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

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Steve Hoffman, Dec 14, 2017.

  1. Metralla

    Metralla Joined Jan 13, 2002

    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Very interesting thread. Will be checking back for listening impressions. :)
     
  2. Monsieur Gadbois

    Monsieur Gadbois Senior Member

    Location:
    Hotel California
    VPI Avenger, the Iron Man Edition.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2017
  3. Guitarded

    Guitarded Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montana
    That's more hideous than Jake, from State Farm.
     
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  4. bajaed

    bajaed Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    It's not necessarily my style, but I like it!
     
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  5. rebellovw

    rebellovw Forum Resident

    Location:
    hell
    Reminds me of 1980's old school BMX with all the various bike parts anodized. Red Philwood hubs - the cat's meow..

    [​IMG]
     
  6. rebellovw

    rebellovw Forum Resident

    Location:
    hell
    Back to topic - love the VPI deck - absolutely gorgeous. The grey comfy pants are cool as well :)
     
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  7. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    My wife calls them “uglypants” which is odd since she bought them for me.
     
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  8. Guss2

    Guss2 Senior Member

    Location:
    South Florida
    I didn't have too much space to work with, but this fits in easily. You could probably put a cover over it if so inclined. Are you getting an Avenger Tull ?
     
  9. SirMarc

    SirMarc Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cranford, NJ
    That's so bad its friggin awesome! Lol
     
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  10. Guitarded

    Guitarded Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montana

    You can't get away with just comfortable pants and that one.

    You need the entire track suit.
     
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  11. psulioninks

    psulioninks Forum Resident

    Location:
    KC Chiefs Kingdom
    I had this very same thought when I unpacked my VPI Super Prime Scout the other day. :righton:
     
  12. Tullman

    Tullman Senior Member

    Location:
    Boston MA
    I would like to get an Avenger, but not likely too soon. I am getting a Symposium platform for my current TT, and I want to get a platform big enough to fit the Avenger in case I get one in the future.
     
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  13. inperson

    inperson Senior Member

    Location:
    Ohio
    Shiny
     
  14. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Yes, good packing makes for a happy delivery. No tears.
     
  15. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    He's baaack! David Shreve, the VTA King. Getting the proper VTA for many pressing thicknesses. He'll write them down for me so all I have to do is adjust the vertical tracking angle knob on the VPI arm. The Grado Labs Epoch is tracking at 1.805.

    The median set-up record is, as always, HDS-701, side one track two ("Sauerkraut 'N Solar Energy"), the opening stand up bass part.. (Flying Fish label, Norman Blake/Tut Taylor/Sam Bush/Butch Robins/Vassar Clements, etc.)

    david shreve.jpg
     
  16. Tullman

    Tullman Senior Member

    Location:
    Boston MA
    Looking forward to your listening impressions.
     
  17. Deuce66

    Deuce66 Senior Member

    Location:
    Canada
    How is this achieved exactly?
     
  18. Arnold_Layne

    Arnold_Layne Forum Resident

    Location:
    Waldorf, MD USA
    I remember just trying to left my Classic and put it up on a Solid Steel wall shelf. Even without the platter it's heavy. I can only imagine how heavy that Avenger is.
     
  19. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    We have an open thread on VTA, don’t we? Could be all there.
     
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  20. Guitarded

    Guitarded Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montana

    With Shoes!
     
  21. bluemooze

    bluemooze Senior Member

    Location:
    Frenchtown NJ USA
    How can he work like that, making delicate adjustments standing up bent over. I can't. :)
     
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  22. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    He’s used to it.
     
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  23. marka

    marka Forum Resident


    What a great experience, being there as Dave did his thing, tweaking here and tweaking there. The sound was incredible. I think I floated out of there.
     
  24. Warren Jarrett

    Warren Jarrett Audio Note (UK) dealer in SoCal/LA-OC In Memoriam

    Location:
    Fullerton, CA
    David Shreve adjusts VTA for each individual record by listening only. He demonstrates that when the VTA is not right, the frequency extremes are the most obvious sonic flaws. The bass is either muddy (he calls it "bass overhang") or lacking in extension. This is because the stylus tip cannot move in exactly the same arc as the cutter did, so the larger groove excursion of the lowest bass signals on the record are not accurately tracked. When bass reproduction is poor, VTA is either too high or too low. But the highs are consistently bright when VTA is too high, and rolled-off when VTA is too low. The only way to know is to change the VTA in either direction and note if the bass and highs get better or worse. Then keep going from there, changing tonearm height by smaller increments, until it all sounds the best it can be for that record.

    One thing to keep in mind is that when the upper-highs are attenuated (as in when VTA is too low) the upper midrange and mid-highs can sound aggressive and harsh. So it is important not to confuse aggressive highs with brightness. Aggressive highs can mean VTA is too low, but brightness means VTA is too high.

    Once David finds the VTA that provides the best sound for a particular record, then within that particular record label, optimum VTA is consistent. He marks it down on paper, so we can reproduce that tonearm height setting whenever we play that record label.

    The sound changes are obvious, and this listening method works.
     
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2017
    Slimwhit33, LeeS, 33na3rd and 7 others like this.
  25. David P. Hill

    David P. Hill Forum Resident

    Location:
    Irving, Tx
    This is quite a treat, I'm very interested in how this VPI sounds by Steve. I have been thinking about purchasing a new TT, especially the VPI.
     

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