VPI offers a outer ring for most of their turntables, unless your ring is substantially heavier I see no reason why the SDS would have an issue with it. I have an Aries with the VPI ring and SDS and have not had a problem. There are numerous other folks with similar setups and this is the first I have heard of this. Perhaps you have a defective SDS? Or perhaps it's a bad bearing? Try spinning the platter with your finger with the ring on but no belt, it should spin freely and go for at least two rotations after letting go.
