VPI Forever Model One turntable

The VPI Forever Series ushers in a new era of performance and modularity, paying tribute to over 45 years of VPI heritage. This new series embodies VPI’s commitment to innovation, offering turntables that can evolve with the user. The Model One, the first release in this series, features a fully modular and upgradeable system, blending VPI’s engineering excellence with future-proof design.

 

At the heart of the Model One is the Motor Drive and Platter Module, crafted for both high performance and flexibility. This module is mounted on a thick aluminum plate and features a resonance-canceling damping plate to reduce vibrations, improving sound clarity. Key features include:

300 RPM belt drive motor (500 RPM in 230V countries) with a two-speed pulley for precise speed control.

Forever Platter: A 2” thick, 12” diameter platter with an inverted bearing, minimizing surface area contact between the platter and bearing, which reduces friction and boosts performance.

 

Technical Specifications

Chassis Composition:  Wood Skirt with Machine Aluminum top plate

Platter Type  Size/Weight:  12-inch Aluminum / 20 lbs

Tonearm Included:  VPI S-Tonearm

Motor RPM:  300 RPM

Motor Pulley Accuracy: ±0.0005"

Wow and Flutter:  0.05%

Speed Accuracy:  0.05%

Rumble:  80 dB  Down

Footprint: 19-1/2" x 13-3/4"

Overall Size: 21-3/8" x 15-3/4"

Total Weight:  40 lbs

 

 

New VPI S-Tonearm Module

 

A standout feature of the Model One is the New VPI S-Tonearm Module, which introduces enhanced precision and build quality. Key elements include:

Solid aluminum architecture: Eliminates tube resonances, ensuring pure sound reproduction.

Azimuth adjustment at the headshell, coupled with a solid mounting system.

Vertical Tracking Adjustment (VTA) in the arm base, providing precise height adjustments.

ABEC 5 bearings: Offer ultra-low friction, eliminating chatter and ensuring long-life, smooth motion in both horizontal and vertical planes.

Locking threaded counterweight: Allows for fine adjustments while eliminating unwanted resonances.

Internal VPI high-purity copper wire: One continuous piece from the headshell to the RCA connection, ensuring signal purity.

 

Tone-arm Specifications:

Type:  10-inch, S-shaped, statically balanced tonearm

Effective Length:  255 mm

Mounting Distance:  240 mm

Effective Mass:  10.4 g

Overhang:  15 mm

Pickup Weight:  5 – 15 g

Height Adjustment:  40 – 65 mm

Anti-skating:  Yes

Headshell:  Solid aluminum

Offset Angle:  21 degrees

Internal Wiring:  69 VPI Copper wire

 

 

VPI HR-X + JMW 12.7 & SDS CONTROLLER

The HR-X features a triple laminated chassis (Acrylic-Aluminum-Acrylic), integral air suspension (which rejects up to 98% of acoustic feedback) and an inverted main bearing incorporating a hardened steel ball running on a Teflon/Delrin composite.

An outer periphery record clamp centers on the platter, not the record, to provide vacuum-like

hold down without the problems inherent in a vacuum system. The drive system uses two lowpowered 24-pole motors driving a 12-pound flywheel, the flywheel spins at 300 RPM and has 62 times the inertia of a 25 pound platter. The drive system and the periphery clamp result in wow, flutter, and rumble that are all below measurabilityproviding the most stablesound ever heard from a turntable.

The VPI HR-X's triple layered X-shaped plinth has a gorgeous, glossy black finish with aluminum accents, an air bearing suspension, an ingenious motor & flywheel combo and equipped with VPI's best tonearm, the JMW-12.7. The best part is, the HR-X only takes up 25” x 19” of space. Every aspect of the VPI HR-X has been optimized for maximum performance. The acrylic platter is cut to tolerances within five thousandths of an inch and sits on an inverted bearing for lower noise and lower rotational inertia. The JMW 12.7 tonearm is mounted directly to the HR-X plinth for exceptional rigidity. The new HR-X drive system consists of two ultra-low powered motors on either side of a seven pound, center mounted flywheel which spins at 500 RPM. The included Outer Ring Clamp works like a vacuum to hold down the outside edge of the record. The SDS speed controller delivers absolute speed accuracy.

The new JMW 12.5i Memorial tonearm begins where the JMW 12 left off. Although they share much of their predecessors' design, including the precision unipivot, damped stainless steel/aluminum arm tube, the 12.5i incorporates several significant improvements.

A secondary mounting with underbase has been placed between the arm rest and the arm lift to greatly improve the arm's rigidity literally making these the only arms that can do VTA adjustments while listening and then be locked as rigid as a solid mounted arm. Do not discount this function, it counts for the speed and low bass detail in the 12.5i.

Nordost Valhalla wire is standard.

The Synchronous Drive System (SDS) combines a turntable motor speedcontroller and a line isolator into one convenient 16” x 3” x 12” (W x H x D) package. The SDS breaks new ground in clean accurate power delivery using advanced digital technology and quartz crystal accuracy. The SDS allows for the adjustment of both the voltage and frequency fed to the turntable motor. Adjustments are easily made from the front panel using intuitive, soft touch controls. The selected output voltage and frequency are shown using large, easy to read LE D displays.

The SDS slowly ramps the voltage and frequency up or down to the selected value in order to prevent premature motor wear due to abrupt changes. During motor startup, the SDS increases its output voltage in order to bring the platter up to speed quickly. Once the desired platter speed has been reached, the SDS ramps the output voltage down in order to reduce motor vibration and, therefore, the systems noise floor. The circuit used in the SDS provides an incredibly accurate line frequency of great stability. Additionally, the electronic circuitry effectively isolates the output voltage from the input voltage, doing away with voltage spikes,

low level fluctuations, RF I, and frequency variations. Instead of merely filtering the power line, the SDS first changes it into pure DC voltage and then digitally regenerates its own clean signal. This approach is superior to that used in many of the other power lineconditioners on the market. The SDS works best with synchronous motor driven tumtables, such asthose from VPI. The speed of a synchronous motor is determined by thefrequency it is fed. It is only logical then, that a device whose speed is based on the line frequency will always function better when a stable frequency is delivered. A constant motor speed translates into a quieter, more faithful musical presentation.

Ringrazio a Vittorio di STEREOPLACE per la cortese dimostrazione del giradischi