VPI new turntable series: The Traveler

[bauzace50]

Hi,

the VPI website announced their new entry level turntable series: The Traveler.
see: http://vpiindustries.com for a movie of its gimballed (!) tonearm featuring its friction free ruby bearing operation.

A teaser image of the complete turntable is shown in their TT Collection link. Only thing I am missing is the removable headshell (like the one on SME 300 series). The rest looks mightily interesting!

Regards,
b50

[Tedrick]

Very intriguing. Looking forward to seeing the complete 'table.

[pivot]

Interesting that as an "entry" turntable VPI has gone to a gimballed arm.

Suggests the good gimbal arm is less expensive to build then unipivot, which seems counter intuitive.

[bauzace50]

Hi,

@ Tedrick: an image of the complete 'table is available in their 'site, by clicking on "TT Collection". Looks quite interesting, and distinctive.

@ pivot: Yes, the price of a unipivot seems logically lower. But a good unipivot needs extra manufacturing considerations and design features to make it work satisfactorily. Therefore, a GOOD unipivot might really be more costly, seems to me.

Regards ,
b50

[Tedrick]

@ pivot: Yes, the price of a unipivot seems logically lower. But a good unipivot needs extra manufacturing considerations and design features to make it work satisfactorily. Therefore, a GOOD unipivot might really be more costly, seems to me.

Since a unipivot arm must be very precisely balanced, it makes sense to me that manufacturing to the necessary tolerances would increase the production costs versus a typical gimball arm. I would also argue that if the unipivot 'arm were cheaper to design and make, then it would be the dominant type of tonearm instead of the gimballed design.

[pivot]

Since a unipivot arm must be very precisely balanced, it makes sense to me that manufacturing to the necessary tolerances would increase the production costs versus a typical gimball arm.

Generally the uni-pivots I have owned were balanced by making the counter weight eccentric (Mayware) or by having an adjustable outrigger weight (Grace 714) neither systems seemed paticularly exotic nor high tolerance. The balance had to be adjustable as different weights of cartidges would alter tone arm balance.

I guess VPI finds the gimble has cost/performance bennifits in the intro table but it seems counterintuitive to me.

[bauzace50]

There is a lot of subjectivity on this planet. And all news forums I've seen (about sports, fashion, celebrities, etc. and some about audio, too) are dominated or polluted by uneducated and viciously disapproving people. These forums are prime fodder for profound studies in sociology or behavioral science.

There already are scathing disapprovals of the "rendered drawing" of the VPI Traveler turntable.

Reminds me of all the viciousness drowning our planet. It is like viciousness looking for yet another place to happen. Another explanation could be hidden agendas and motivations.

But none of these scathing disapprovals are based on performance, since the product has not been released yet. They look more like malicious attacks on credibility, which is the lowest resort of any use to detractors.

Santa vaca (holy cow),
bauzace50

[atomlow]

Has VPI released the price of this turntable?

[MR F]

Has VPI released the price of this turntable?

I believe it was supposed to be ~$1400? It was hinted on another forum, I don't think they've actually released the price though.



New image certainly looks a lot better than the earlier render.

[pivot]

If you google around the scuttle butt sez VPI wanted to shoot for $999, but $1,499 looks more like it.

[Tedrick]

And here's a more detailed photo of the new gimballed tonearm (not a rendering). It's a 10-inch 'arm, too!!

[MR F]

Wonder if the arm will be sold separately. If the price is reasonable enough it could give Rega, Jelco et al. a run for their money. Initially I thought it looked suspiciously like an SME mount, but with the latest photos it seems that is not the case.

[waynefi]

They anounced $1299 on facebook

[bauzace50]

Hi,

and it seems the ring towards the cartridge end does NOT signify a removable headshell. I was hoping for that, as in the SME 309.

And the arm is rated at 10 inches, instead of the 9-inch rating of the Rega, and many others.
Looking good!

regards,
b50