Need help and advice on a VPI 3D arm


I was wondering if anyone else has had this issue with the new 3D arm? I bought a new Prime table 4 months ago to try the new 3D arm I also have a Classic stainless steel arm to load another cart on to compare the two back and fourth, last night I was going to switch the cartridges on the two arms and could not set the azimuth on the 3D arm, to get the azimuth right I had to tilt the drop counter weight plus the Soundsmith intuitive way off of center and it is causing the side weights to rub against the adjustment column and is very tilted, after walking away from the setup 3 times I pulled the arm, pulled the side weights off so it would sit square on a level marble counter top and set it flat on the surface and eyeballed it, this thing has lost its shape, the barrel of the arm has a gradual bend downward and the cartridge shell portion of the arm is rolled down and in. This is really throwing off the geometry of the cart in the arm. I placed the stainless steel arm out in the same way and its barrel is perfectly straight and it's head shell is straight as well, it's only issue is that it is slightly off on the azimuth but that can be adjusted out easily. The fact that the barrel and the headshell on the 3D arm is so far off I certainly can not trust my setup to be accurate. I store whichever arm is not being used in a VPI holding case for the 10 inch arms and it has not been dropped or subjected to any drastic temperature changes. I am going to call VPI on Monday but if this is an issue with these arm wands I certainly don't want another one. Let me also add that I believe that this has been a gradual demise of the arm and that I do love the arms sonic signature so would hope VPI has an answer. Tooblue
tooblue

Showing 5 responses by stringreen

When you get the 3D repaired, you will be amazed at how much better it is than the 10.5.....  Let VPI do the repair...they are the only ones to do it correctly.  Those side weights should never come off...
Right...there is no difference in sound between the 2....the metal finger lift was added because the of shipping problems..otherwise they are the same.
My 3D arm is functioning perfectly.  Everyone...even VPI is awarded a screw up from time to time...  This however, could have been done from shipping....VPI will support you.
Too blue.....  with the 2nd pivot you adjust azimuth with the 2nd pivot adjusting screw..     The warping of the 3D may be common.  Mine did as well, and was quickly replaced.
..just as a final note....   all vpi arms are very good.....the 3D arms are better still, and the addition of the 2nd pivot is even better.  The gimaballed  3D arm is a bit different, but not better.  The Fatboy is "icing on the cake"....  The very real performance related effort should be in the meticulous setup of the arm - especially in azimuth which is sometimes overlooked, or haphazardly adjusted.  I've heard lesser cartridges outperform multi thousand dollar units by quite a margin with setups done by "pros".  If done with care, owners could/should do their own setup, check their results, and in a few months, check it again.