VPI Avenger turntable with Grado Labs Epoch cartridge. My mini-review is here, post #296..

Wow! Beauty and The Beast rolled all into one badass machine! When you're done reviewing it, send it my way and I'll throw in my 2 cents

 

I didn't detect any issues either.... It was fairly easy to remember what it sounded like for a while. I put at least 700-800 hours on the metal wand. So changing in the 3D and listening to the same records was an easy comparison. Also, I always critically listen at 80-90dBs (or quick sessions at 100+dBs). And at those levels, I was getting slight ringing/resonance that I always thought was the sound signature of the arm/cart/system/room/records in general. I would never have guessed that the ringing would disappear with the 3D arm. That alone was worth it's weight in gold.

 

Thats good you got rid of that problem. I have never heard this on my system using the original Classic 3 arm at the same dB levels.

I may be buying another VPI table in the not too distant future so I am looking forward to Steve's review.

 

Well I should hope so, wouldn't want to drop it!

 

very nice. enjoy the new toy!

 

220 lbs?? Wow! I thought these weighed 87 lbs.I really want one of those, but I am getting to old to be handling equipment that heavy.

 

Is this the standard Avenger?

 

I think the platter is about 28lb's. That leaves about 180 lb's for the plinth, tonearms, motor and feet. Sounds like a two man operation on the 20th.

 

Yeah, I did, that's why I am confused. I realize there are two tonearms, but they can't weight that much.

VPI Industries | Turntables Made in USA

 

That's how I received my Classic. The platter was in a box all to itself.

 

It is very easy to lift your current arm and cart off the Classic and drop it on the Avenger. I think I would do that straight away to get a comparison of the two tables with an arm and cart you I'm familiar with.

 

VPI Avenger/2 arms/Kiseki/Grado set-up day (by me), chez Steve Hoffman, today. Then careful VTA tweeking (by David Shreve) on Christmas day.

Hopefully, Steve will provide pictures of the process. I will provide the digital camera.

 

That would be a Fun comparison, but I think the Avenger sports a 12" Tonearm, and the Classic 2 has the 10" version.

Unless of course, Mr. Hoffman has a Classic 4 Model

 

The Avenger has a pretty big footprint. Steve, what are you putting the Avenger on and what are the dimensions of the surface. I'm asking this for future reference.

 

Thanks for the response. Does the 23 inch width include the motor or does the motor go beyond that dimension? I am in the process of ordering some Symposium platforms for my system. I am just wondering if I should order a platform big enough to go with the Avenger.

My wife says Feliz Navidad.

 

Let me know how the dimensions work out. I have until the 27th to let Peter know what dimensions I want for my TT, as my Prime is much smaller.

 

The Avenger will fit on a 18x24 block, as that is what I keep mine on.