VPI and TTWeights for VPI Classic 3


Hi All,

I am a happy owner of VPI Classic 3 +SDS with T3 Terminator Linear AirBearing tonearm, ZYX 4D-X Paratrace stylus (Fantastic mod by Expert Stylus) and just the other day I was playing a little bit with clamp, mat and outer ring on my VPI.

Just as a curiosity, and everybody is free to try this out too and perhaps post their impression, I cut little pieces of Magic Eraser (I use it to keep stylus clean) and start putting them under the label in between the platter and the vinyl and then put some under the clamp and a little on the outer ring and the change is pretty significant (however the magic eraser is staticky and therefore not suitable for this application however it improves the sound).
This led me to think that probably it was possible to find better accessories and I started to look out on internet and came across the TTWeights company.
Their outer ring, mat very interesting.
I also read that other VPI owners were very impressed by the increment on performance.

I am also wondering why VPI puts threads on the spindle if the stainless steel doesn't screw in it.
At TTWeight they told me they used to make a clamp for VPI with threads on it but VPI kept on changing threads and so they discontinued it.

The accessories are pretty expensive, thinking that the ultimate Mat is $600, the outer ring another $620 they must really be worth the extra $$

Therefore I decided to open up a thread since I know there are pleanty of users here like me, that own VPIs and that have surely try to play around with these accessories.

Hope I can get some good tip.

Thank you all for your attention.
stefanoo

Showing 6 responses by stefanoo

Thank you guys for the input.

I didn't know about Black Diamond Racing, I will look out on internet now!

I don't know about the threaded spindle, I was told that apparantly they changed it over the years however I have no kwnoledge whether that was true or not.
Also a dumb question. I read that "rubber spindle washer" should be kept in place when the stock VPI clamp is used to prevent dish effect on the vinyl.

I quoted this words from the review of the clamp of BDR.
Are they referring to the rubber mat as the rubber washer? If not what is it?

But what is the rubber washer? Is something on the spindle? I don't understand. Is it the rubber mat supplied with the turntable?
If it is the mat that you are referring too, I take it off while listening as sound gets significant improvement without the mat on.

Another thing I am considering is one of these specialized mats made in carbon fiber like I said.

My question is this: is the carbon fiber mat going to make the sound better, not compared to the supplied rubber mat which is a given, but over vinyl in direct contact with the platter?
I don't know what is the rubber washer! I had classic 1, 2 and 3 and never seen it. Mmm..the only rubber I have is the mat!! Could you please link me to a picture of this rubber was? Maybe that way I will understand..
But I have classic 3 with stainless steel clamp and it is not not screw down clamp. Are you referring to the plastic one?

To address string green...sound is better without rubber mat.
If you have VTA adjustment on the fly you need to compensate for it.

How come the steel clamp is not screw down? It would have been really sweet!!
I guess that I would be curious to know if anybody has tried a mat clamp and ring that are worth to upgrade from the stock TT..