Direct drive turntable series#

The secret here is that a three-phase motor is used, eliminating the cogging effect that always plagues direct-drive designs. He smiles and says, “An AC motor knows where it is, and a DC motor only knows where it was.” In this case, the motor in the Classic Direct is an AC motor, which Weisfeld prefers over DC motors.

Direct drive turntable series#

The engineer quickly responded that the motor was the toughest challenge, which led to another series of discussions resulting in the design we see here in the Classic Direct, where the platter is actually the main component in the motor. One of the engineers at a firm that produces finely machined parts for VPI, as well as military hardware, and who is a known audiophile, started a major discussion with Weisfeld about the “toughest part of a turntable to manufacture.” Weisfeld says that the Kenwood L-O7D and Micro Seiki DDX-1000 were the impetuses for making his own direct-drive table, a process that began in earnest in early 2011. Because of the manufacturing complexity required to produce the SP-10, he says that, if new examples were being built today, they would be fairly comparable in price, even from a company like Technics. Direct drive eliminates these issues.”ĭiscussing the cost of the new Classic Direct, which is priced at $30,000, Weisfeld reflects on the SP-10. A belt-drive turntable consists of multiple mistakes and you’re always dealing with multiple tolerance errors. “I’ve always been a huge fan of the concept, but you can’t get a belt or a pulley perfect, no matter how hard you try. “I believe direct drive is the way to go when it’s done correctly,” he says.

His collection includes, among others, the Denon DP-80 and JVC TT-101, as well as other Technics tables. Weisfeld is particularly well versed in direct-drive models, especially the classics. Great as the SP-10 is, owning one today is much like owning a vintage sports car: It’s a ton of fun on a sunny Sunday afternoon, but God forbid you need it repaired in a hurry.Ī visit to the VPI factory in New Jersey with company founder Harry Weisfeld reveals a massive collection of turntables. However, the cost is high and there are a finite number of spare parts-not to mention precious little support. Today, they are coveted and being rebuilt around modern tonearms and cartridges possessing much more resolution than what was available back in the 1970s and ’80s, and to good result. Those who have will remember the remarkable pitch stability and the rock-solid bass.

Many know of the legendary Technics SP-10 broadcast turntable, though few have heard one. The direct-drive turntable is a perfect example. In audio, like in so many other things, the seed of a great idea often sprouts before the technology of the time is able to fully express the concept.