Ever wonder what happened to the TNT series of turntables?  It never actually went away!  The TNT took on many forms over the years as the design was improved with each iteration.  One of the favorite versions was the TNT Hot Rod, a design which involved the TNT using a dual motor flywheel, over sized acrylic platter, new isolation, JMW 12 arm solid mounted to the chassis, and SDS.

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This table stood out as a high-end favorite of the time!  Finally it took on a new shape when the chassis became a layered acrylic/aluminum/acrylic sandwich for even more improved isolation and stability.   Topped off with the sleek new curves, the TNT Hot Rod Experiment (it’s prototype label) was ready to hit the streets!  The first model was not intended for production, overall the entire product was questionable for being a production model at all.  It immediately stood out at the audio shows, the reviewers, and the customers.  The TNT Hot Rod Experiment was soon after shortened to TNT Hot Rod X and eventually to “HR-X”!

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In later years the HR-X was refined with a new consistent vision and design.

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The VPI HR-X

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Stereophile Analog Product of the Year runner-up to a $100,000.00 turntable

The HR-X is known to reviewers and manufacturers around the world for it's natural reproduction of scale and sweep, which are two of the things that make us feel like we are listening to live music. With world class detail, low noise, pace, and timing, the HR-X will bring the concert hall into your home. Best of all, it does this without fiddling, tweaking, or constant resetting.  The HR-X is a statement among belt drive turntables!  The drive system and the periphery clamp result in wow, flutter, and rumble that are all below measurable readings providing world class sound.  In addition, the current iteration of the HR-X moved away from air-suspension and was the first adaption of the "Signature VPI Isolation Feet"

The Table:

• The HR-X features a triple laminated chassis (Acrylic-Aluminum-Acrylic) that is heavy, rigid, critically damped, and perfect in its mechanical execution.  Each layer is machined separately and then assembled with screws and glue and then combined with the corner assemblies to give a rigid perfectly aligned system.

• A periphery ring clamp centered by the platter, not the record, providing vacuum-like hold down without the problems inherent in a vacuum system.

• Stainless steel HR-X center weight.

• The 40 pound separate machined drive system uses two low-powered 24-pole 300 RPM AC synchronous motors driving a 12-pound flywheel.  The drive unit is machined from a solid block of aluminum, its accuracy is assured by using only one piece, giving the lowest possible wow and flutter from a belt drive.

• The flywheel spins at 300 RPM and has 62 times the inertia of a 25 pound platter.

• The platter is machined from a block of 6061 aluminum and runs on an inverted bearing.

• The combination of flywheel drive system, inverted bearing, and accuracy of machining leads to extremely low levels of wow, flutter, rumble, and FM distortion.

• The isolation system built into the feet allow it to be placed very close to 4 -15” woofers with no noticeable effect as long as the stand it is on is stable.

• 25" W by 8.5" H by 19" D (turntable). Weight: 115 lbs.

 

The 12” 3D Tonearm:

• Pivot to spindle: 300 mm

• Effective length: 313.0 mm
  Effective mass: 10.5g.

• Overhang: 13mm

• Offset angle: 17.37 degrees

• Average RMS distortion: 0.311%

• Internal wiring: premium Discovery wire, optional Nordost Reference wire.

• New design 3d printed one piece body for the ultimate in resonance control.

• Full length copper shielding tube internally

• Adjustable side weights for finer azimuth settings.

• Built in “Easy lift” finger lift.

• Offset stainless steel counterweight for stability

• Easy setting of VTA/SRA in thousandths of an inch, calibrated and repeatable

• Adjustable anti-skate

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