VPI Aries - either or question, please comment

thanks for all the answers so far.

SEMI, please help me understand; you mention an 'Aries 1' and an 'Aries 2.' i didn't know there was a distinction. let's assume i'd be purchasing the latest version. does VPI really think that the 9" is a better arm than their more expensive 10" arm?

I just found a dealer that has a low enough price on the aries that my options are no longer the 10" arm and NO SDS or the cheaper 9" arm with the SDS but now in both cases I can afford the SDS. so what seemed to be a no brainer before (ie that the 10" arm was clearly superior to the 9" arm) has me confused as usual.

so, with the SDS in either case, would you still prefer the 9" to the 10"?

thanks for your help.

Funny plato but dead on.

Semi, please, for the love of audiophiles everywhere, offer some more clarity. I can only purchase from one store because i have a credit there for $4k. They said they would give me a new Aries TT with the 10" wand AND the SDS for $4k. Assuming this Aries is the Aries 2, should I still consider going with the cheaper 9" arm? (I don't need to save money for the SDS anymore) In other words, it seemed like you were saying that I shouldn't buy the Aries 1 with the 10" arm but the Aries 2 with the 9" arm. But in all cases I'm getting the Aries 2 as well as the SDS. So, with the SDS out of the way, the question remains...which arm? (I hope this is an easy one)

SOME Clarity now...

I got off with a dealer (no jokes please it's before 11) and the photos i keep lookikng at for the VPI Aries are incorrect. The older version of the Aries came with a black platter that looked a bit like the tnt platter. This platter is no longer made for the Aries. Now, instead, an acrylic clear platter is made for the Aries (looking a bit like the platter on the scout.)

To complicate matters further: There is the black night aries which is the new Aries table but with the 9" arm and the SAME acrylic platter as the new Aries HOWEVER it is black. I wasn't able to get an answer yet if a new Aries with the 10" arm could be ordered with the BLACK acrylic platter from the black night. (Personally I like the black acrylic look better.)

The major confusion seems to be this: Many photos in catalogues show the OLD Aries with a black platter that looks a bit like the TNT platter. This platter has been discontinued. I like the looks of that platter better than the new acrylic one but the acrylic platter is supposed to be much improved hence the discontinuation of the old one.

I'm-a-bout-to-throw-UP!

anyway, i'm getting 'chatter' that the 9" arm is often prefered for rock and the longer arms for jazz. Opera and classical i don't know about but i assume it would follow the rule of jazz vs rock and therefore the longer the better but that's a guess.

MORE NEWS: If you hate the idea of the acrylic platter look you can add the TNT platter which looks more like the old Aries platter and costs an additional $800.

hope i'm right about all that and hope it helps other lost souls.

please correct me if i'm wrong somewhere up there.

now i hear that the black acrylic platter on the black knight is NOT the same as the platter on the Aries-2. In other words, it seems that if you don't like the look of the 'clear' acrylic platter on the aries-2 you have no choice but to downgrade to the black knight platter or upgrade to the TNT platter.

i've decided to hell with it...whatever platter shows up on the tt when i open the box i'm keeping.

now if i can only get a straight answer from someone about the validity of NOT using a shelter cart on a unipivot arm i'll be on my way to hearing music again.

Here's the final word on the difference between the black acrylic platter found on the black knight and the clear found on the aries-2 from VPI:

"You can get an Aries 2 with either the black or clear platter. The black platter is conventional size (11.56" diameter) and works like all VPI platters. The clear platter is 3/4" larger in diameter and is made just like the HR-X platter so it can accept the periphery record clamp at a later date. If you are never going to get the periphery record clamp you can order the black platter and enjoy the aesthetics of the table. If at a future date you think you may want to use the HR-X periphery clamp you should get the clear platter with the Aries 2. Bpth sound the same when not using the clamp and both share the same inverted bearing design."

Now all i have to do is ask them what a periphery clamp is and i'm all set!