Put a set of Aurios media bearings under your VPI. Preferably four if you have leveling feet or cones on your VPI. This will cost you under $300, and will make a bigger sonic improvement than anything else sensible to be done with your existing gear. If you don't have your turntable on a slab of maple, spend the rest on that. If you don't have cones, get some. Your VPI 19 on cones on Aurios on maple will sound surprise you, and give elevate the platform for subsequent upgrading of cartridge, phone section, etc.
Phil
Phil