American-Made High-End Entry-Level Turntable For Serious Vinyl Listening
The VPI Cliffwood is a precision-engineered belt-drive turntable designed to bring VPI's engineering approach and American craftsmanship into a more accessible analogue system. Named after VPI's home in Cliffwood, New Jersey, the turntable is manufactured in the USA and combines a substantial machined-aluminium platter, dedicated VPI tonearm and factory-fitted cartridge.
Its straightforward design makes the Cliffwood particularly appealing to listeners who want to move into serious vinyl playback without the complexity normally associated with high-end turntable setup. VPI's current product listing includes the Cliffwood as part of its turntable range.
Key Features
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Made in the USA – Manufactured by VPI Industries in Cliffwood, New Jersey.
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11.5-inch Aluminium Platter – A substantial 7 lb machined-aluminium platter provides a stable platform for vinyl playback.
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9-inch Machined Aluminium Tonearm – The dedicated Cliffwood tonearm uses a gimbal-bearing design for controlled and precise tracking.
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Factory-Fitted Cartridge – VPI supplies the Cliffwood with a pre-installed cartridge for straightforward setup and use.
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Belt-Drive System – The AC motor drives the platter via a belt for conventional high-fidelity analogue playback.
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Vinyl-Wrapped MDF Plinth – The substantial plinth combines MDF construction with a durable vinyl finish.
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Simple Manual Operation – Designed to minimise setup complexity while retaining the essential mechanical architecture of a serious audiophile turntable.
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Upgrade Path – VPI lists options including the JMW-9 tonearm/base, Analog Drive System and Signature Center Weight.
Precision Aluminium Platter
The Cliffwood uses an 11.5-inch, 7 lb aluminium platter designed to provide a stable rotating platform for records. Its substantial construction is paired with VPI's bearing system and belt-drive arrangement to support consistent vinyl playback.
The platter is one of the most substantial mechanical elements of the Cliffwood, reflecting VPI's approach of putting precision-engineered components into a comparatively accessible turntable.
Dedicated 9-Inch Tonearm
The Cliffwood includes a 9-inch machined-aluminium gimbal tonearm developed specifically for the turntable. Its gimbal bearing arrangement provides controlled vertical and horizontal movement while keeping operation straightforward for the listener.
The tonearm is supplied as part of the complete turntable rather than requiring the buyer to select and install a separate arm, making the Cliffwood considerably easier to configure than many enthusiast-level analogue platforms.
Ready For Vinyl Listening
The Cliffwood is designed around a relatively straightforward setup philosophy. The platter and tonearm are supplied as part of the factory configuration, while the cartridge is pre-mounted, reducing the amount of alignment and mechanical adjustment normally required when assembling a turntable system.
A phono preamplifier is still required to connect the Cliffwood to a conventional line-level amplifier or AV receiver unless the system already includes a suitable phono input.
Vpi Engineering & American Craftsmanship
VPI has been manufacturing analogue products in New Jersey for decades, and the Cliffwood carries the name of the company's home. VPI specifically highlights its US manufacturing heritage, including the production of the Cliffwood itself.
The turntable combines a practical vinyl-wrapped MDF chassis with precision-machined mechanical components, creating a product that focuses its engineering budget on the elements most directly involved in record playback.
Upgrade Potential
The Cliffwood can also serve as a starting point for a more ambitious analogue system. VPI lists several upgrade possibilities, including the JMW-9 Tonearm & Base, Analog Drive System (ADS) and Signature Center Weight. These options allow the platform to evolve as the listener's system develops.
Features
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Belt-drive turntable.
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11.5-inch, 7 lb aluminium platter.
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9-inch machined-aluminium gimbal tonearm.
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Vinyl-wrapped MDF chassis.
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Factory-installed cartridge.
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Manual operation.
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AC motor drive.
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Upgradeable platform.
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Made in the USA.
Specifications
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Model: VPI Cliffwood
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Drive System: Belt Drive
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Platter: 11.5-inch Aluminium, 7 lb
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Tonearm: Cliffwood 9-inch Tonearm
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Tonearm Construction: Machined Aluminium
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Cartridge: VPI-supplied factory cartridge
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Motor: 600 RPM AC Motor
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Motor Pulley Accuracy: ±0.0005"
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Average RMS Distortion: 0.36%
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Chassis: Vinyl-Wrapped MDF
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Footprint: 16 × 11 inches
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Overall Dimensions: 19 × 14 × 6 inches
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Weight: 17.6 lb
VPI's current product page lists the above core specifications; cartridge configurations have varied across different Cliffwood production/listing periods, so the exact cartridge supplied should be confirmed against the stock being sold.
In The Box
Why Buy From Soundtrails
A turntable is the mechanical foundation of a vinyl system, and correct setup, isolation, cartridge matching and phono-stage selection all contribute to the final listening experience.
At SoundTrails, our Audio Video Architects can help you build a complete analogue system around the VPI Cliffwood, including phono amplification, integrated amplification, loudspeakers, isolation and system installation. We can also help you plan an upgrade path as your vinyl collection and listening system develop.
