VPI HW-19 Upgrade question SAMA or SDS?

The SDS was, by a large margin, the most significant upgrade that I have made to my HW19 MK IV; including the upgrade to the MK IV "TNT" platter. By providing a much more consistent, and stable platter rotation, the SDS improves the areas of sound reproduction having to do with rhythm and pacing. As a result of this, image stability, soundstaging, and overall clarity are also improved.

As far as the importance of correct speed is concerned, I have to respectfully disagree with those that claim that it is not important. Additionally, correct tempo and correct pitch are two mutually exclusive issues; they should be, anyway. Yes, it is true that slowing or speeding up the playback speed also changes the pitch of the music. But that is an unfortunate byproduct of the mechanics of vinyl playback. In live performance, musicians and counductors treat them as two very seperate issues. A very small increase, or decrease, in the tempo of a piece of music can make all the difference between a very exciting performance, and a boring one. The players, or conductor, choose a particular tempo for any given piece of music because they feel that the chosen tempo will best convey the desired emotional effect. The pitch choice, higher or lower, can also be used to accentuate a desired emotional effect; although this can be much more subtle.

I also have to respectfully, and strongly, disagree with Stringreen's comment about orchestras tuning for the sake of tradition. I have been a professional orchestral musician for many years, and I assure you that professional orchestras take tuning very seriously, usually taking two "A's"; one for the winds, and one for the strings. It is true that orchestras, generally speaking, have been tuning to a higher A than in the past. The unfortunate effect of this is that the music tends to sound less full, brighter, and sometimes unnecessarily strident. The parallels to music played back mechanically are obvious.

How about the new "super-platter? Has anyone tried that? Also, I have a MK IV with springs, and have bought some sorbothane to replace the springs with.How thick should I cut the pieces? Any suggestions appreciated.

Frogman..I am a professional violinist and have played in many orchestras over the many years of my career. If you listen to classical music I know you have heard me play. I carefully tune in the warm-up room as do everyone I know, and very rarely have to retune when I get on stage. As we play the piece we constantly adjust our pitch so that it sounds in tune. The horns and reeds do it with their lips as they play, the strings do it by adjusting the fingers on the fingerboard. When I play my violin I am quite positive that the heat of the stage lights, and the very act of playing puts the strings slightly out of tune, so that I am constantly adjusting my finders so that it sounds good with my partner and the rest of the orchestra. The adjustments are slight, but very important to keep us together. We are taught as students to play the open strings only as passing tones and to take the open string note in a different position, so that the pitch can be adjusted. As a matter of fact, depending on the key, there are notes (leading tones, etc.) that are purposely played higher (out of tune) than would be in tune for effect. I maintain that pitch is a variable function of the performance. That being said, a turntable MUST have a constant rotation so that the pitch isn't changed within a shorter time segment...that is wow and flutter are no, no's. I live in a very nice house, drive very nice cars, and eat in very nice restaurants all from playing my violin. I am not saying that gross distortion of pitch is acceptable, but I for one cannot tell the difference in sound if the dots on the VPI stobe are slowing drifting clockwise or counterclockwise. I fully understand what you are saying and that pitch does have an emotional effect...that's why conductors choose if the tuning A should be 440, or 441.

I vote for the SDS, which I use on a VPI, and it was a big improvement. Now about Stringreen's comment on pitch. I have many pre-recorded reel to reel tapes. Two of my tape machines have pitch controls. But given VPI's approach I assume putting an SDS in the line for the R2R would approve the sound. So, the question: Is their a 'strobe' that would help me tune the R2R?

Buconero117... the SDS IS and improvement not because of the trick that you can change the pitch, but because the SDS provides a constant and reliable electric source for the motors. The sound IS improved with its addition because the turntable revolves at a constant speed with far less short term variation. ..and that is why belt drive turntables that use string instead of elastic belts and the reason that the Lenco and VPI rim drives et al is so far superior to its belt drive counterparts. Short term speed variations are very greatly reduced. On another note... VPI has a plastic stobe that I got with my tonearm...I presume you can purchase it through VPI and regular purveyors of such items. Go to Home Depot and get a fluorescent night light...mine is an Aperitac model 73068. The cost was about 4.99 on sale. Use an extension cord for convenience, look down at the correct band of the strobe turning on your table and adjust the SDS so that the dots seem to stand still. If the dots are moving clockwise, push the downward arrow on the SDS which slows down the table, and v/v,,,,, you're in business.