Turntables — VPI Model One

The Model One is the first turntable in VPI's Forever Series, from the New Jersey company that has been building turntables for more than 45 years. Introduced in October 2024, it is built from modules that can be serviced or upgraded individually, so owners can move up to later specifications instead of replacing the whole turntable. The wooden frame recalls VPI's original HW-19, but the design inside is new.

Key specs that matter

A belt from a 300 rpm motor (500 rpm in 230 V countries) turns the platter via a two-speed pulley machined to +/-0.013 mm. The aluminium Forever Platter is 305 mm in diameter, 51 mm thick and weighs 9.1 kg, and it turns on an inverted bearing. Wow and flutter and speed accuracy are both 0.05%, and rumble is 80 dB down. The supplied VPI S-Tonearm is a 10 in S-shaped, statically balanced arm with 255 mm effective length, 240 mm mounting distance, 10.4 g effective mass, 15 mm overhang, a 21 degree offset and a cartridge weight range of 5 to 15 g. The turntable measures 543 x 400 mm and weighs 18.1 kg in total.

Engineering and use context

The motor drive and platter module sits on a thick aluminium plate with a resonance-damping layer. The inverted bearing reduces the contact area between platter and bearing, lowering friction. The S-Tonearm is solid aluminium throughout, avoiding the resonances of a hollow tube, and turns in ABEC 5 bearings in both planes. Height adjustment in the base sets vertical tracking angle across a range of 40 to 65 mm, azimuth is set at the headshell and a locking threaded counterweight allows fine adjustment. A single continuous run of 69-strand VPI copper wire goes from the headshell to the RCA sockets. A new three-point floating suspension made of high-tech polymer isolates platter and arm from external vibration and motor noise, and it can be adjusted for levelling. The chassis pairs a wood skirt with a machined aluminium top plate in black ash veneer, and a hinged clear dust cover is included. Available upgrades include a periphery ring clamp, the Analog Drive System speed controller and VPI's Fatboy gimbal or unipivot arms. VPI covers the Model One with a ten-year warranty.

Pairing

With its medium effective mass, the S-Tonearm suits most moving-magnet and medium-compliance moving-coil cartridges. A separate phono stage is required.

Alternatives

VPI's Prime is the brand's turntable with a 10 in 3D-printed tonearm.