VPI Signature DS Turntable

The VPI Signature DS is the first model in the new Signature line. It incorporates many features of the VPI Signature 21, including the Prime Gimbal 10-3D tonearm, HW-40 isolation feet, and a sandwich chassis design.

VPI Signature DS: Chassis

The plinth of the VPI Signature DS consists of two thick, rigid vinyl-wrapped MDF plates with a steel plate in between. Additional plates are featured on the top and bottom. This 5-layer sandwich adds mass and immense rigidity to the assembly, limiting vibrations and preventing harmful resonances during playback.
Like the Prime series, the chassis is cut into a 4-branch "star" shape. At the tips, the plinth rests on four massive HW-40 feet, ensuring perfect mechanical decoupling from its support. The largest cavity on the left houses the imposing drive motor.

VPI Signature DS: Tonearm

The tonearm selected by VPI is the new 10-3D. This 10-inch arm is entirely 3D-printed from Epoxy resin and Delrin. Internal wiring is handled in-house using copper Litz wire.
The arm includes all standard adjustments: tracking force, azimuth, anti-skating, and VTA. The VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle) is precisely adjustable via the VPI "VTA On The Fly" system. The phono output is located behind the arm base, featuring a pair of gold-plated RCA jacks and a ground terminal.

VPI Signature DS: Platter and Drive

The VPI Signature DS features a massive 12-inch (30.5 cm) aluminum platter weighing 9 kg, paired with a rigid felt mat. This platter sits on an inverted bearing with a bearing ball at the tip.
The aluminum platter is driven by a round-section belt, rotated by an "enormous" motor housed in a massive stainless steel chassis. This enclosure prevents vibrations from transferring to the support, and consequently to the turntable and arm. Since the motor does not touch the plinth, the belt is the only connection, making vibrations virtually non-existent.
The drive pulley offers two steps for 33 and 45 RPM speeds. The turntable includes the VPI HR-X mass-aluminum record clamp.

VPI Signature DS: Performance

The VPI Signature DS widens the gap with all of the American manufacturer’s lower-range models.
It delivers remarkable bass, both in scale and articulation, while remaining extremely physical regardless of the music style. The lows are paired with a superb midrange, marked by magnificent harmonic richness and highly expressive, precise highs. It inherits all the qualities of the VPI Prime 21 but improves upon every aspect. The result is a more precise reproduction, more powerful dynamics, and remarkable stability. On a high-quality system, these improvements are glaringly obvious.
The VPI Signature DS is an extremely high-performance turntable that surely surpasses all its competitors in this price category. The VPI Signature DS is our reference turntable in this class.

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