Try a different turntable?

Get a Lenco! (I have one for sale, please don't consider this a pitch).
But, having an idler -wheel and your belt drive will bring hours of fun and revelation as to which you think is better. I am biased. I've seen Nottinghams, Linns, Avid, VPI, Teres, Regas on the auction block once a Lenco is brought into the mix.
The Lenco is a KILLER when it comes to stable, rhythmic, emotional vinyl playback.
The Lenco table alone will not get you "there". The table must be cleaned, lubed and adjusted. Then placed in a proper plinth.
The result is tremendous!
Beware. There are lots on non-believers.I understand, though. I doubt they've heard one.

Suspended BD table for me, just my preference as i have heard great sound from both suspended and non.

I haven't heard an idler wheel table in 35 yrs so cannot comment...

Avid Volvere TT,Origin Illustrious arm, Ortofon Windfield Cart.

Why not a re-plinthed idler like a Lenco? I did and don't regret it for a second. I don't think I'll ever go back to a belt drive TT.

Being you are in a position to experiment, I would purchase a used LP12/Ittok IF, and only if, you have a local person who can set it up for you. I'm not suggesting it will sound better than what you have, but it will sound different and not cost much money, especially if it has the internal Valhalla power supply. Additionally, it is relatively compact and fits perfectly on a $150 Target wall shelf, which is an excellent way to isolate it from vibration. Best of luck.

Thanks for all the replies. I may very well end up keeping the VPI, but -- as Mickeyf said -- I'm in a position right now to experiment and would like to do. Thanks to Thesoundhouse for comments about the SME arm; I have heard of them, of course, but never had one, so that's definitely worth a look. I also recently learned about Origin Live; do you happen to remember which model you set up? I looked at their web site and they have quite a range.

I would go with a Rega P3-24 with ttpsu or a Rega P5 with
The optional psu. It is hard to beat the British at what they do best. Smaller components for their generaly smaller living spaces. In light of your impending move to a
smaller home it is something to consider.
YMMV . Just my 2 cents worth.

I have tried out a several of VPIs and several of the Sotas and both are great tables. I tend to like the SME arms over the VPI arms and lean towards the Sota turntables for that reason. The SMEs are easier to set up and in my opinion sound better too. The best VPI I heard had a highly modified Rega RB 300/300 tonearm. It was scary good and blew the doors off the same table with a VPI arm. It was years ago and I do not remember the which VPI table as they have had so many different offerings over the years. I getting ready to audition a Thorens TD 2030 with a SME IV.Vi tonearm. I currently own a completely re-built Sota Star Nova Series 3 with a SME V. I did try the the SME IV.Vi on my Sota Star Nova and it sound much better than the SME V. I think the IV.Vi has better tonearm wire and does not have the static spring adjustment of the V for VTF the IV.Vi only allows VTF adjustment via adjusting the counter weight as opposed the spring and counter weight set up of the V. I am now starting to be a big fan of simple is best. Simple in most cases does sound best. The only real problem with the spring suspended Sotas is that you will have to replace the springs and when you do it is a real pain! Another good table that I set up for a client was an Origin Live and it is compact in size and it does sound real good. Hard to beat for the money.

Suspended tables vs non suspended in my humble opinion neither is a better of the other design. Both designs are dependent on the choice of arm you mate with it and the cartridge you mate to that arm. Both set up properly and with an arm not dependant of cost but weight and design for a given table will ultimately yeild great results. The phono stage is oft not given the attention it deserves especially if one is using a quality high end low output MC cartridge making the phono stage that much more critical. Isolation is important for either suspended or non suspended tables.
Cheers

Dear Magister: I assume that you want to improve the quality performance on your analog rig and if this is true maybe is a better " road " make a change on your cartridge or tonearm or both, other possibility is to up-grade/migrate to a better phono stage. Not knowing your system is hard to say which could be a good " road " to take.

regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

While I agree with Schipo on retaining the VPI (and its underscoring quality), you do seem to be in a position to try other tables just for the sake of it so why not. Maybe you can convince a local dealer or two to let you trial some tables in the other system, and with the wide open resale market, you could probably buy and sell some of the fad alternatives (ie direct drives and rimdrives) being touted. Who knows you may become a debunker in the process...
However, If you want to just try something similar in design and concept, maybe a used similar vintage SOTA Star, however they still have a largish footprint and real heavy.....

HW19 upgraded with heavier platter, SAMA, JMW arm)is not only a great table but in many ways better than most of what is being offered today.Most players and that includes VPI are cutting corners and using non suspended tables as their offerings claiming that non suspended is best.The suspended tables are more expensive to manufacture and to maintain. I would stick with the Hw19 and enjoyit and just work on better ways to isolate .