Own a TW-Acustic Raven One?

Ducatrider,

One might analogize and say rubber belts are the MP3 of the drive belt world: lossy. Mylar belts simply don't stretch and the economy of energy really shines through. There is an epiphany reached when hearing a table driven with a Mylar belt for the first time - it comes so much closer to 15 or 30ips open reel analog tape that it suddenly makes rubber-driven tables sound squishy and dopey, especially in the areas you mention: LF dynamics and control, microdynamic contrast and tone color.

I would never go back to a rubber belt driven table so profound is the difference. Good listening,

-Richard

I don't know the Raven that well...I only heard it once in an unfamiliar system. I was just wondering however, if anyone compared the Raven to the VPI rim drive. I do know that the rim drive moves the VPI to a much higher level. I know Raven owners are very proud of their turntables, however, I am interested in an unbiased comment...if such a thing exists.

Palasr Richard,

Epiphany is the right word. I didn't want to oversell the concept. Many listeners in Europe feel that TW spent alot of time researching belt materials so I didn't want to be too harsh but the reality is that the performance gap is quite astonishing. I have a Digistrobo on its way to me so I can fine tune the speed. Right now I am playing CDs to try and match the pitch by ear.

Restock
The drive belt that TW use are not rubber. Apparently they are a mix of compounds specifically made for TW Acustics.

Stringreen
I have read how much you enjoy your VPI table and I hope you don't take my comments on VPI to heart...

However, when you spend 8, 10 or even 13,000 dollars on one of VPI's record players, they should at least have addressed a few basic design problems at these price points.

Just to name a few.
They need to source a better line of motors and get rid of those rubber drive belts.
I know you have the rim drive and I bet its a revelation to what you had before.

Screws do not fasten into MDF well at all.
Gently grip your arm base and give it a light twist left to right, did it move? I would be surprised if it didn't.

The optional super platter should come as standard equipped.

On a lighter note,
heres something for your vinyl collection that will truly astonish you...

Go to posting here in the analogue section titled...
Does The Step 4 Final Rinse For Walker Prelude Help?

Lots of good feedback. It seems though, that many feel the TW-Acustic is worth a serious listen. This I will definitely do! My intention in this thread was not to drum-up bad thoughts on VPI tables; I have had a VPI Scout and for the money I believe that it was a very decent table.

What I am lookng for is the next level up; a table that pushes the current state of the art and that is above everything else, emotionally satisfying. That's why I listen to music! Obviously VPI makes very good products or they would have gone out of business long ago.

From the above, it seems many of you that have had personal experience with both VPI, TW-Acustic, and other tables, agree that the TW-Acustic tables are something special and warrant a personal evaluation!