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From: sl215067@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Richard Herren)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: VPI vs. Well Tempered Labs phono decks
Message-ID: <7294@uwm.edu>
Date: 29 Oct 90 13:57:29 GMT
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Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

I stopped working in the hi-end business about a year and a half ago, and have
spent a total of no more than 15 minutes in hi-end stores since (for a variety
of reasons), but I think I still have some valid opinion on this subject.

When I left, the VPI jr. had just come out a few months prior.  I almost bought
one, but car repairs totalled my funds.  I would still recommend the VPI over
the WTL for the same reason I was interested--the upgrades.  The audible 
differences between the two tables are slight, at best, and we can debate for
weeks over which is better.  But even an idiot (which you're obviously not) can
install VPI's upgrades from Jr. to 19 III, if desired.  This I considered as a
big plus, because I knew I was leaving the business at the time, and I knew I
didn't want to deal with a dealer any more than I had to (I found many high-
enders to be less knowledgeable than they wished themselves to be-including 
myself.)

At any rate, the eventual upgrade to a 19 III would have cost only slightly
more than if I had purchased the III outright (this may have changed over time,
but expect not by much).  At least the deal beat out nearly every credit plan
I'd ever seen.  And to top the rest of this off, I've often considered the 
19 III better than every table in its price range, and several others far above
it (especially the Linn, which I also sold).

Finally, the VPI jr. and the WTL were roughly the same market price at the
time, at least in my location (Indy).  You may want to check around and see if 
you can find a better deal on it...but like I said, it has been some time for
me, and VPI may have gotten greedy.

Incidentally, I thought you might like to know what else I liked, so you know
where I stand.  I REALLY like the VPI TNT turntable, but I don't like the 
instability of it's price (I've seen it go for $2900-4400). I also like 
Counterpoint's electronics, and Eminent Technology's tonearm and speakers.
I never had the chance to sample dozens of cartridges, so I only have my
ex-employer's choices to go by. Therefore, I won't mention them.

As a service to me, please don't buy anything in Indy.  Everybody here (in 
high-end) is a dickhead in the biggest way.  I once thought that maybe I was
the D.H., and everyone else was blessed, but several other acquaintences have
backed me up on this one.

Hope this helps.

sl215067@silver somewhere at IU in bloomington