upgrade VPI HW19 Mk IV or get a new table?

look up 'anumber1' on VA-he's got a HW-19 (which he prefers to other tables he's heard/used). He's a great guy, knows his shit, and will be happy to answer questions through e-mail.

BTW, the SDS made a large, and immediately noticeable, improvement to my rig (Aries 2 ext., JMW 12.5). Buy used for 650/700, you can always re-sell for the same price. But trust me, you won't.

Many of the replacement parts, and the upgrade paths are now gone for the HW-19. You "Might" be able to get things like On-Off Switches, the Hurst Motor, or a SAMA if they're not on backorder. AFAIK, the Sorbothane Pucks are no longer available, and don't pop up much anymore. Thier availability used began to wane many years ago. It's been a good two years now that the HW-18 has been discontinued.

Of course, the two largest, and most influencial upgrade components to your system I feel, will be the Cartridge, and the Phono Stage.

Say as an example, you're using something like a EAR 834P, PS Audio GCPH, or other $800-$1500 Phono Stage, and now step up to a $3K-$6K Stage, let's say the Modwright, Aesthetix Rhea, or such, the differences will be substantial.

Sounds to me that you have taken many measures to insure good isolation, and as you know lowering noise floor is very important, regardless of what components are being used.

I cannot comment on the Koetsu Urushi, but as well, here a difference of sound would be noted with another brand no doubt.

As for Sorbothane Puck Height, I'm going to guess the the Pucks were 1-1/2" diameter, and about 2" tall. As I'ms sure you know, height will be important so that Plinth with sit correctly within Base, so you can re-install Motor Pulley Cover if you use it. With the SAMA of course, on can shim to adjust to correct height for Platter Belt. Rubber, or even Metal Shims could be added with the Sorbothane to add additional height if needed. Mark

I had a VPI mk4 that started as a VPI Jr. I gradually upgraded to the mk4. It was a very good table, but I ended up selling it to buy a VPI Aries 2 with the JMW 12.5 arm. This was a huge improvement in my system. The non suspended Aries 2 is much more dynamic and has much more of a live sound. The mk4 is much more of a laid back softer sound. I did not really notice it until I replaced it with the Aries. By the way, I had the JMW 10 arm on my mk4 (so to answer your question, you can use the JMW on the HW-19 table).

You can use virtually any Tonearm you wanna pay for, you can place any SME, TriPlanar, Morch, Shroder, Graham 2.2, Phantom, you name it, all that is required is another Armboard. If memory serves me correctly, the standard Armboard was .500" thick, the Super Armboard was 1.00" Thick, and probably other than the sonic improvements claimed, was better suited for the thicker MK-IV Platter, and whatever Pivotal Tonearm would be paired with it.

Great thing about the HW-19, it is a tweaker's dream.
Some of the first things to go on my own HW-19, were stock Tonearm Cords, going to pure Silver, the Rubber Feet, being replaced by Brass AudioPoints, and Coupling Discs, and these did make a nice improvement sonically, and cosmetically. The Stock LP Clamp went as well, going with a more massive custom affair made by a good friend.

Some have even dumped the Spring Suspension, and the Sorbothane, going with something like Black Diamond Racing Pucks, or the like.

A HW-19jr, just converted with MK-IV/TNT Platter, like mine once was, (Or maybe even a Super Platter) might be "soft" as some might say, due to perhaps the MDF Plinth. I've recently switched to one piece solid 1.00" thick Black Acrylic custom made Plinth, and my sound seems to be more articulate, and dynamic. Others have liked materials like Corian.

Part of the things getting better, and better all the time with my rig, is my ZYX Airy 3 beginning to really come to force with more hours of break-in time on it.

And as all fellow Goners know, that Cartridge-Arm set-up is so critical with any Table. I've found this out, and also even the top gurus here recently have, just read the thread on the Mintlp Protractor.

VPI's Harry W as well has recently chimed in, in another thread about JMW Arm Set-Up, and I will add, that these modern Cartridges are quite finnicky-sensitive, and to get the best from them, don't assume anything, nor trust what others might say is optimum for any particular brqand-model. VTA, VTF, and alignment, azimuth, just to mention a few besides loading, and gain will need to be perfectly suited for your own particular Cartridge. mark

I adjust VTA by the thickness of the LP on my JMW arm (this is easy to do and can be done on the fly with a turn of the knob on the tower of the arm). The difference in sound is substantial (to the point that if I forget to make a proper adjustment, I can immediately hear the difference).