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
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..
Stefanoo, the rubber washer fits over the spindle and is 1.25 inches in diameter. It is to be used in conjunction with VPI's screw down clamp.

The washer "slightly" suspends the record over the platter. The screw down clamp has a concave bottom and when screwed down it "cups" the record into contact with the platter.
As usual, I have found that EVERYTHING changes the sound. I have the Classic platter and tried not using the rubber mat and liked the sound, but then felt that I liked the sound with the mat in place better. I have to live with any new sound for a while to discover if the change continues to impress, or if I tire of the sound and have to revert back to the original. In setting up the tv, at first, I liked the "popping" of having the color control cranked too much...then I realize, that I should turn it back, and the more real color is much more rewarding.
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!!
Stefanno, what you have is a VPI centre weight. It uses mass instead of a thread drive system to create pressure on the album.

The VPI centre weight does not use the rubber washer; it is designed to be used in conjunction with the periphery ring.