I just installed mine and discovering my old records anew. I thought I knew everything there was to know on the original pressing of Fleetwood Mac's Rumers......but no - there's more. You immediately hear a more solid bass, but then the dynamics hit hard. It sounds like my amp is on steroids. More cleanliness, - everything is better. Very highly recommended.
Really good points, slaw. I didn't want to be that harsh, trying to give Harry the benefit of the doubt. But your assessment is more on point than mine. I feel the same way about ARC, finding their frequent and endless updates and revisions of current models, and New! Improved! model introductions, cynically timed to keep the cash flow of the company healthy. That is a viewpoint very much belittled by hardcore ARC defenders (apologists?).
How frequently/often should a company make changes to their current models, and introduce new models which mock the old? I don't know if there is an answer to that question.
Look at the S2P distance on their current models? On my Classic 3, there is a difference when measuring with my Fieckert to what VPI recommends by 2mm. Why in the hell can’t VPI get their own, in-house made, products to scale out as to their own specs?
When I asked Mat about this, his response was, if it’s in a 2-3 mm range, all is OK.
NOT WITH ME!
bdp24, I'm not being harsh, I'm being real. Thanks for your input!
I don't know if this is so...I read it somewhere that VPI doesn't use Baerwald or Stevenson dimensions for their stylus to pivot measurements. I personally use a Mint Protractor (not sure what he uses either) ....I would use the Fieckert gizmo if I were you.
also....slaw..... I am well acquainted with the ceramic platter. There is one right on my turntable as I write. I compared the ceramic with the regular metal one.....absolutely no difference at all with the sound....but I like the ceramic one because it doesn't show fingerprints at all. It is not in production because it was more expensive to make, but not an upgrade in sound. It really is only a Classic platter with a spray covering....not a completely ceramic platter.
@stringreen it doesn’t matter what alignment you are using if you have mounted the arm at anything other than the P2S it was designed for you will not be able to align it (or not for all cartridges given possible play in the cartridge mounting slots). Desired accuracy for P2S is at least +/- 0.1mm and is easily achievable by anyone taking care in mounting an arm. It amazes me to hear a tonearm manufacturer tolerating tolerances this sloppy
Folkfreak.....don't freak out. The difference is INTENDED. ...it just depends where you want to put the errors. Matt's answer is ok...just not completely explained.
Slaw, you prefer the HW-19 to the TNT? The latter has always appeared to me as being a very high mass version of the former. But I never looked into it that much, as I was "sold" on the design of the Townshend Rock.
@stringreen, As I stated earlier, I use the Feickert. Believe me, I’m not jealous in the least. Your recall of your ceramic platter recommendations are different from mine. This is easily researched if anyone would like.
For a 40 year old company to have any product currently produced with complete and total control of their production to have the S2P distance so far off, wait, what did I just say,...I meant to say off at all, is outrageous! If it doesn’t affect the sound, is not the point of the discussion to me, it is the ability to "get it right". Plenty of questions regarding this on their forums.
When I bought my Classic 3 Sig SE, nobody told me, by the way, you S2P distance is going to be off by a couple of mm. Nobody in the press ever bothered to mention this.
Stringreen, I don’t want to spend thousands of $ on a TT only to find I now need to disregard my purchase of a $250.00 protractor that tells me the TT manufacturer is wrong. You say "it just depends where you want to put the errors". I’d much prefer to have the TT come to me manufactured correctly, and any error that is incurred to be one of end-user fault by way of not aligning the cartridge correctly. The fact is, as far as I know, Harry will not release what alignment he uses. Why??? Check out the exhaustive post on vinyl engine regarding this.
@bdp24, I think in the history of TT designs, I felt that the HW-19 series will have the most impact. The TNT is a completely different animal.
Slaw....I can see you jumping in place all red in the face. You seem to simply don't understand why there exists such thing as overhang adjustment. I can explain it to you, but you would probably retain the information if you get it from your research. The arm's error in tracking a record can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of its traverse through the side.....there are advantages and disadvantages in placing the worse error or average error in the stylus's path. VPI has chosen a different path than Feickert....choose your poison.
I get it. If you really think I'm jumping up & down, red in the face..why would you antagonize me with the "cole" remark? Wouldn't it be more productive to answer my posts/questions straight on without deviating from them? Just waiting for a competent response to my previous posts?
Just a post ago you told me to try the Fieckert. When I had previously mentioned it in order to make my point. Try proof-reading your own responses/posts before making another post, please!
You choose your responses to advert your/ initial response for your own advantage as to not address my thoughtful posts. You are/have seemingly made your history on this "off-the-hand" maneuvering.
Believe me, I'm confident in my posts. Please just make an appropriate, honest attempt in answering them without the histrionics!
Overhang adjustment. @stringreen, I assume you know that there is an adjustment feature in the 3D arm for this at the headshell? Right? This is the end-user's discretion based upon the varrious cartridge mounting holes. This is THE reason for this "latitude". The S2P distance should be set as a NON-ISSUE! I thought I was tired before,... now I"M REALLY TIRED!
This is a response to Raul's contention that there is a "problem" with unipivot tonearms. I am studiously trying to avoid the exchange about VPI and overhang. I had read all of Raul's posts, watched the You Tube video (actually I saw it several months ago) and so on, but did not find it particularly enlightening or persuasive. It falls far short of proof in any scientific sense that a problem exists with unipivot tonearms. Yes they wobble a bit at first drop, but stabilize very quickly. I have measured the tracking performance of several setups over a number of years using test records such as those from Shure and Ortofon among others. Properly set up, the ability of any given cartridge to track well is not noticeably different when mounted in a unipivot tonearm. This can be heard and observed using an oscilloscope. That is a fact. Cross talk for any given cartridge is not measurably diminished based on two arms of comparable quality, one double gimbal type vs. a unipivot. That is a fact. As any stylus wears I have carefully observed the patterns of wear for cartridges mounted on quality arms of various designs and have not observed any aberrations in wear patterns that resulted from unipivot arms. This has been done using a Herr-Wildbrugg microscope, Model M3 or M5 starting in 1975 or 1976. That is a fact. So based on my years of experience setting up turntables (professionally 1970-1979), and the observable facts cited herein, I will state my opinion that there is no inherent problem with unipivot tonearms. They are different and not to eveyones' liking, but functionally they are fine. If you don't like them, don't use one, but you have no cause to malign the design.
Dear @billstevenson : No malign action here. I own, owned and heard several unipivots including VPI and as you I know what I’m talking about.
Your " facts " about can’t prove that I’m wrong in my main " at micro levels unstability in any unipivot tonearm ". Reason is that those measures were not made it to prove it but to prove other targets. We have to know what kind of measures where and how to achieve it to prove a specific subject. This time: at micro levels unstability in unipivot tonearm designs.
Your " facts " were as something of every day audio discussion, like this:
""" measures shows that these two amplifiers mearsures exactly the same but sounds different ! ! ? ? ! """
Problem there, that we don’t know what to measures to explain why sounds different. Same with your old " facts ".
In the other side you posted two facts that proves what I’m talking about:
""" my Prime single pivot tonearm was recently modified and significantly improved sonically by the addition of a second pivot """
""" It is doubtful that anyone who does this will decide after experimentation that the 2nd pivot does not provide a positive benefit. """
2nd pivot according my statements provides better stability. The only change in the VPI 2nd pivot is just the 2nd pivot that is what makes the difference.
The OP statements in his thread confirm my point.
Bill, remember that those huge forces at cartridge stylus tip during playback " makes " its works, the movements in the stylus tip has no precise pattern due that happens at random.
Here it’s not who has the reason, it’s only " common sense ". I respect what you posted but unfortunatelly does not proves what you think are proving. At least not if I’m wrong for this you need different " facts ".
Btw, you can make your research and try to learn ( for sure. ) what measures we have to do that can explain my point or better yet: that can explain why I'm wrong !. You was whom ask for facts due that those two stamentes posted by you were not enough for you be satisfied ! ? ! ?
Well besides being a PTA to use the rs lab tonearm broke all the rules and I read nothing but great reviews. Super high uni pivot and a rotating head shell.
When people start talking absolutes in this hobby, it tells you something.
This
is a response to Raul's contention that there is a "problem" with
unipivot tonearms ... It falls far short of
proof in any scientific sense that a problem exists with unipivot
tonearms. Yes they wobble a bit at first drop, but stabilize very
quickly ... Properly set up, the ability of any given
cartridge to track well is not noticeably different when mounted in a
unipivot tonearm. This can be heard and observed using an
oscilloscope. That is a fact. Cross talk for any given cartridge is
not measurably diminished based on two arms of comparable quality, one
double gimbal type vs. a unipivot. That is a fact. As any stylus wears
I have carefully observed the patterns of wear for cartridges mounted
on quality arms of various designs and have not observed any aberrations
in wear patterns that resulted from unipivot arms. This has been done
using a Herr-Wildbrugg microscope, Model M3 or M5 starting in 1975 or
1976. That is a fact ... there is no inherent problem with
unipivot tonearms. They are different and not to eveyones' liking, but
functionally they are fine. If you don't like them, don't use one, but
you have no cause to malign the design.
Bill, I couldn't agree with you more. I have heard some outstanding unipivot arms - truly exquisite - and Raul's insistence that there are "facts" that make them inherently flawed is just nonsense. There are reasons that unipivots endure in the marketplace, and performance is certainly one of them.
Nevertheless, I admit that I really don't care for unipivot arms and for that reason I've never owned one. It's a tactile thing with me; they just don't inspire confidence and don't exude the precision that I expect of a fine pickup arm. I've always indulged that preference, as I have my other audiophile preferences. The difference between Raul and me is that I don't insist that "facts" support my choice. It's just a preference. I don't feel obligated to convince the world that "facts" support my choice.
I am having an extremely difficult time comprehending your message. Extracted from your last post is the following example:
" Your " facts " about can’t prove that I’m wrong in my main " at micro levels unstability in any unipivot tonearm ". Reason is that those measures were not made it to prove it but to prove other targets. We have to know what kind of measures where and how to achieve it to prove a specific subject. This time: at micro levels unstability in unipivot tonearm designs."
I have no idea what you are trying to say here. Really I am at a complete loss. Would you try again?
It seems you are trying to make some point about instability due to wobble, but it is not clear to me what it is. Moreover, it is entirely unclear to me what the practical consequences might be? If it is to make the point that unipivot arms sound different than comparable double gimbal arms, I concede the point. But, we must also acknowledge that two different double gimbal arms sound different from each other too. Where does that lead us?
Dear @cleeds : Good that agree with bill. I that regards are wrong because the Bill's facts/tests were not created to measures the stability in tonearms subject. So in this regards means nothing.
I'm not talking if you love unipivot kind of sound or if you do not, this is not the MAIN SUBJECT but its inherent unstability.
You said: """
that make them inherently flawed is just nonsense. """ but you did not say why is inherently flawed all what I posted .. Through my posts in this thread I explain those facts in a wide manner, read it again and please please come back here and tell us the why's of that " inherent flawed ".
You followed: """
There are reasons that unipivots endure in the marketplace... """
As several other audio " myths " is only because ignorance. Almost all audiophiles are focus on what we like and not in what SHOULD BE that is where lives the MUSIC and the audio hobby.
That " should be " is something that each one of us have to make and take a day by day learning path where in many audio/MUSIC subjects on that whole " should be " are almost unknow for many of us. Not an easy process task that it's not only time consuming but dificult to understand and where we need to ask our selfs: what is happening down there, at each single step that any audio link makes its job. In the case of the ridding cartridge job almost we have to analize as if we were the cartridge and have the vision of " our " job ridding those tortuos LP grooves and all what this means. We have to do first with out taking in count TT or tonearm but as a stand alone cartridge and from here analize what in the " hell " are the cartridge needs to fulfill its very hard task.
It's an overall process at each step, we have to go as deepest as we can with patience. We have to analize at least from where comes the recorded information in the LPs. Well, that normally comes from what the recording microphones pick-up in NEAR FIELD not at 30 m. from the music source as happens when we are seated in a music hall.
Those are incomplete examples to sooner or latter know how everything in audio SHOULD BE and improve our listening quality levels. The rewards are fenomenal and we learn several things as if we discover a new audio world.
When we start to make the audio systems changes to achieve that " should be " we will know that in the past we were wrong and in this " new world " we really enjoy the MUSIC as never before. I'm still in the quest to finish that " should be " and I can tell you that's worth to do it.
I'm not different of each one of you: I'm a MUSIC lover and I want to achieve the true best listening experiences through my home stereo audio system. Tha's all and as many other audio items unipivots can't help to approach that targets.
To summarize @rauliruegas lengthy, incomprehensible and misspelled post
"I imagine myself as the cartridge tracking the record and I thereby know unipivots cannot work"
That's a fair summary. I would only add that Raul asserts his claims as "facts" and when pressed for proof, basically just repeats the assertion. Yet he demands rigorous proof from anyone else who cites a fact. So it's impossible to have a meaningful discussion with him, which is why I've given up.
It's plain to see that Raul is wrong about unipivot pickup arms. I share his distaste for them. The difference is only that I consider it a preference. I'm not trying to convince anyone that "facts" support my preference, or that I have some special understanding of how they function.
Perhaps this post is a progression too far, but may I suggest that we agree that there is no one, single, absolute "right" way to do anything in audio. That is true for every aspect from tonearms, to amplifiers, to speakers, to wires...whatever. Each of us has preferences in equipment, music and so forth. Accordingly, looking for "proof" of something like this is somewhat analogous to the search for the Holy Grail.
Dear @folkfreak : Sorry for the misspelled but unfortunatelly my English is to bad, sorry.
Now, you posted:
"""
I imagine myself as the cartridge tracking the record and I thereby know unipivots cannot work ...""""
you summarize in wrong way maybe because the misspelled post explanation. A better summarization could be to be certainly of what are the specific cartridge needs and what those specific cartridge needs really means and how a tonearm can fulfill it if exist one that can do it that certainly does not exist yet.
How can you know if an unipivot can works fine with any cartridge if you don't know or can't understand which ones are its needs other than a tonearm holds it.
When you learn those cartridge needs you will know for sure that two things that the cartridge does not needs are: unipivots and undamped tonearms and this is a fact that I don't need to prove it.
What you and @cleeds needs is to do your job and find out for your self process which are and why those cartridges needs.
Everything in the day by day world is changing where audiophiles are immutable, nothing change and we make nothing to change but stay sticky to old information thank's to that corrupted AHEE where any one of us belongs.
Due to your immutability " stage " and with out be conceit or arrogant in anyway: I'm " ligth years " a head you enjoying MUSIC as you can't even imagine and not because I'm better than you only because I'm changing/learning/moving as the wrold does. Folkfreak good for you: stay immutable and sticky on what you like instead to change learning on what SHOULD BE.
@rauliruegas (respectfully) I have spent much time with gimballed (damped and undamped) and unipivot tonearms with a good variety of cartridges including some that are very demanding of the arm they are mounted on. All I can say is that in my experience I get better results (i.e more truth to the master tape, fewer distortions) with the pair of Durand’s I currently run. Of course you would argue that they are not actually unipivots as they have a second point of contact 😇
In comparison the last pair of traditional arms I ran (a TriPlanar VII and an SME IV) both failed to deal with the bass energy thrown off by my cartridges and distorted and became confused when stressed. This is not an issue I have ever had with my Durands (a Kairos and a Talea)
Now per cleeds experience the downside of unipivots is the constant worry that they are not quite on (the point that is) -- other than that they are completely stable and foolproof
Have you ever tried a Durand Raul? They might even convince you you still have something to learn ...
▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ Ad hominem attack, a classic logical fallacy. Raul must be v-e-r-y frustrated today. Another example of why it's fruitless to debate with our little Raul.
Dear @billstevenson : I agree with almost you said in your last post.
" Each of us has preferences.... """
My take is to forget our " prefrences " or what we " like " and stay " centered " on what " should be " and start to build the " new " system from here.
When we arrives to that " should be " then what we listen in our " new " system always we like it and always be a huge improvement over what we had when our system choices were made/headed it for that " what I like it ".
Search for the Holly Grail?, ask you: WHY NOT ! ! ! ?
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R.
Btw, @folkfreak , I listen the Durand but not on my system. I think that each day is a learning day and this is my " natural " attitude.
@cleeds, the times of frustration I left it to many years ago to remember it. You are wrong in that too.
... may I suggest that we agree that there is no one, single, absolute "right" way to do anything in audio ...
Of course you may suggest that, and I’d agree. The problem is that there are some self-appointed "experts" here who insist that their version of "The Truth" and "The Facts" are so infallible as to render our preferences invalid. These are people who - notwithstanding their efforts to portray themselves as intellectuals and visionaries - are actually idiots. What’s sad is that they don’t realize just how foolish they look.
This thread’s topic is about how adding a second pivot to a VPI 3D arm produced great results for the OP. It’s interesting how this simple audiophile experience disturbs those whose version of the Truth just can’t even imagine anyone being happy with such an arm in the first place.
" My take is to forget our " preferences " or what we " like " and stay " centered " on what " should be " and start to build the " new " system from here "
Raul you don't get to come in here and dictate what other members should do and how they should think and ridicule their preferences everyone is entitled to a voice here and its about time you recognized that everyone here is free to disagree with you whenever they choose and that they should be able to do this without your insults and pompous pronouncements against them. There's a reason your post above was deleted and as I have said before I think you are posting from your mommy's basement you must live in a very small world to believe that your version of things is the ultimate reality and must be accepted by everyone.
Dear @cleeds : Good that agree with bill but in that regards are wrong because the Bill's facts/tests were not created to measures the stability in tonearms subject. So in this regards means nothing.
I'm not talking if you love unipivot kind of sound or if you do not, this is not the MAIN SUBJECT but its inherent unstability.
You said: """ that make them inherently flawed is just nonsense. """ but you did not say why is inherently flawed. Through my posts in this thread I explain those facts in a wide manner, read it again and please please come back here and tell us the why's of that " inherent flawed ".
You followed: """ There are reasons that unipivots endure in the marketplace... """
As several other audio " myths " is only because unknowledge level about. Almost all audiophiles are focus on what we like and not in what SHOULD BE that is where lives the MUSIC and audio hobby.
That " should be " is something that each one of us have to make and take a day by day learning path where in many audio/MUSIC subjects on that whole " should be " are almost unknow for many of us. Not an easy process task that it's not only time consuming but dificult to understand and where we need to ask our selfs: what is happening down there, at each single step that any audio link makes its job. In the case of the ridding cartridge job almost we have to analize as if we were the cartridge and have the vision of " our " job ridding those tortuos LP grooves and all what this means. We have to do first with out taking in count TT or tonearm but as a stand alone cartridge and from here analize what in the " hell " are the cartridge needs to fulfill its very hard task.
It's an overall process at each step, we have to go as deepest as we can with patience. We have to analize at least from where comes the recorded information in the LPs. Well, that normally comes from what the recording microphones pick-up in NEAR FIELD not at 30m.-50m. from the music source as happens when we are seated in a music hall.
Those are incomplete examples to sooner or latter know how everything in audio SHOULD BE and improve our listening quality levels. The rewards are fenomenal and we learn several things as if we discover a new audio world.
When we start to make the audio systems changes to achieve that " should be " we will know that in the past we were " wrong " and in this " new world " we really enjoy the MUSIC as never before. I'm still in the quest to finish that " should be " and I can tell you that's worth to do it.
I'm not different of each one of you: I'm a MUSIC lover and I want to achieve the true best listening experiences through my home stereo audio system. Tha's all and as many other audio items unipivots can't help to approach that targets.
Dear @cleeds : I'm still waiting for your answer/information about that my post was " inherently flawed ".
I ask you again bacause it's very easy to " say this or that " as you posted but any one of us have to have the gentless to say why some one is wrong or like in this case " flawed ".
Please share the information on why you are thinking that.
From my part I never post any kind of critic/information just as yours, always give a wide explanation why I think that. All the gentlemans that posted in any internet forum have the responsability to give complete information according to our experiences and knowledge level. Critics with out that " foundation " does not helps any one and all are in the forums looking for HELP.
"Bill's facts/tests were not created to measures the stability in tonearms subject. So in this regards means nothing."
I was going to let this go, but you have restated it and it is becoming obvious that you are ignorant of the scientific method. What I offered were several indirect proofs that unipivot arms perform well. Indirect proofs are repeatable, independently verifiable, and are sound science. That they mean nothing to you tells me that you are no scientist. You claim to know what you are doing, but this belies that claim. What "means nothing" by contrast are the You Tube clips you referenced which do not measure anything, do not provide a verifiable proof of anything and do not allow independent verification. Your "proof" is not science. It is worthless.
"Almost all audiophiles are focus on what we like and not in what SHOULD
BE....
"
You have repeated this sentiment several times and it must be dealt with. How do you propose to establish "what should be?" And since we are talking about music, we are also talking about many intangibles such as for example acoustics. Are you suggesting that it is possible to establish one set of parameters for "what should be" that would be universally correct for all tastes and all situations? To illustrate: small group, acoustic performance, "should be" set in an entirely different venue than would be desirable for a full opera production. So what do you mean by "what should be?" Then too, are you advocating the elimination of free choice in our musical enjoyment? If Adolf Hitler had his way, we'd all be Wagnerians. Can we all agree that the world is a better place without that sort of restriction (no offense to any Wagnerians intended)?
Finally, your response to my tongue-in-cheek reference to the Holy Grail is telling. The obvious answer to your "why not?" is because such a thing does not exist. It is becoming clear that you are on a one man quest for something that a) is not practical and cannot be obtained (and may I say parenthetically, Thank God!), and it would not be viable even if achievable because as audiophiles we are all a bunch of free spirits who happily want to go our own way, make our own choices, in short, follow our own muse.
... it is becoming
obvious that you are ignorant of the scientific method. What I offered
were several indirect proofs that unipivot arms perform well ... You
claim to know what you are doing, but this belies that claim ... Your "proof" is not
science. It is worthless.
... are you
advocating the elimination of free choice in our musical enjoyment?... It is
becoming clear that you are on a one man quest for something that a) is
not practical and cannot be obtained ... and it would not be viable even if achievable because as
audiophiles we are all a bunch of free spirits who happily want to go
our own way, make our own choices ...
This is very well stated, Bill, but I'm sorry to say it won't enlighten Raul. He insists on his own version of "facts" that are exclusive to him; anyone's assertion that is in conflict with his "facts" is dismissed with a wave of his hand.
Let's return to the topic of this thread: The OP got great results by adding a second pivot to his VPI 3D arm. He wrote:
discovering my old records anew
Making a system change that yields this kind of result is not an uncommon audiophile experience. Indeed, it is part of what keeps many of us so involved in this hobby. But Raul cannot accept the OP's premise, because he thinks this type of arm is inherently flawed and not on his list of approved technologies. Raul has other favored technologies, and other technologies he dismisses as inherently inferior.
And ... here's the oddest thing about this thread. I share Raul's distaste for unipivot arms. But because Raul thinks I dislike unipivots for the wrong reason, he seeks to engage in endless debate with the intent of establishing his superior expertise.
I dislike unipivots as a matter of preference. Raul dislikes them as a matter of religion, and has stated here that we should not engage our preferences. It is futile to argue with someone who harbors such fervor in their convictions, so it's easiest to simply ignore Raul and his taunts, the worst of which are thankfully deleted by the moderators.
I dislike unipivots as a matter of preference. Raul dislikes them as a matter of religion.
I dislike parallel trackers. Not as a matter of preference (although the Air Tangent had serious problems) but more for their aesthetic demands (although the Bergmann ones seem to bring B&O design sensibilities to these questions) 🤗
I have no problems with unipivots per se and have owned a few.... The original Hadcock GH-228 was an under-appreciated arm which afforded me many years of excellent sound. The Grace G940 was cheaply designed and even more cheaply made and was not as good as the Hadcock whilst the Graham Phantom II is simply a pretender of an arm IMO..... The Continuum Cobra and Copperhead designs (albeit with secondary stabilising sapphire swashplates) are likely the very best tonearm designs I have heard. The raison d'être for the unipivot design theory is the virtual elimination of 'friction' at the pivot point....and that is something to be taken seriously......
What I really dislike in this hobby.....are ’generalisations’ and ’absolutes’ as most experienced and astute audiophiles know these to be ghoulish....or maybe goulash 🤡
I can't help wonder why there is so much discussion on this. Raul thinks the single pivot is flawed because it is unstable (wiggle)...the 2nd pivot stabilizes the arm and thus corrects the issue. It me it sounds better with the 2nd pivot than without. Done.
With respect to the OP's experience with the VPI dual pivot modification, in case anyone missed it, I agree with him, have two VPI arms that are used interchangeably on my Prime and both have the dual pivot modification. It definitely is a worthwhile modification for anyone who owns a VPI unipivot arm. FWIW, one of my arms is a 3D and the other is metal. Based on my limited experience with two arms, I am of the opinion that this mod benefits all VPI unipivots.
I
dislike parallel trackers. Not as a matter of preference (although the
Air Tangent had serious problems) but more for their aesthetic demands ...
@halcro that's what I mean by preference. Judging by aesthetics is very much a subjective preference. I don't find that objectionable at all.
I've never been a big fan of parallel trackers, either, although some have been better than others. In most cases, I think the cure is worse than the disease.
Dear @stringreen : """
I can't help wonder why there is so much discussion on this. Raul thinks the single pivot is flawed because it is unstable (wiggle)...the 2nd pivot stabilizes the arm and thus corrects the issue. It me it sounds better with the 2nd pivot than without. """
you are rigth and agree. I don't know why @cleeds and @billstevenson makes reference that I'm " against " your 2nd. pivot experiences when I'm not. Even at the very first posts in your thread I posted:
"""
So, if your VPI is no more an unipivot then what you have is a serious improvement in your listening experiences. Good. "" stringreenOPThanks raul.....the 2nd pivot is certainly an improvement """
After that I posted to @billstevenson that his own experiences with the 2nd pivot in the VPI confirm my take in the true unipivots ( not dual pivot designs. ). Here the Bill posts:
""" my Prime single pivot tonearm was recently modified and significantly improved sonically by the addition of a second pivot """
""" It is doubtful that anyone who does this will decide after experimentation that the 2nd pivot does not provide a positive benefit. """
The OP statements in his thread confirm my point. """
Then I posted:
"""
2nd pivot according my statements provides better stability. The only change in the VPI 2nd pivot is just the 2nd pivot that is what makes the difference. """
So what's all about? other than the direct @cleeds insults to me.
@halcro , as you know the Continuum tonearms are dual pivots so both don't take advantage of that theory you speaks: "" is the virtual elimination of 'friction' at the pivot point......"""
It's only a theory and does not happens that way. A subject for other thread.
@billstevenson , VPI is one of the last tonearm designers that changes from unipivot to dual pivot and now to gimball ones and before VPI other did it as Graham with the Phantom2, Basis, Moerch, Continuum, etc.
I wonder why if the true unipivot is so " grandious " design they changes or prefered the dual pivots or gimball ones?, these facts means something very serious about. Not enough proof for you? then is up to you that are a scientist that can't prove directly what you posted. No, I'm not and I never said I'm a scientist. So what?.
The best thing you can do to improve your VPI is remove the tonearm, sell it or through it away......Buy you even the cheapest REGA tonearm and the turntable system will improve at least 100%.......And thats no joke !!
@billstevenson. "Based on my limited experience with two arms, I am of the opinion that this mod benefits all VPI unipivots".
I can accept this. But the 2nd pivot mod also changes the original design concept, thereby making it (not a unipivot anymore). This is, I think, the argument Raul is making and the point I was initially referring to.
(In my experience with the 3D arm, it does not "hold" it's adjustment from hour to hour, day to day. I always have to check the VTF. A big inconvenience.)
I just wanted to make this point. Not to argue about it.
Doesn’t the fact that VPI has introduced the 2nd pivot option for their unipivot arm as an "upgrade", made clear by you and the OP, make a dramatic statement by their own admission that their unipivot arm is lacking and in need of additional design implementations/improvements?
I have a couple of questions that I would think be of concern to all VPI owners: @billstevenson, You may be positioned as our best form of information on these questions?
(1) The factory off-set setting of S2P distance by 2mm on my Classic 3....is this difference on any of their other TTs? The Prime? Why is it a good thing? If it isn’t, why are we experiencing it? (2) Is there a good reason why a designer of TTs and tonearms won’t reveal their preferred cartridge geometry method?
@stringreen..."I can’t help wonder why there is so much discussion on this. Raul thinks the single pivot is flawed because it is unstable (wiggle)....the 2nd pivot stabilizes the arm and thus corrects the issue. It me it sounds better with the second pivot than without. Done."
Without realizing it, stringreen just answered Raul’s concern and my problem with VPI as a whole, in his summarization.
IMO this second pivot is a tweek. As with all tweeks, some combos will benefit while others not. I bought two kits but used only one between two arms. One arm is steel, the other 3D. The carts are Ortofon Cadneza Red on the steel arm in which I much prefer the second pivot. The 3D arm has an Ortofon Cadenza Black in which I prefer the uni pivot only. My take away is that some stylus geometries benefit while others don't. I don't feel I own a flawed design. 😊
gshepardbuster:, From what I’ve read in this thread, the 2nd pivot is a (big) improvement on an initially flawed design. Where one may view this as a tweek, ( IMO, a tweek = an improvement that did not alter the original design concept) I view the 2nd pivot as an afterthought that by happenstance altered the initial design made better by way of more thoughtful consideration. To prove this, if all of the buyers of the 2nd pivot that (did alter the original design), have positive experiences, I can only assume the initial design to be flawed or at least had significant areas of improvement?
By definition, a tweek is an enhancement to a particular design or concept. The 2nd pivot is a change to the initial design, that changes the subset of the unipivot to a dual pivot.
"I have a couple of questions that I would think be of concern to all VPI
owners: @billstevenson, You may be positioned as our best form of
information on these questions?
(1) The factory off-set setting
of S2P distance by 2mm on my Classic 3....is this difference on any of
their other TTs? The Prime? Why is it a good thing? If it isn’t, why are
we experiencing it? (2) Is there a good reason why a designer of TTs and tonearms won’t reveal their preferred cartridge geometry method?
"
I wanted to avoid this can of worms. I don't know if I can help clarify or just add to the confusion. My Prime has a S2P of 261.5mm actual, vs. the specified 258mm. I had a protractor constructed for the actual S2P to address the issue. Matt at VPI offered to fix mine if I returned it, but in my mind as long as the actual S2P is accounted for it shouldn't matter. Not everyone will agree with my decision, but it seems to work just fine. I will offer conjecture that the reason why any manufacturer would not want to reveal a preferred cartridge geometry would vary depending on their priorities and overall philosophy. Why limit applicability of their product? How critical is the geometry issue in practical terms? Records are imperfect anyway. Get everything dialed in for side A only to discover that things are skewed for side B (this happens all too often).
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