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VPI Speed Controller

Hi, hope you are all well. I would like to hear from VPI owners about speed controllers. I have a very old SDS and wonder if the newer ADS is much better. I have the Prime Sig. with the Fatboy arm and Soundsmith The Voice cart, Pass XP25 phono, Luxman L509X, and ML ESL11As. Sounds great except for solo piano which does not sound good at all. I heard that speed stability could be the culprit and wonder if the old controller is the cause. Thanks for any input,Joe.
joeyfed55
don_c55
1,025 posts
 
The old VPI SDS is better!
ilikemiles's avatar
ilikemiles
47 posts
 
I have an ADS on a classic with the outer ring clamp. Have never owned the SDS, but what I have noticed is that with either the ADS or the ring clamp alone, there is a significant improvement. With both, the improvement over either alone is very small, if at all.
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,644 posts
 
Get a Sutherland Timeline.
melm
1,082 posts
 
You say you have a "very old SDS."  Some VERY old VPI speed controllers are not SDSs. So what do you have exactly?

Were it up to me I would prefer an old SDS to the more recent ADS units.

The best controller you can buy for the VPI is sold by SOTA and would include a new motor as well as the Roadrunner for continuous speed measurement.

Other things that you can do to help speed stability is add a heavy peripheral weight as was said, or get the VPI motor-flywheel combo.  

Everything will make a difference.
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