VPI Classic Platter

From the VPI web site, the Classic is:
•New 6061 machined aluminum 18 pound high inertia platter with precision inverted bearing and stainless steel damping plate.

As I understand it, the machined Classic Platter weighs 18 lbs, and 20 lbs with Bearing included.

The Super Platter, that was made to fit all VPI Tables other than the HR-X, was 25 lbs. The HR-X Super Platter was 30 lbs.

And I made a small error earlier, the Galibier Stelvio Platter is actually listed at 44 lbs. Mark

I just upgraded my TNT to the classic platter over the acrylic and really like the sound personally. I'm going to listen for a bit then switch back, but what I've found so far is a slightly livelier sound as opposed to the acrylics somewhat "thicker" and "darker" sound. I guess it's a matter of taste. Keep in mind though that the acrylic I'm referring to is the clear or "whiteish" colored not the superplatter.
I believe VPI is happy with the machining properties of aluminium but thats kind of a given really. If you've worked with lathes for as long as they have they'd should have know this a long time ago. I think the quality of acrylic has probably gone down while the price gone up therefore not as reasonable to make TT's out of. This will affect a manuf. point of view as well.
As a last note the super platter looks better and the aluminium leave fingerprints in the worst way IMO

Alun's observation makes sense, TNT is known to sound warm and classic platter might be the ticket to compensate its short coming.

it's often best to combine several different materials to achieve a balance sound, maybe that's why Scout was so successful because it combined acrylic with wood. on the other hand, Clearaudio is now moving away from all acrylic because it sounded dead.

I compared several years ago the then "new" lighter, clear acrylic platter to the "then" all black acrylic platter. My take as memory serves me, is that that the black acrylic had better bass extension but was softer through the top end. The clear platter otoh, wasn't as extended in the lows as the black platter but had more perceived extension at the top, possibly because of the loss of bass.

Myles