VPI - HR-X or a SME 20/2A

all this superiority talk cracks me up sometimes, are you talking about superior materials ? superior design ? superior craftsmanship, or superior looks ? what, because its not superior sound, and thats what is important in my book, have you noticed how many in the audio business, use vpi tables and arms, in their reference audition rooms ? vpi, are the best sounding tables around in my opinion, and apparently alot of other professionals also, they may not be made of the most exotic materials, or the most complicated designs, but they are the best sounding, call it synergy, or whatever you want to call it, but hey, thats all i've got to say about that forest

I haven't heard VPI's latest flagship, but every other VPI I've heard is a bit syrupy. If I were to play a bunch of 70's and 80' pop it's what I'd buy.

Macallan,

You may want to check in with Brooks Berdan in Monrovia, Ca. He is a well-known analog guy (he famously developed mods to the early Oracle which the company included in its later versions of the table) and is a dealer for both tables. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but when I asked about SME vs. VPI, he seemed to like the HR-X better than the SME 10 but not quite as much as the SME 20. Happy hunting.

Marty

Semi, I have to laugh at your comment about SME vs VPI arms. First SME arms don't have any azimuth adjustment and their overhang requires moving the entire arm assembly on a rack system, just another path for resonance and smear to set up in the system. I had a IV and it sounds nowhere as good as my JMW 10.5.

hi cohnaudio,have u heard the VPI HR-X with the solid platter rather than acrylic platter? it seems that u may buy it for an additional US1200. The guy fr High-endaudio.com seems to highly recommend it. Any comment. Happy listening