VPI's $900 Cliffwood introduced

Discussion in 'Vinyl Nutjob World: Turntable and Related Gear' started by ButtUglyJeff, Jul 1, 2017.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
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    Ideally, I'd like to see a Schiit of turntables. Sort of like a lower end VPI to fill in the $500 to $1500 "no man's land" of today. Modular pieces, arms, motor pods, speed controllers, etc. At these price points, we probably wouldn't see the 25lb platters or 40lb plinths, but really, I see no reason for good arms (especially uni-pivot types) or good motors (VPI uses the Hurst motors, which are not expensive at all) not to exist. Something basic, that would allow people to experiment for cheap, do crazy shit like enclosing a plinth in base of concrete, drive the platter with multiple motors, or have a bunch of arm pods. Seriously, none of this shit should be that expensive. VPI is pricing their good stuff higher and higher and higher. Someone else needs to take their old place. The market is certainly ripe for it.
     
  2. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    You are basically asking for this? http://www.teresaudio.com/project/index.html

    Not sure what the numbers are today, but 17 years ago I had to save up for months,lol.
     
  3. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    That's what I hope the MoFi tables are. Solid budget tables that just work and let people get into vinyl without having to sell a kidney.
     
  4. powermatic

    powermatic Friend

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    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    I built this with a $60 platter/bearing and $50 Papst motor from Ebay, so total cost was....low. Plus tonearms of course. There was a time investment though.:rolleyes:

    And yeah, you can buy a VPI motor factory direct from Hurst for $100. VPI will sell you one for $300.
     
  5. GTABeancounter

    GTABeancounter Friend

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    Sounds like a mission for Massdrop? Though after a quick browse it seems there are a few expired turntable drops and they appear to be lower priced offerings.
     
  6. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

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    Here's a picture of what I did with shims, I think I ended up adding a tad more a couple weeks later to make it pretty much perpendicular but did not update @bazelio about it. It didnt make much of a difference, but it bugged me at the back of my mind so I had to do it :p
    (by the way, all these pictures were taken on my phone, zoomed in and then straightened on Photoshop - hence the bad quality)

    [​IMG]

    Of course I think the added cardboard shims probably change the sound, along with the air gap created but I guess I didnt have a choice and after all, this is an entry level setup. I made a mental note that when I do upgrade, the table i get needs to have VTA/Azimuth adjustment capabilities inbuilt.
     
  7. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    Dude, wow. Now I know why you go by Powermatic. Great woodworking tools. But more importantly, GREAT craftsmanship there!!! I want one!!!
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2017
  8. powermatic

    powermatic Friend

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    Another method, easier or at least easier to make small adjustments, is to super glue a thin fulcrum (cardboard strips, small diameter hobbiest brass tubing, etc.) fore and aft along the top, centerline length of the cart. After installing, just loosen one screw, tighten the other to rock the cart in the correct direction. Fun With Vinyl!:rolleyes:
     
  9. shaizada

    shaizada Friend

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  10. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    For azimuth, you can also put in a thin piece of pencil lead at the center between the cartridge and arm lengthwise and again adjust the screws (gently), thereby pivoting the cart. This works fairly well,but does degrade the integrity of the mounting, somewhat. And if you tighten too much, you can crush the lead. :(
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2017
  11. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

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    Just for reference, for anyone (like me) who read this tip and got confused - this trick is for adjustment of Azimuth. @powermatic didnt realize my shims were to adjust VTA
     
  12. powermatic

    powermatic Friend

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    What he said.;)
     
  13. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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