VPI HR-X vs SME 20

Time to jump in and clear this up.

There were three HR-X motor assemblies shipped with only one capacitor in the assembly instead of two. Our mistake. Both assemblies were immediately replaced to the customers and the old assemblies were sent back in the new assemblies box. No down time at all.

One motor assembly had too close a tolerance between the flywheel bottom and the assembly and the flywheel over a period of time settled down and touched the base. Same action, same result. All flywheels raised by .030 inches.

These are normal teething problems in the startup of a new product. Anyone who tells you differently is lying through his teeth. We cannot foresee every possible thing that can go wrong in a product from day one. That's it, finished, end of story.

VPI has been making turntables for 25 years, the TNT version for 15 years. The HR-X is the final evolution of a product that has won Stereophile Mag. "Analog Product of the Year" 3 times. Is used by more manufacturers than any other table in the high end and has an amazing record of longevity.

BTW, VPI has won the "Analog Product of the Year" 4 times total, The TNT HR was HI Fi Plus Analog Product of the Year and Editors Choice.

I will tell you that after hearing the difference the periphery record clamp makes, I feel any expensive challenger in this arena that doesn't have one cannot hold up sonically. It is a real and constant improvement across the board and negates the use of vacuum and its associated problems. The same holds true for the flywheel and it's sonic results.

As far as Jtinn is concerened, you should really tell this customer to call VPI not you. What will you do for him, sell him an amplifier, hold his weiner!! That's all you could do for him because you can't solve his problem, real or imaginary. His problem is with his dealer and VPI. When I find out who it is I will post a full explaination. I am really pissed at this. We have the best service in the business and when things like this get posted I feel it is all for nothing and a huge waste of energy!!!!!!!!!!!

If you think it is easy making things for reasonable prices in the US why don't you try doing it. Oh yes, the HR-X is cheap compared to what other compaies would charge for this level of engineering and manufacturing. The SME has no periphery ring clamp, no flywheel, no air suspension, and is $12,500.00 retail. Do you get what I am saying.

Jonathon, I don't think you understand the point I am trying to make here. Your blanket statement that the HR-X has problems appears to be based upon one person's experience. To say that all of the tables have problems based upon one person's experience does not make sense (at least not to me). All I was trying to do was trying to get that point across using the Audio Aero our friend has as an example. If I based my opinion of the AA on his experiences, I wouldn't touch one with a 10 foot pole and I would be wrong as it is an excellent player in spite of its teething problems, which you have been upfront about. I really do feel that if I had made a post about the AA like you did about the HR-X, I would be called on it. That is just my perception based on other posts regarding the AA.

I felt your comment was a slam in an offhand and around the bush way. That may not be what you meant, but that is the way it came across to me and others.

And yes, I do agree with your comment that most manufacturer's probably would not share information about a product that was having problems with a reviewer who was about to review that product. However, that does not apply in this case, as I told Harry up front when I ordered the table in May that I did not want to review it. I bought it solely for my own pleasure to replace a TNT Mk. V HR. The only VPI table I have ever discussed reviewing with the Weisfeld's has been the Scout. As I consider Harry and Shelia good friends, should I review the Scout, that point will be disclosed in the review.

Harry has been very upfront with me about the VPI during the entire design process of the HR-X. He and I talked at least twice a month from the time the table was ordered until it was delivered about how the process was coming. I was made aware of the three tables Jonmatd mentions in his comments by Harry awhile back. Harry has hid nothing from me that I know of.

Assuming your friend has indeed poor service from VPI, it appears to be the exception rather than the rule as evidenced by the posts on this board and AudioAsylum. I just find it hard to believe knowing what I know of VPI that anyone could get bad service from them. But I also realize you are not going to make everyone happy.

Looking forward to talking with you next week and I hope this dialog has not caused any problems between us.

Rufus

My question is who the hell is Jonmatd???? I surely hope that's not ANYONE from VPI asking Jtinn to hold his clients weiner(that's a disturbing picture)!

this has become a disturbing thread. Jonathan is my good friend, i have had some very positive communications with Rufus, VPI has taken great care of me personally and earned a great reputation for customer care, and Jonathan's friend with the VPI HR-X is also a friend of mine and long time VPI owner.

and yet it has become personal and nasty.

Jonmatd, assuming you represent VPI, your nasty comments toward Jonathan will not help VPI's reputation. whether Jonathan is right or wrong your approach is inappropriate. i know about this problem but not in the detail that Jonathan does. Jonathan was wrong to generalize about our friend's problem with his HR-X without more information......but i personally know he had nothing to gain by it....he just likes SME. at one point he considered becoming an SME dealer but never did.

since the person with the problem is not availible i strongly suggest that we roll up this thread and put it to bed before any more dirt is thrown.

is VPI perfect? no. do they care? of course. would it be better if they were availible 5 days a week instead of 3? yes. did some HR-X tt's get sold with problems? it appears, yes. is our friend's HR-X fixed? not yet. is VPI doing what it can to fix the problem? probably.

everyone needs to give one another the benefit of the doubt until all the facts are in.

let's all go enjoy our Saturday.

Jonmatd: This customer, who is a personal friend of mine, has called and written VPI countless times, upon my suggestions, and has had

little satisfaction. He feels it is almost impossible to reach you guys with the limited hours that you provide (Tuesday through

Thursday). He felt he bought what was, supposedly, the "top of the line", "best there is" VPI product and within one month, there is a

new "top of the line", "best there is" VPI product in the HR-X. Great customer service and loyalty, in this case, questionable.

Now I make this statement on this one case. In the past I have heard many customers state, that once they can actually speak with

someone, they receive full satisfaction. For that VPI is to be commended. Phone service, maybe not.

Many problems do not show up until many hours of use and that is quite understandable. Admitting this, is nothing to be embarrased about

and certainly an explanation, not an excuse, can easily eleviate customer insecurities.

Have you ever heard the expression "Don't shoot the messenger"? I am not stating that VPI is a bad company or makes bad turntables and

tonearms. All I said was that "I would go for the SME 20. It is a more finished product. The VPI HRX is having all sorts of problems.

The SME 20 is reliable, ready for market and marvelous." Maybe in hind sight I was a bit vague and the word "all" is improper, but I

told the truth. You are attacking me in a childish manner for sharing information that has already been publicized. No secrets here.

Customers who purchased early, trusted that everything was fine. Maybe this is isolated to just a few units, maybe more than a few, but

they should be handled with the highest priority. A company is truly judged by the way they handle problems. Great customer service is

done after the sale.

These "real" problems are yours (admitted to him by your company,) not his and maybe you should, humbly, show a bit of professionalism

and refrain from the insulting remarks. You certainly have a lot more to lose than he or I.

Also, most of your post sounds like an advertisement in Stereophile.

BTW, Do you want to also explain the issue concerning the tonearm?

Rufus: Please, lets you and I take this off line and deal with our concerns via phone. I am going to ask our mutual friend for your phone number and I will call you. First Root Beer is on me!