Rim Drive HR-X

About the Rim Drive HR-X

The VPI Rim Drive HR-X turntable integrates a triple-layered X-shaped plinth made of acrylic-aluminum-acrylic, providing heavy, rigid, and critically damped support. It features a 40-pound separate machined drive system with two low-powered 24-pole 300RPM AC synchronous motors driving a 12-pound flywheel, machined from a solid block of aluminum for minimal wow and flutter. The flywheel spins at 300RPM and has 62 times the inertia of a 25-pound platter, contributing to extremely low levels of wow, flutter, rumble, and FM distortion. The turntable includes a stainless-steel HR-X center weight and an isolation system in the feet that allows placement near powerful woofers without interference. It comes equipped with VPI's JMW 12.6 (or 12.7) tonearm, which is a unipivot design with extensive adjustment capabilities. The Rim Drive system uses a heavy-duty six-inch aluminum drive rotor with a rubber surround contacting the platter's outer rim, driven by a dual motor flywheel system with belts coupling the motors to the rotor. The turntable measures 25" W by 19" D by 8.5" H and weighs approximately 115 lbs. It is designed and manufactured in the USA by VPI Industries, with a price around including the tonearm and motor controller. The HR-X has received acclaim for its near-silent operation and exceptional sound quality, winning awards such as The Absolute Sound's Product of the Year. The design emphasizes minimal parts, ease of servicing, and future-proofing with replaceable components. The Rim Drive variant is a specialized option that enhances energy transfer and speed stability compared to traditional belt drives.