After the Avenger, Avenger Reference, and Avenger Plus, VPI is launching their newest edition, the VPI Avenger Direct, perhaps aiming to create their own Marvel Cinematic Universe of turntables.
The Avenger design from VPI has always been famous for having a “sandbox” type of design with its ability to provide the owners the option to mount up to 3 arms of any length or manufacturer model. And it seems the new Avenger Direct is no exception to that.
This fourth model from the VPI Avenger series uses the same advanced direct-drive technology found in their anniversary edition, the VPI HW-40. So you are getting the best direct-drive technology from VPI along with the Avenger Series Tripod Chassis design.
With 33 1/3 and 45 RPM (Revolutions Per Minute), the VPI Avenger Direct will start spinning your vinyl with the press of its Start button, beautifully engineered in its machine-vented and engineered casing. It claims to have a one-second start and stop time with 2.68 Nm per second motor torque.
The chassis is a three-layered bonding of acrylic and aluminum with aluminum sandwiched between two layers of acrylic.
Between each layer, the damping materials help in isolating the vibrations. Moreover, the three corner posts of steel, three bolts, and a huge bearing assembly ensure the mechanical grounding.
Besides that, it also shares the same isolation with pneumatic air suspension feet as the Titan turntable, a flagship model of VPI. The corner posts have two additional tonearms with machine knobs that you can adjust for lowering and raising the height to level the table.
Speaking of tonearms, the VPI Avenger Direct will have their renowned Fatboy Gimbal tonearm with Nordost Reference wire, which you can fit another two tonearms of any length or another manufacturer model if you desire.
Additionally, with Fatboy Gimbal’s VTA calibration and the self-correcting speed-accuracy feature of 2,500 pulses per revolution, you will be getting an easy and high-performance setup.
The arm boards of the VPI Avenger Direct are completely adjustable and are made from 5/8-inch 6061 aluminum. This gives it rigidity and should make it highly resistant to corrosion.
This high-end turntable measures, overall, 22 x 17 x 10 inches, or 55.9 x 43.2 x 25.4 cm. It weighs about 60 pounds or approximately 27 kilograms, with the platter itself weighing 25 pounds or 11 kilograms approximately.
After the Avenger Direct’s successful uncovering at the High-End Show in Munich, it is now available for purchase. If you haven’t already guessed the price range of the product, then buckle up. The VPI Avenger Direct will cost you a whopping $36,000 or £35,500.
Slava is a man of mystery and no-one seems to know exactly where he is at any point in time. When he isn't enjoying writing about all things audio and technical he can be found researching his next project of interest. The man never rests.
