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Are VPI tables considered musical and involving?

My apologies if this ground has already been covered here, but I could not find it with the Search feature.

I know VPI is well respected for build, value and sonics. But over the years I have come across comments that they are just a tad dry and somewhat clinical and hi-fi'ish in character, and possibly not the best choice for a listener that prefers an enchanting, seductive and emotional listening experience.

Is this a fair assessment of the VPI sound? Is it's presentation a bit cool, matter of fact, and mechanical?

For example, are VPI background silences blueish and cool rather than a warmish jet black? It is the difference between a quiet warehouse and an empty church at midnight (or the warm and expectant hush of a concert hall right before a performance starts).

If one prizes tone, fluidity, bloom, harmonic texture and a sonic beauty that is organic and "whole" sounding, will VPI provide it?

I do like detail (natural), space, staging and other hi-fi attributes, but ultimately I wanna be seduced when I listen. I want an emotional listening experience, one in which I feel connected to the music and the performers. So I guess a slightly warm, embellished and romantic sound is preferred.

Obviously, I listen with my heart and soul rather than my brain. Involvement and musicality are what I seek.

I am open to all suggestions. New MSRP in the $1000 to $3000 range for table and arm.

Thanks in advance for all input, comments and recs!

~John
spelly
spelly OP
63 posts
 

Let me amend and clarify my original query.

I don't mean the table alone.
I mean the entire VPI setup: table + arm

I've been at this game for a long time and am an experienced gear head, just not so much with analog. So I understand all about associated gear, room interactions, synergy, personal taste, blah blah blah. So we can save those conversations for another day.

I'm asking if, in general, the VPI brand has a particular sonic signature.

Some amps sound warm and involving...some sound cool and distant. The same can be said about speakers. And most folks don't dispute this...generally.

Can the same be said be said about a table / arm combo?

Thanks,
John
srwooten's avatar
srwooten
694 posts
 
are VPI background silences blueish and cool rather than a warmish jet black? It is the difference between a quiet warehouse and an empty church at midnight (or the warm and expectant hush of a concert hall right before a performance starts).
-
srwooten's avatar
srwooten
694 posts
 
I screwed up my response on my last post which should have read-

Perhaps.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I was a VPI dealer in the past and am one again so I have considerable experience with them. There are two points I would make: 1, they do not all sound alike, 2 they do not have a "sound" that will overpower the cartridge or associated equipment used with them. I have never had trouble getting them to sound musical but you could make them sound bad if you tried. They are capable of giving a wide variety of sound depending on associated equipment. As pointed out above the suspended tables tended to sound a little "richer' and "darker" and the new ones a little more "detailed" and "faster'. Both are good, the choice would depend on taste and associated equipment. There are several tables on the market that will give very good sound with proper set up and the VPI is among them. In addition they are easier to set up than most and are good value for money.
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
"Some amps sound warm and involving...some sound cool and distant. The same can be said about speakers. And most folks don't dispute this...generally. Can the same be said be said about a table / arm combo?"

John, turntables are much different than CDPs, preamps, amps, and even speakers in that they take on very different sonic personalities depending on how they are configured. Everything, and I mean everything, changes the sound, sometimes drastically. That is why VPI offers so (too?) many tuning options via their accessories.

The sound of a VPI table/arm combo can be made to lean toward cool and analytical or warm and musical depending on how it is setup (suspension type, platter type, armboard, base platform material/construction, etc).

Regarding a VPI "house sound": Just as Stanwal points out, the older suspended VPI's (HW-19/TNT) tend to sound ricker and darker ("a slightly warm, embellished and romantic sound") and the newer ones with spikes and rigid suspension tend to sound more detailed and faster (accurate and incisive). The cool thing is that you can vary the sound of any of them quite a bit by changing their setup.

I hope that you find this post more helpful than my last one.

Good luck.
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