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Some noise issues with my new VPI Prime

Hi everyone,

Was fortunate enough to purchase a dealer demo VPI Prime.  Have been enjoying it for the last week or so - it's a wonderful sounding table.  However, I am having a couple of noise issues with it.  It's still under warranty, but I was hoping to find a home cure if possible.   There are two issues:

1)  Motor noise.  This is from the mechanical operation of the motor - it doesn't change with volume of the system, but it's audible during quiet passages.  The motor makes a slight buzzing/rubbing noise with each rotation.  I am guessing that some lubrication is all that is needed.  I've tried setting the motor on a rubber pad, but that doesn't make any difference. 

2)  Buzzing from the tonearm wire.  I get a buzzing that increases with the volume. By 50% on the volume dial it is quite pronounced (you can hear it from the next room).  It is coming from the wire that runs from the tonearm to the Lemo connector on the junction box.  If I touch the wire, the buzzing changes as I move the wire around.  If I raise the tonearm very slightly off the unipivot spike, the noise becomes extremely loud.   I tried to wrap some tinfoil around it, but that didn't make any difference.  Could this be a defect?  

Any thoughts on some simple fixes that might address these issues?

Thanks,
Scott
smrex13
czarivey
4,494 posts
 
Scott, according to your description, not too many folks can enjoy turntable with these kind of issues!
You must be da man indeed!
In other words, it's tough to guess weather you're really enjoying it or not, but we all should only speak positive right?
To me it seems clearly manufacturing defect.

mb1audio
151 posts
 
For the motor, try removing the belt and see if it still makes the noise. If it doesn't, hook the motor back up to the TT. Make sure the motor sits exactly between the 2 sides of the TT that kind of wrap around the motor. Then, experiment by moving the motor closer, and further away from the platter in small amounts. 

Its also good practice to spin the platter by hand whenever you turn the motor on. This reduces the stress placed on the belt and motor.

For the buzzing sound, you need to list your entire system, including cables, tweaks, etc... It may not be the TT's fault. For example, you could have a setting on your phono pre thats incorrect.  
inna
5,245 posts
 
And many of you guys like VPI ? Looks like quality control is not quite there. I also heard than some use Walker motor controller with VPIs not VPI motor controller.
mr_m
1,087 posts
 
Long ago, I truly wanted to purchase a VPI turntable. But over the last several years you constantly hear  of quality issues like this. THAT is why I purchased  a Well Tempered Labs 'table....... Simple, effective, beautiful sound. What more could one ask for???
mb1audio
151 posts
 
What quality issues? I have 2 VPI TT's and they've been running perfectly for years. Its always possible that problems may lie elsewhere, like poor setup or improper phono cart/pre compatability.
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