very strongly that the very best platter for the HW19 was the aluminum platter. Which brings me to viridian’s comment about the importance of platter weight and not just the material used when making comparisons. Having gone through every platter VPI made for the various versions of the HW19 and then the TNT I was always left with the impression that it was the improvement in speed stability due to the heavier platters’ greater rotational inertia that made the most significant improvement regardless of material used.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
The only thing we noticed was during demanding musical interludes, the aluminum platter seemed to drive through pretty clearly.  Not sure as it could be the better arm as well.  The only thing is everything sounded like metal and some midrange and upper frequencies were just unbearable.  Music should not be an assault on the ears.
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