I am an owner of a VPI Aries Series 1 table and have made numerous "mods"/"upgrades" to it over the years. New belt, VPI reference 40 feet, VPI SS clamp, SME arm with SME internal wiring and tonearm cable. Was going to sell it but talked to the VPI folks (Harry and son Matt) and they said it was one of the best tables they ever made and if they had to make it today it would be priced in the $10K to $12K range just due to all the materials they used in its construction and assembly. So needless to say I kept it and did the upgrades, well worth it.
Upgrading from a VPI Aries 1- is it worth it?
Hello all,
I have a VPI Aries 1 with "bear paws" feet and a separate flywheel. I recently took it to VPI for tune-up and upgraded the cable junction box to a current one. Overall, the table sounds much better now. I was using a Lyra Delos but I got the opportunity to buy an Etna Lamda at an extremely favorable price and have since be using that. I am very pleased to say that the Aries was up to the task of showing what an uprgrade the Etna is over the Delos (which is nonetheless a wonderful cart). That said, I have been wondering if upgrading from the Aries would be worth it to get the most out of the Etna (or similar). I am by no means sold on upgrading the turntable also because I wonder how much I would have to spend to get a meaningful improvement- in part because I have not owned other decks so my experience is limited. Hence, I thought I would ask for some thoughts from those that have much more experience than I do. As a phono preamp I am using the PS audio Stellar.
I should also add that unfortunately I have suspended wooden floors so the set-up is not ideal though not terrible if one is careful not to stomp around while playing music- which I do not. I cannot get a wall bracket so I have toyed with the idea that with a lighter table I could suspend a platform from the ceiling- but this would almost immediately be accompanied by being served with divorce papers so this remains a remote possibility.