VPI HW-19 Jr, MkIV Platter w/VPI Armboard, AudioQuest PT-9+ Arm/Cable NO MOTOR

VPI HW-19 Jr Oak, MkIV Platter w/VPI Acrylic Armboard, AudioQuest PT-9+ Tonearm and AQ Anaconda Cable, New Belts, Good Condition, NO MOTOR, NO CARTRIDGE.

NOTE: Turntables are extremely delicate and this one requires some assembly and experience. If you are new to turntables, you may wish to contact an experienced turntable technician.

We purchased this HW-19 Jr with AudioQuest PT9+ new from Audio Advisor in 2002. We upgraded the platter to an HW-19 MkIV with acrylic armboard direct from VPI in 2006. VPI drilled the armboard for the PT-9+. This turntable worked nicely for us, and we didn't use it a lot. The platter and bearing are in excellent condition, and are pre-lubricated and ready for use. We're retiring our studio after 20 years.

PLATTER NOTE: According to our little digital scale, the MkIV platter shows as 9lbs 13oz.

DUST COVER: To accommodate the new armboard and PT-9, we raised the cover one inch using a 4-piece wood strip assembly and lap joints to mesh with the bottom inside of the cover, and also extended the hinge the same distance (see Photos 3 and 6). Since the wood strip assembly has a lap joint around the cover edge, you can simply "pop off" the assembly in one piece from the bottom of the cover ... and it pops back on.

In 2006, we installed a new SAMA motor, replacing the original Hurst motor. Recently, we donated the SAMA to a friend of ours who was in dire need (we may get the motor back sometime, but not holding our breath). If you decide to get another SAMA motor, the frame and plinth modifications have already been made, so it should fit nicely with no extra work required. By the way, the pulley cover and hardware is included (lockwashers go under the cover), but we didn't use the cover during operation. When not in use, I popped the belt off the motor pulley and left it around the platter to avoid stretching the belt unnecessarily.

The original HW-19 Jr Setup and Instruction manual is included, as well as two brand new belts, the most recent belt, and two sets of Vibrapods (#3 and #4). Note that if you choose to use the Vibrapods, you'll need to place a rigid 2-inch disc or square material on the top of each Vibrapod because the turntable's adjustable feet are 1/2-inch in diameter and would drop inside the Vibrapod. Of course, you may not need Vibrapods because the HW-19 Jr's plinth already sits on the original four vibration-absorbing discs.

The MkIV platter will ship separately in its original box, and everything else in a larger box (two boxes total, free shipping to lower 48 only). The dust cover has been lifted from its hinges (the hinge bracket screws on the rear of the turntable have been left loose; you can just slip the dust cover tabs into the hinge brackets, close the cover, and tighten the four phillips screws). Four cardboard wedges are placed between the frame and plinth, as originally shipped. Installation instructions advise you to check that there's equal spacing between the plinth and turntable frame on all four sides. If you need to shift the plinth a little, you can just lift it and re-position it until there's equal space all around the plinth.

PT-9+ TONEARM: To avoid any possible tonearm damage, we decided to remove the tonearm from the plinth. Of course, that means that you'll have to adjust the height of the tonearm to get the correct VTA. The mounting hardware is in the container, and you'll need to use the three long screws and locknuts (the originals are included, but they're way too short for this plinth). I threw in a 2.5mm allen wrench for the base setscrew. Attach the tonearm base with the cutout facing front to the plinth first, then install the tonearm into the base. (I usually carefully set the tonearm height so that the tonearm is level (or the same vertical distance to a record at the front and rear of the tonearm with cartridge installed and stylus on the record ... trying not to bump the tonearm and damage the stylus.)

There are probably better ways to adjust VTA, but the cartridge's stylus angle is supposed to be fixed at a rather standard angle, and this should be achieved if the tonearm is level while playing a record. I think the VPI engineers adjust VTA according to the sound of music, but my ears/brain isn't up to that.