Well, I agree with Johnjbarlow's thinking, but not his conclusion.
The VPI 16.5 might be slightly better, but only if you don't wash the records by hand first. If you do, they work about the same, IMHO. In terms of how they vacuum clean, they work about the same. (In fact, with the NG, you have gravity working for you, not against you.)
A new VPI costs double the cost of a new NG, because the VPI has a motor for turning the platter, and it iis built more aesthetically pleasing, as it looks more like a piece of furniture, as opposed to the Nitty Gritty which is built rather cheaply. (Basically the NG is built out of pressboard.) However the NG's last for a long, long time. (I am the second owner of my NG 1.0, and I have used it for about 4 years, and the owner before me used it for years before that.)
Where I agree with Johnjbarlow is buying a RCM used. I bought my NG 1.0 used for $100, and I just bought a used Record Doctor used for $90. That brings the price down to 1/3 of the price of a used VPI, and it surely does almost as good a job, if not every bit as good.
Now, if you want a truly better RCM, go with the Loricraft, at only $2.5K. (Me?, I'm sticking with my NG until I have fully upgraded my system, and then, and only then, I'll leapfrog the VPI RCM's and get the Loricraft.)
My two cents worth anyway.
