FORTY years in the business of making mostly turntables… and what better way to celebrate it than with something extra special, like a direct-drive unit. Yes, it’s the just-launched VPI 40th Anniversary turntable, the HW-40.
This, of course, isn’t VPI’s first direct-drive model, its DNA coming from the limited edition Classic Direct a few years ago. The HW-40 is also a limited run model – only 400 are being made – but at US$15,000, it is half the price of the older model.
Among the features of the HW-40 as given by VPI are:
– Newest version of the 12-inch gimbal 3D printed Fat-Boy arm with triangular to circular resonance canceling design. The gimbal uses made-in-Japan ABEC 9 bearings for ultra-low friction.
– The VTA design allows finer adjustment via a more robust machined aluminium and steel knob.
– Tonearm has an adjustable counterweight on a threaded shaft for fast and perfectly accurate VTF setting.
– Removable, machined aluminium arm-board.
– The chassis top, front, and back are made from solid 6061 aluminium, painted textured black and damped internally with an MDF dampening plate.
– Limited-edition gloss wood sides.
– Start, 33rpm and 45ppm buttons.
– Internal power supply and control circuitry, no add-on boxes.
– Removable platter for easier shipping.
– Removable hinged dust cover.
VPI offers some notes on the HW-40 Direct Drive motor:
“The HW-40 motor coils are constructed of a solid copper square cross-section wire embedded in a composite structure. This facilitates a high-precision high-efficiency motor. The motor has high torque, excellent cooling, and near optimal interaction with electromagnetic conductors within the magnetic rotor circuit.
The motor’s unique iron-less coil assembly avoids the use of magnetic materials. Combined with overlapping V-shaped coil construction, the HW-40 motor eliminates the cogging that accompanies traditional direct-drive motors.
The HW-40 direct drive system achieves 93% efficiency and a torque of 2.68 Nm/sec. It can accelerate the 25-pound platter assembly to full speed and decelerate to a stop in one second.
Mechanically, the HW-40 motor assembly is milled from a solid billet of 6061 aluminium. Precision mated to the rotor, the stator and platter bearing create an integrated drive system minimising vibration and noise. The motor assembly uses a five-point mounting to secure it to the top panel.”
So, what are you waiting for to snag a piece of this unique pie…?
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