Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — VPI Model One

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

Key specs that matter

It is belt driven, with a 300 rpm motor (500 rpm in 230 V countries) and a two-speed pulley machined to +/-0.013 mm. The Forever Platter is aluminium, 305 mm in diameter, 51 mm thick and 9.1 kg, 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, 21 degree offset and 5 to 15 g cartridge range. Overall size is 543 x 400 mm, and total weight is 18.1 kg.

Engineering and use context

The motor drive and platter module is mounted on a thick aluminium plate with a resonance-damping layer. The inverted bearing reduces contact area between the 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 from 40 to 65 mm, azimuth adjusts at the headshell and a locking threaded counterweight allows fine setting. One continuous length of 69-strand VPI copper wire runs from the headshell to the RCA sockets. The new three-point floating suspension uses high-tech polymer to isolate the platter and arm from external vibration and from motor noise, and it is adjustable for levelling. The chassis combines a wood skirt with a machined aluminium top plate in black ash veneer, and a hinged clear dust cover is included. Upgrades available include a periphery ring clamp, the Analog Drive System speed controller and VPI's Fatboy gimbal or unipivot arms. VPI supports the Model One with a ten-year warranty.

Pairing

The S-Tonearm's medium effective mass suits most moving-magnet and medium-compliance moving-coil cartridges. A phono stage is required, and the turntable needs a large, level shelf.

Alternatives

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