TT Weight Outer Ring vs VPI Ring

Buconero,

VPI does not provide the weigh of the ring on its website so I'm not sure where the OP got this information from. I of course did not mean to imply in any way that Harry lied about the weight. Since I have the ring, I can tell you it does not weigh seven pounds though.

Interesting about sourcing the rings from China now. How did you find that out? If it's true, I'm disappointed. VPI always prided itself on making everything in the USA. Plus the ring's price was increased by $100 in the last year or so.

Actusreus: I have no experience with either product. I've just followed them with great interest. My thinking is that TTWs produced their initial products from copper because they felt it was the better material, although harder to machine. I assume now that copper is not cost effective for them to produce, hence the change. I give TTWs credit for the initial product.
VPI, I assume produced their ring with profit as the overiding factor from the beginning.
IMO.

Slaw,
You might be right. Certainly many factors and considerations go into making a product, the profit margin being most important to most, if not all, manufacturers. But I can say with confidence that the TTW all-copper ring did not outperform the VPI ring so I'd be skeptical about any such claims regarding newer rings. After all, it's an accessory and any effect on the sound in a well-balanced system should be relatively subtle to begin with. I'm sure the mega ring does what it is designed to do well. It might just come down to personal preference with respect to price, ease of use, and aesthetics.

Hi guys,
I am certainly no expert on turntables and their tweaks, but could it just possibly be the difference in the weight of the two rings that makes most of the difference in their sound? More weight equal more resonance dampening? I've experimented with different record weights and clamps and have found the heavier weights make the most improvement in the sound, at least on my 'table anyway. I guess an argument could be made in regards to what material the weights/rings are made out of as to which is superior in resonace dampening but who knows? I'm not sure. Any thoughts on this?

I have a TTW copper ring; 600 gram one I think. I used it at the same time as a VPI ring. The VPI, being much heavier, flattened warps better but I thought the overall performance was fairly close. The VPI is quite heavy and harder to use than the TTW. Since I am a VPI dealer and not a TTW dealer I am not biased against the VPI, it does a good job. Either will improve the sound of most records.