Best Analogue Gear 2011.

Let us start with some analogue gears! Despite my conversion to CAS as my daily fuss free music source, the black vinyl curse still wears it's spell on me, especially when I am in the mood for some seriously audiophile numbing music, mostly jazz from 50's till the 60's.

Though we did not review much analogue stuff this year, making this three candidates appear by default, they are by no means turd sounding. Not at all. In the vinyl world, this three entries are considered real world enough for the aspiring audiophile and most of all that Rega RP-1 turn table set is likely going to be some newbie's entry point in to the black arts, and still not be ashamed about it's sonic potential, well at least with a cartridge up grade!


VPI Aries 3 & Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua MC cartridge, musically dynamic, with slam dunking bass response.

VPI Aries 3 & Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua Combo.

The VPI Aries 3 is the big brother to the successful Scout model we liked last year. When partnered with the Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua MC cartridge, sonically this mighty combo has what it takes to give the more up market tables from Clearaudio and Oracle a tough run for their money. The sound is highly transparent, with a hint of top end sweetness and slam dunking bass. It is also highly refined and ticks all the right audiophile boxes, performance wise. I have only two reservations about this table, first of which is the lack of an electronic speed change/control box(which is an extra cost option!). Second is the table's oversize plinth, which is great for stability, but will find it hard to fit on to standard sized racks. In my case, I had to review it, by setting it up on the floor. Not ideal, but ............


Parasound JC-3 is the our current RM$10k phono stage choice!

Parasound JC-3.

I was much impressed by the well rounded sonic performance of the Parasound JC-3. It does nothing wrong and everything well. It's strictly neutral tonal balance will allow the table, arm and cartridge's combo up stream to truly shine. The JC-3 is not particularly sensitive to cartridge loading, yet it's gain is high enough for use even with the lowest output of MC cartridges. It is noise free and is one of the quietest phono stage that I've tested, even with full gain setting. This Parasound is made to be partnered with turn table, arm and cartridge combo's a few rungs up it's own price! It's an over achiever and giant killer phono stage all rolled in to one!



Rega RP-1, a vinyl newbie's entry point.

Rega RP-1.

The sub RM$1k priced Rega RP-1 is possibly the cheapest and most cheerful bargain in the vinyl and perhaps the hifi world! It offers people a chance to experience the wonders of vinyl, without having to sell their mother or child! Sound wise, it's truly Rega centric, with it's exciting rhythm and pace, if a little grayish in the back ground. It's band width limited but still offers very decent musical dynamics. Best of all it's mid range is still unsullied yet offers enough body to be image rather convincingly. Which ever way one looks at it, it's still proudly made in England with pride and simplicity of engineering at it's best.

Next, we rate the best digital sources in 2011!

Are You An Aries? VPI Aries 3 Turn Table & Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua MC Cartridge.

The VPI Aries 3, with the JMW 10.5i Memorial tone arm. The white protective cover on the plinth surface has not been lifted yet, on this demo unit. The screw top LP clamp is standard VPI issue.

Ever since I had a spin of the budget, yet excellent VPI Scout II last year, I've always wondered what's in store as one climbs higher up the VPI range of turn tables. The hot selling Classic is not on demo as there's a back ordered queue forming, plus I am told, the line is getting longer too!

Nelson, boss of Center Circle Audio was in the Chinese New Year holidays mood, and agreed to let me have a spin on the RM$21k priced VPI Aries 3 and wait, he also mounted the nearly top dog Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua MC cartridge, priced at RM$9k. Total analog source cost is RM$30k as per reviewed here sans phono stage.

The Aries 3 is a special breed in the VPI stables, look closely and you'll note that it uses an acrylic platter, just like a Clearaudio, rather than the usual stainless steel ones mounted on most other VPI tables. The Aries 3 is a heavy turn table, due to it's solid acrylic - aluminium - acrylic sandwiched plinth construction. The plinth is laser cut for a precision like figure 8 shape and is supported by 4 pointy spikes on each side. The Aries 3 also uses an over sized, high torque out board motor, that parks nicely in to it's own little marina like dock cut out on the left side of the plinth.
Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua MC cartridge. This is a nude design as you can see.

The JMW 10.5i Memorial tone arm is a uni-pivot design with a length of 10.5 inches, as it's name suggest. This tone arm boast a great VTA adjust "on the fly" feature, for those whom it matters. The engineering on the tone arm is exacting and feels very re-assuring in the finger, when in use. The 10.5 inch long arm also produces very little distortion on the extreme ends of an LP while in play, due to it's less dramatic arch when gliding from the outer towards the inner grooves of an LP.

The Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua MC cartridge is of the nude design variety, which I always find them to be very sexy to look at. I marvelled at the miniature, delicate build, of artisan quality. Nude design cartridges tend to have an open, un coloured, yet airy quality about their sound.

I did not put the VPI Aries 3 on my usual FE Spider clone rack, due to it's much bigger size than the usual 17 inch width of most hifi equipment. So I left the turn table sitting on the carpet lined floor, which is not ideal by the way. I leveled the turn table by adjusting the adjustable pointy spikes on all four corners, park the out board motor in to it's cut out dock, and set up the arm. The Dynavector Te Kaitora cartridge came pre-mounted and optimised for the turn table, which make my job a whole lot easier. As a pre-caution, I still checked the tracking force of the cartridge which was measured at 2.3 grams, by the use of my resident Ortofon DS-1 electronic tracking force gauge. I also set the impedance loading of 300 ohms on my Pass Labs X-Ono phono stage. Since this Dynavector outputs at 0.25 mv, I left the gain at maximum of 76 db on my phono stage. About 25 minutes in all, I am ready to spin my first LP!
Note the black knob with markings on the tone arm tower? That's the VTA adjust able "on the fly" feature, which I did not test, as I felt the original setting performed by the dealer is good enough for all the LPs I spun on the VPI.

From the very first LP I played, Illinois Jacquet's recently re-issued Birthday Party Blues, I was spell bounded by the very open, transparent window to the musical event. It was like as if, the band was in my room kinda pseudo reality. The breathing/finger techniques and the burnish tonal quality of Jacquet's horn was just totally un-real. The drum kit located just behind the stage yet still startling clear if set further away. The whole experience of the performance has that intoxicated quality of the tittle track suggest. How's that for a taste to come?

Let's dissect the juicy audiophile sound description a little more. The tonal quality of the VPI Aries 3 /Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua is near faultlessly neutral, but not in the analytical sense, rather it's so neutral, it never left any signature of it's own in the final musical experience, and just let the music speak for it self. The highs can be refined to the point of being cultured when handling delicate high hats/cymbals on Jazz music, but will never fail to bite when the Rock music ask of it to. The mids has an articulated texture of body mass which serves vocals well. The bass however, is where this acrylic platter ed VPI/Dynavector combo falls a little short, compared to the stainless steel platter ed VPI Scout II. While the Aries 3 is no slouch in the bass department, but should it be compared to the cheaper model, it just lacks the slam jamming, balls out kinda bass performance of the Scout II that so rocked my world. A buddy so graciously reminded me that the bass performance might have been even better, should the VPI not sat on the carpeted floor. And the funny thing is, he might be right too!

However, as one move upwards in the high end audio food chain, other things such as transparency, resolution, low noise floor and band width will certainly take priority. On all these aspects, the VPI Aries 3 certainly is one of the best performing example in the high end turn table market today. The credit must some how go to the Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua cartridge, which will dig out all the finest information in the record grooves, in the most noise free manner. Needless to say, with clean condition LP, surface noise is very nearly non-existent during playback. While this VPI/Dynavector combo will reproduce micro dynamics with great transient response, it does however, lose out a little in terms of macro dynamics, compared to my Linn/Benz combo. Again, perhaps the VPI sitting on the carpeted floor an influencing factor here?

The over sized, high torque motor gets up to speed in no time at all, and maintains speed stability very well, as I could not detect any wow and flutter or pitch issues during the VPI's time with me. The only area I have a small problem with this VPI is that electronic speed adjustment is optional, something which I feel should be part of the standard package, considering it's price, and market position. However, I've also found speed change to be a very un demanding job of just sliding the rubber belt up or down the motor pulley to switch speed. The 10.5 inch JMW tone arm tracks brilliantly and never mis tracked, even on some pretty warped LPs. I actually like the evenness of tonality as it tracks from the outer to the inner grooves of the LP, compared to my standard 9 inch Linn Ittok, which always will sound subtly fuller on the middle tracks of the LP.
The acrylic - aluminium - acrylic sandwiched plinth. Note the adjustable spike feet.

In summary, I felt the VPI Aries 3/Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua combo to be an American built turn table with much Euro style sound qualities. It's certainly a very practical, if slightly over sized turntable, that marries a highly transparent, and refined sound qualities. It gets out of the way, and just let music speak for it self. I can't think of any higher accolade for any high end hifi product.
The high torque, over sized, out board motor unit, to change speed, simply slip the rubber belt downwards to the larger diameter pulley for 45 rpm.

VPI is sold by Center Circle Audio, contact Nelson or Sky at 03-77282686

It's A Very Powerful Impression! VPI Scout II Turn Table, Dynavector DV-20XL Cartridge.

VPI Scout II turn table, and Dynavector DV20XL is one musically powerful analog combo. Note the powerful out board motor unit!

VPI Industries has been making turn tables for a long, long, time. I regret that I never truly heard them at their full performance potential, until now that is. The VPI Scout II, featured here with the JMW Memorial 9 inch tone arm mounted with Dynavector DV-20XL cartridge, is the entry level of VPI turn tables. It's performance, however is anything but entry level!

It took me a little more than 2 hours of assembling the turn table and tone arm, mount plus align the cartridge, before the first tunes are being played. Before we get to the sound, I must say that the VPI is quite a heavy and solidly built turn table. There's an industrial like feel to the finishing of the whole package. The VPI Scout has four pointed isolation cone feet which are easily adjustable to keep the turn table level. The JMW Memorial tone arm is of uni pivot design, and feels right to these pair of hands and fingers. The cartridge alignment is simple to set with the VPI supplied protractor. I set the cartridge's tracking force to 2.1gsm, which is on the heavier side. I tried the anti skating device setting, but ended up preferring the sound with the device dis-engaged(this was a tip I got from Jim Smith's book, "Get Better Sound", which I'll share later). As the cartridge is low output type at 0.34mv, I set my phono stage to 72db gain setting and loaded it with 120 ohms setting. The signal from the turn table to phono stage is via a pair of VdH D-300 MKII shielded interconnects. This was the final setting which all sonic description is based on.
Cartridge alignment is easy with the VPI supplied single point protractor.

Tracking force is set at 2.1gsm, checked using Ortofon cartridge digital scale model DS-1.

From the very first LP, I knew I was in for a vinyl treat of the black arts! This turn table rocks! Literally. I found my self spinning all the rock albums in my collection dating from the 70's and 80's. This turntable has the energy and vitality to play rock albums convincingly. The treble, while not the most extended is airy and quite refined, yet never lacking in attack, should the music called for. The mids is on the rich side, rendering vocals and especially male voices a throaty quality. The female voice is not short changed either, Tsai Qin still sounds like very much her usual self on Lou Ge, rendering classic love songs very emotionally. The bass is loud, proud, but does not stand out like a sore thumb. The bass guitar is fat, full, and weighty, yet agile. It plumbs as deep as my speakers will go, and rock my listening chair gently. NOW, THIS IS WHAT I CALL BASS! Period.

With this kinda bass, how can I pass on this turn table without playing some soul and R&B LPs? I pulled out Alexander O'Neal's 1988 Christmas album, "My Gift To You", and was rewarded with sweet, sweet soul sound, especially the ever classic "Merry Christmas To You" track. I know, I know, it's not Christmas yet, but the mood's there, the music's there, and the VPI Scout just blows my mind, listening to the strong, manly vocal of Alex, harmonising with the ghostly back up guy slightly back in to the left side of the stage! Santa, I've being a very good boy this year too! Please, please make my Christmas wishes come true??? He! He!
The Dynavector jewel box like packaging.

I'm sorry, I got carried away back there. But that's just what the VPI/Dynavector combo did so, well, carry me away in to the music, all night long, every night! The sound staging properties are good, rather than great, there's width but depth perception is some what lacking. Solid imaging makes up for the short fall though. This turn table combo is also very dynamic and excitingly exuberant. It's also eerily quiet, with an extremely dark back ground and low noise. I did not find any problems with speed stability of the turn table. A special praise must go to the Dynavector DV-20XL cartridge, that for the price, this is probably the most transparent, dynamic and tonally well balanced available.
The JMW Memorial 9 inch tone arm is of uni pivoted design, providing excellent finger and hand feel.

Note the VPI provided screw on clamp, which helps to flatten out warp disc effectively and lowers back ground noise too, making a quieter turn table. All the review sonic description is done with clamp in use.

So what price would you pay for this analog set up? Price break down is as follows:
1) VPI Scout II turn table(with tone arm included): RM$9900.00
2) Dynavector DV20XL cartridge: RM$1700.00

I am now looking forward towards more VPI turn tables to play with, and I've just heard the latest Classic model has a long waiting list. I can't wait to lay my hands on one of those too. He!He!

VPI is sold by Centre Circle Audio, contact Sky or Nelson at 03-77282686.

Now Spining, It's a VPI Scout II Turn Table.

Folks, the turn table market is certainly heating up with fever. I now have a VPI Scout II complete with JMW Memorial tone arm, mated with Dynavector DV20XL spining in my music cave.

I believe we have a new standard setting turn table.

Stay tuned to find out more.

VPI turn tables is sold by Centre Circle Audio, contact Sky at 012-3371787.

VPI Now At Centre Circle Audio

Vinyl lovers, if you are looking for a new turntable setup, check out the vpi range at Centre Circle Audio.

Three models from vpi have arrived - Aries 3, Classic, and Scout II. The Classic model, especially, has garnered rave reviews from Harry Pearson apparently, and Nelson Chia told me that it is his best selling model in the range.

Contact Centre Circle Audio, Ph: 03-77282686; Nelson Chia 012-2876807; Sky Wong 012-3371787

vpi Classic with jmw memorial 10.5ise tonearm

vpi Scout II