vpi tnt still a performer?

@melm I thought the original Aries shared the same platter as the current model of TNT at the time the Aries was produced.  But I could be wrong.  

@bpoletti IIRC the Aires came out well after the original TNTs. The original TNT platter (and I still use one and would not part with it) was lead filled acrylic. It was a heavier version of what they used on the later versions of the HW-19. (Earlier HW-19 versions used aluminum-lead.) According to what HW has written somewhere, it could be the best VPI platter ever made.

When VPI gave up using lead, they made platters of an acrylic and metal sandwich. It was used on the later TNTs and the Aires. Later they dropped the metal and used acrylic only. A demand for a heavier platter pushed them to the "super platter" which was again a metal-acrylic sandwich.

My recollection is that when they added the metal, to the acrylic it was to replace the lead so that there was, in fact, no metal-lead-acrylic platter.

@melm I have a "modified" TNT with a solid black lead-filled acrylic platter.  Quite good.  The Aries platter I have has a thin (maybe 1/4") layer of black acrylic on top of a metal (I though stainless or aluminum) platter.  Heavy.  Grooved.  Rests on an oil bath bearing.  It is an original Aries Extended table.

Thanks for the clarification.

My opinion....  

I have heard the solid acrylic platters and the solid aluminum platters.  I prefer the Aries platter followed by the lead filled acrylic platter.  

@bpoletti Of course you are entitled to "prefer" what you own, many people do. However you never specifically state that you have heard the acrylic-lead platter on your Aires.

As I wrote earlier, HW, the designer of these TTs, has written that the acrylic-lead platter comes closer to the sound of a master tape (his design criterion) than do the all acrylic or the sandwich platters. That he said that about a platter he was no longer manufacturing lends it some additional credibility.

I have not made any personal comparisons or claims--just sticking with what I have.

@melm I do specifically state I have heard the acrylic-lead platter.  I have it on a "modified TNT" and indicate "quite good" as my opinion on performance.  It is also my opinion that the modded TNT with the lead-filled acrylic platter is not quite as good as the Aries Extended.  But there may be other factors impacting performance.  It's my choice to use the Aries as my primary table.  Just my opinion and personal experience.

That said, you have piqued my interest in exploring the performance potential of the lead-filled acrylic platter.  I was considering some additional mods to the TNT.  Now I think I will start working on that (may actually be another redesign of the plinth) a little more aggressively.  

I have heard direct comparisons between the Classic tables and the Aries Extended.  Also heard the thick acrylic platter.  I'll stick with what I have as well.