News

VPI Industries' Harry Weisfeld Gets Founders Award From L.A. & Orange County Audio Society (Now Includes the Entire Speech)

Michael Fremer  |  Dec 10, 2015

Note: the original video embedded here was missing the final six minutes of the speech. Sorry. This video is the speech in its entirety.

Analogplanet.com editor Michael Fremer introduced VPI Industries' Harry Weisfeld at the annual Los Angeles & Orange County Audio Society's annual "Gala" Sunday, December 5th, 2015 in Buena Park, CA.

Unfortunately, the only one capturing the event was Mr. Weisfeld's girlfriend Stella Couchells, who managed to get most of it recorded to her cell phone. We're lucky to have this, but when she recorded it she didn't expect it to become the document of record, so she laughs and comments throughout.

You might try to use whatever balance control you can access (even, if necessary, on a Mac system, the one in "sound" preferences) and move it hard left to limit Stella's laughter-or not!

Some of the speech was cut off as she restarted the recording three times after it "timed out" and stopped. The beginning got cut off where Fremer says "The first time I saw Harry Weisfeld's name was in the pages of....". There are a few other audio "jump cuts" but you'll probably still enjoy watching and listening. Be sure to click on the square icon in the lower right hand side of the embedded video.

COMMENTS
Andy Slusar's picture
Submitted by Andy Slusar on Sat, 2015-12-12 06:04

Michael,

Thanks for posting and thanks for an entertaining trip down memory lane! I had the pleasure of spending some time with Harry recently at a VPI open house. (For anyone living near NJ, VPI's open house events are not to be missed). As you said, in addition to his vinyl genius, Harry W is a true gentlemen, and so generous and patient with his time. I just recently sold my HW-19 Mark IV Sama ( which still sounded great) to buy a VPI Prime and I love it! It's great to see that Mat is so successfully following in Harry's footsteps.

dcbingaman's picture
Submitted by dcbingaman on Wed, 2015-12-23 15:53

Michael, what a wonderful introduction for a great man, and a great stroll down memory lane. I have always admired Harry Weisfeld and his company, and still own an HW-19 Mk.4 which can hold its own against anything in the market today, regardless of price. Harry is a mechanical genius, but also a perfectionist, and his journey to improve vinyl playback has been fascinating to watch. I first saw the HW-19 in 1985, and after fiddling with a Linn LP-12 for five years, I was ready for a change. The LP-12 sounded great...for about 2 weeks, and then it required another tune-up. (kind of like an Triumph TR-4. When I first saw the HW-19 it looked a little crude, but very well built. Little did I know how well built it was until I picked up the box for my first one. The HW-19 was like a Ford F-150 - solid, and dependable but great sounding. My first one had a Rega RB-300 arm and a Koetsu Black and it played GREAT MUSIC. My last one, a Mark 4, has an Fidelity Research FR-64fx and an Ortofon Synergy SPU, and trust me, this combination plays GREAT MUSIC too !
To Harry Weisfeld - thank you, sir, for keeping the faith and producing so many great moments for me, and so many great vinyl machines for the audiophile community. BTW, I'm betting VPI stands for Vinyl Perfection Intended !

rich kirk's picture
Submitted by rich kirk on Sat, 2016-01-02 06:23

hi michael, i know you recently visited the vpi factory and there was a somewhat in depth look at the direct drive vpi turntable. i am sure you heard that technics is reintroducing the direct drive, i wonder how much of this new technology is borrowed from the vpi design. thanks rich

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