VPI Super Platter out of square-will it work?


After years of looking I bought a NOS Super Platter in July. Yesterday my Rim Drive Super Scoutmaster was delivered so I took the Super Platter out of the box for the first time and I could feel the edges of the 3 layers thru the plastic! The outer surface is not square. One or the other of the 3 layers protrudes or recedes as you run your finger around the circumference. Sometimes the steel layer sticks out, sometimes one of the acrylic layers sticks out. This platter is new but its as if the acrylic shifted slightly here and there. I don't seed how this could happen with the shaft in place. Is it usable? I contacted the seller for a refund because I don't want to chance losing the $1000 I paid by mounting the platter. Is this what VPI refers to as "thermally unstable"? Is it a partial melting of the acrylic? Someone must have had a similar problem since VPI cancelled production due to production problems. Thanks for the help.
manorraul

Showing 2 responses by stringreen

Right you are Manorraul.... That's why VPI doesn't make them anymore...also, the sound sucks compared to the new Ceramic or previous Classic platters. Return your purchase as quickly as you can ...it will create havoc with your arm and cartridge.
The rim drive VPI MUST have a perfectly circular platter because if there is an out
of roundness, the large side pushing up against the drive disc will push the
whole turntable away from the motor assembly, and as the platter turns will
release the pressure letting the turntable move toward the motor assembly.
There is a space between the turntable and motor assembly...if you lightly put
your finger in/on this space, you can feel the oscillation of the turntable/platter
moving toward, and away from the motors. This will cause the VPI arm which is
balanced on the head of a pin to rock back and forth....not good for the sound or
for the cartridge. If you must keep the Super Platter and its out of roundness,
you must stabilize the turntable by using very solid cones instead of the VPI feet
which permit movement. Also, you should use soft feet under the motor
assembly so that the motor can move out and in, not the turntable itself. I found
that the very solid cones (I use Bearpaws) make a much improved sound in the
turntable even though I use the VPI ceramic platter.