VPI Direct Drive Turntable

02-05-14: Fleib:
"Has the same motor as the Continuum? What does that cost?"

Reportedly $4000. But the ThinGap motor does NOT include bearing assembly. It's an off the shelf unit that includes only the rotor with the magnets and the stator that the coils are etched on a cylindrical circuit board. Very interesting technology that claims to have no cogging. VPI has to machine a bearing for it to complete a motor and of course fitted to the platter and plinth, etc... so obviously that adds to the cost.

I much rather they just start with a new platform and disassociate it with the Classic series and bump the price even further if they have to and simply announce that's their new flagship. Yes, people will buy $50k turntables but those people don't want to be reminded that it looks like a Classic!

Every year there are products with outrageous price but why are people get bent out of shape by the price of this VPI direct drive makes no sense to me, when it clearly uses new technology and refinement. After all there's a tonearm costing $35k....

Time will tell and the market will decide.

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Yes this new cog-less motor could very well be THE motor for direct drive table and could be a break through in table motor technologies ,but a MDF arm board and plinth?

Take a look at Steve Dobbins table, the Kodo Beat for a good example of an exceptional built quality of the highest order or any other table at this price point, you don't get MDF,...
I have no ill will against VPI, I never owned any of their products nor have I dealt with them in any way.
I just think VPI need to rethink the use of MDF in this 30 grand table that's all.

I don't believe its anyones' business but VPI to price their own products. The marketplace will vote with their dollars. The turntable is there for the taking or not...to me, that's the end of the discussion.

Everyone is discussing the price of this table. Why is there almost no discussion of how it performs? Surely people heard it at CES and in some other settings. Myles Astor on WBF has one for review but I've not read what he thinks about it yet.

I was told that Fremer also has one for review as well. VPI sent DD out to 3 reviewers from what I was told by my local dealer. I hope we will hear something soon. I think it was in Fremer's interview with HW that the motor was further modified by a VPI client that HW knows and there was a reference to a company that makes motor part for submarine?
There was supposed to be one DD coming over here by the beginning of this month but I guess it got delayed.

I have not seen any reference regarding MDF armboard but saw that plinth is 1/2 inch aluminium bonded to 2 inch MDF or something. Armboard on my Classic 3 is aluminium though.