VPI HW-40 ANNIVERSARY TURNTABLE REVIEW. A LIMITED-EDITION, HIGH-END DESIGN USING DIRECT DRIVE

[@TheAudiophileMan]

UPDATE: This video has now been updated with 'live' chapter headings, accessible within the Description.

[@scottchegg1209]

Nothing but respect for harry and the team at vpi. Had a classic one with 3d arm. Build and finish. Unusually musical for a high mass design which to my ears are usually sonically impressive but ultimately boring. Kept their identity, nothing like a vpi. Love to see you review a well tempered deck. So tuneable, incredibly fluid. Using golf ball squash ball and fishing gut! Simplex ammazzing.

[@f.troiani5937]

Brilliant outlook Paul cheers! One that doesn't draw unnecessary attention to itself. Quality

[@elkvision]

This was awesome. Had me in fantasyland for 25 minutes....looking forward to more archived reviews!

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

What a beauty

[@Cynicalian]

Great review Paul, the only thing I can say about the HW-40 with absolute certainty is, I want one! It's been top of my wish list for about a year now, they only turntable I'd probably trade my beloved Dr Feickert Woodpecker for. I don't see the HW-40 as expensive, I see it very much in the context of one of the very best turntable and arm combos at very, very reasonable price, to equal or better it you're are probably going to have too spend close to £100,000, in that sense it is a bargain. I was lucky enough to hear a side by side comparison with the SME 30/12 with the SME V-12 tonearm and I much preferred the VPI (the SME plus tonearm is more than £20,000 more than the VPI). I also prefer the HW-40 to the few other seriously priced turntables I've heard which are substantially more expensive, there's something very organic and natural about the HW-40, I also think that the HW-40 would work well with a variety of cartridges, you could put on £10,000 worth of exotic Japanese hand carved Jade or simply a out of the box £1500 Ortofon and it would it make the most of them and everything between. I can only hope they're some left when I have the £15,000 to buy one.

[@Mc674bo]

Hi Paul I can see your just a bit enthusiastic about this deck , which I must say is very pleasing on the eye with sound to match. Funnily enough I just read a review on the new Thorens TD124DD with the reviewer giving the same sort of enthusiasm to the Thorens . I think it would be great if you got the chance to do a comparison . Easier said that done I know , but interesting all the same especially considering the Thorens is nearly half the price . Best wishes as always 😀👍

[@johncarroll2332]

Very nicely summed up Paul, thanks!

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Thanks John!

[@dekadent6622]

The artist Pole in the background with his album I also had... vinyl crackling as a sound encore :)

[@d.joseph4356]

It will be better if you are able to show your live review process and videos of the actual equipment you are reviewing. I only see still photos of the equipment. Were you sent a review sample from VPI or a local distributor? Would also be great to include some technical information for your reviews. What equipment did you use in your review process? What Phono Stage? What Amps? What Cartridge? What Speakers? What music did you play? Etc. Looking forward to future reviews. Keep up the good work. 👍

[@TheAudiophileMan]

This is an archive review, different from my usual fare. See the video introduction for more info. Also, see the Description for info on my reference system.

[@Skyshakerrrr]

Great review 👏

[@salmonline]

Now THAT'S a turntable. However: it does make my new 120X look like a turd. Unpolished.

[@richardsinger01]

Look on the bright side - you are about £14750 better off having chosen the AT 120x. Think of the number of records you can now afford!

[@timleelim9930]

Waving your arms round in an Italian manner, huh? Up to that statement, I never noticed your Peiro Gamba-like arm movements! 🤗 😃

[@blairholmesproductionsinc.9432]

Love this video. The closing statements are spot on. Beautifully said.

[@saverioricchiuto5386]

Impressive how many things you can learn while waiting for the bus to leave… LOL

[@TheAudiophileMan]

I compliment you on your ability to use your time wisely. I’m not talking about my channel here, just that you’re willing to learn while time allows. Nice one.

[@saverioricchiuto5386]

@@TheAudiophileMan I just meant to point at one of the (many) humorous pieces in your review that make it one of a kind. Keep up with the good work.

[@claudec2588]

It's a thing of beauty. I paused this video at 3:18 just to drool at it. It's Audio Porn. But I'm never going to spend this much money on a turntable. I could buy this turntable tomorrow but then I'd have to come out of retirement. That's not going to happen. Aaaahhh but the beauty of it. I need a cold shower.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Hehe

[@panagiotisargyropoulos2217]

Thank you for this one. Any chance of a planar 8 review? Cheers.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Not sure about that one - the time has probably passed. But you never know...

[@renyardfox8227]

Your excellent reviews would be further enhanced if we could hear for ourselves the turntable in question.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

If I did, I’d be hit with copyright strikes. So no can do. Also, any sound you’d hear would NOT be the turntable. It would relate to the device you’re listening to.

[@pukstukas]

I wish you would have taken your own photos or made a video of a turntable and did not use only the promotional pictures.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

This is an archive video, as I explained at the beginning. Please view the posted link for more info. Also, back then I was struggling with cameras :)

[@rickyblair8802]

You owe me 2 sofa’s. Tore them to pieces, all I found $2.76

[@TheAudiophileMan]

That would buy you three on eBay ;) ever tried to sell a sofa on eBay? Can’t give them away.

[@georgebanderhoos407]

If you are going to venture into the technical aspects of a turntable, you should at least do some rudimentary research on your own and not rely on the marketing hype from the mfr. Your comments about the motor on this table are completely wrong. It uses the exact same $600 motor as its predecessor although the electronics that drive it are different and LESS sophisticated than the original. While the motor is rated for high torque capability, the small size of the power supply in the HW40 does not allow it to operate at high torque. The motor is driven using block commutation which can produce torque cogging. The drive signal is not 2500 pulses/sec. The drive freq=RPM x poles/120; this is an 8 pole motor so the drive frequency is 2.22Hz and is produced by a class D (digital) PWM output at 10kHz. The 36VPP squarewaves are not filtered and radiate electrical noise; I wouldn't use a MM cart with this table or put the phono preamp anywhere near the table. Speed control uses closed loop feedback, a technique that HW eschews (unless it is a VPI table). The magnetic ring encoder produces 80 pulses/sec, but the read head synthesizes 2560 PPS for the feedback. The count needed for 33.333 RPM produces a non-integer result (1422.222 pulses/sec), so the speed is never actually at 33.333, but toggles between 33.351 and 33.328 RPM (count=1423 & 1422 respectively). W&F measures ~0.07% via the software app that controls the motor as well as a Leader W&F meter and 3150Hz test record. VPI states that the platter does not slow down under load and the drive can compensate for dynamic drag caused by groove modulation, but this is complete fiction. The response time of the speed control loop is ~500 mSec and the speed audibly drops momentarily with even light drag applied, before the servo corrects. There is no way the control loop can compensate for dynamic drag of the stylus which by definition will be short duration and high frequency bandwidth. The motor drive electronics on the new Technics DD table is much more sophisticated and produces much better results than this table. Tom Cruise? More Jar-Jar Binks.

[@nsw9154]

Great Revue Paul but that Turntable cost more than my Triumph Thunderbird LT Motorbike so i will stick with my AR Legend and not sell my Thunderbird lol

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Never used an AR - what's your thoughts on it? Pros/cons?

[@nsw9154]

@@TheAudiophileMan it's a nice deck easy to set up and very Tweekable i bought it about 10 years ago for £200 it came with a Linn Basic LVX Arm and a Goldring 1006 cartridge i have recently upgraded it to the 1042 after watching your revue my next thing is to fit Linn Springs as the originals are showing their age after about 37 years all in all i am very pleased with it, I had one in 1984 but had to sell it and most of my Hi-Fi to buy a house and always promised myself that i would get another one in a few years time but they stopped making them in about 1988 so i bought a Rega 3 but i always regretted selling my AR Legend and promised to get another one some day it took me a long time to find a good one at a decent price but i got their in the end

[@markcarrington8565]

Great review, Paul. When you say it’s not a bully, unlike some other turntables, you wouldn’t be referring to a certain machine from North of the border would you? 😀

[@TheAudiophileMan]

I’m keeping my mouth shut.

[@markcarrington8565]

Had one, loved it. Sold it along with all records when space/cash/kids became a priority. Children flown nest, now starting from my first turntable all over again with a Sansui SR222 MkII, fully rebuilt with bespoke custom plinth and totally out of proportion Goldring G1042 cartridge. I can hear Ivor tutting from here over that last part! 🤣🤣🤣. Thoroughly enjoying the hobby again buying second hand records.

[@scottchegg1209]

Mark well tempered simplex annihilates lp12 of ANY. spec

[@markcarrington8565]

@@scottchegg1209 glad you're enjoying your turntable. I moved to CD long ago and it is still my main source. The turntable is an occasional play on my second system for a bit of variation.

[@jsmctch]

As of July 1 2021 it went up $5K to 20K no changes.... I bought my fist VPI in 2019... It will be my last

[@paznewis107]

Phono stage, amplifier and speakers to match? 🤑😂😖🙏

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Give me time. I’ll make a note :)

[@dennishill290]

Oh Banker... oh Banker... where art thou ...loan...$ papers....lol...!

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Hehe

[@StylusDrop]

"The issue with technics systems is that this high torque approach stores energy in the platter which can produce noise", well pardon my French but what utter bollocks!

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Linguistics was never a strong suit of mine so you have the advantage on me there.

[@StylusDrop]

@@TheAudiophileMan Sorry if I was a bit abrupt. I do enjoy your videos, but I feel you need to justify that statement. How is the energy stored in the platter and why is it a bigger problem with high torque direct drives? Also, how does that lead to noise?

[@TheAudiophileMan]

When you give anything a big push (i.e. a door, a ball, a car, etc) you transfer the energy from you into it. With luck, the 'thing' moves because of the energy infusion. That's the visible 'proof', as it where. If you kick a door in you will see the door flap around like a bird's wing. That's the vibrational result of the applied force. If you give it a firm but increasingly strong push, the door will gently open. The HW-40 is doing that 'firm but strong' thing. Cheaper direct drives tend to kick the door in, as it where. That's partly why they cost less. Don't forget, a turntable is a very fine measuring device on a micro level (have you seen how small that stylus is and the size of those grooves? :) ) So any vibrations will be magnified at that level. Big vibrations will fight against the turntable, it will interfere with the tonearm's job, with the cartridge's job. The end result will be a veiling of detail. That is, you end up hearing the music and a bit of vibration mixed in. Here's another example. A German direct drive deck - this is also low torque: theaudiophileman.com/motus-ii-turntable-stst-review/

[@StylusDrop]

@@TheAudiophileMan Thank you Paul for explaining the thinking behind your statement. I'm slightly sceptical without seeing scientific evidence, however. It would be interesting to compare the performance of the HW-40 with the Technics SL-1000R, a £14,000 high torque design :)

[@TheAudiophileMan]

It’s a fine turntable but I’d say it is a touch strident. Some people like that approach which is fine but I know what presentation style I prefer. And I prefer to use human ears to measure sound. I’ve worked under all the measurement systems under the sun and found them unsatisfactory. Again, some people swear by machines for testing and again that ‘s great for them but they’re not for me.

[@VespaT5]

15 grand & it still has a plastic lid.

[@poetryonplastic]

What should the lid be made out of?

[@VespaT5]

@@poetryonplastic some kind of silk perhaps. Maybe jewel encrusted.

[@poetryonplastic]

@@VespaT5 a silk turntable lid? Genius, you should engineer one.

[@CHICO976]

to me this really overkill...it if you need to send this much money on a tt you are out of your mind

[@TheAudiophileMan]

In today's world of streaming from a phone via a pair of earphones or to a Bluetooth speaker, the basic notion of a hi-fi system, containing supposedly outmoded components whose roots often stem back to the 70s, room-filling bits of metal and wood and multiple shelves full of individually packaged PVC and polycarbonate discs suggests that such monetary madness is more common than you might think.