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VPI Fatboys versus others in its' tonearm weight class.

In their never ending quest to push fiscally responsible audiophiles into bankruptcy, site members have succeeded in making me consider a new gimbaled tonearm to keep a Lyra Kleos company on a VPI Classic 2 turntable. Dover, on my previous thread, pointed out most other tonearm options would be limited on the Classic 2 short of major surgery to it. So here I am considering keeping the tonearm upgrade in the VPI family. Their gimbaled Fatboy, will readily fit onto the VPI Classic 2’s tonearm base without any fuss.

Here’s my question after reading up on the Fatboy. How does the Fatboy compare with other tonearms in it’s $4500 price range? Is it about average in that class, which would be acceptable, or is it much better or worse than its’ peers?. If you.ve had any chance to compare the Fatboy with other tonearms in the same price range, what is your impression? I don’t want to spend that much money on one if the consensus is that it’s at the bottom of its class, which hopefully it isn’t.

I haven’t had an opportunity to listen to one, or any other tonearm as expensive. I would likely need to arrange a two day road trip to accomplish that. In lieu, I’m soliciting your impressions as to whether the Fatboy is worth that much compared to others in it’s price range. I guessing it will be okay, but don’t want to spend $4500 if the consensus is it’s at the bottom of its’ class just because it fits easily on my turntable. So what do you think? I’m all ears.

I’m not looking here for alternative solutions to a Fatboy. That was the topic of my recent thread, I’m only soliciting your impressions of the Fatboy compared to other similarly priced tonearms, and why I should or shouldn’t take a chance on it. Thanks all,

Mike

skyscraper

Showing 5 responses by lewm

lewm
12,537 posts
 

Ok. 

lewm
12,537 posts
 

Spindle to Pivot. If VTA tower is centered over the pivot point then measuring to the center of the VTA tower is ok. Measure in the plane of the platter surface.

lewm
12,537 posts
 

If you find a good match to a cartridge, it will sound fine.  Maybe some other VPI fans here can suggest a good choice. For me, unless the tonearm is grossly bad in terms of design and build, the important thing is that match to a cartridge.

lewm
12,537 posts
 

From skyscraper’s photos and Dover’s post, it does seem that the tonearm is "surface-mounted" on the plinth. Apparently there is a wide diameter hole that can’t be seen in photos, which permits the vertical shaft of the VPI tonearm to penetrate the surface of the plinth. This arrangement does not at all preclude the possibility that another true surface-mounted tonearm, like a Triplanar or any Reed tonearm could be mounted, if skyscraper is willing to drill three very small screw holes needed to fasten any of the named tonearms in place. The TP, the Reeds (and the Dynavector DV505) reside entirely on the top side of the deck; they have no vertical shaft that needs to penetrate its surface. In my book, drilling the small screw holes for fasteners does not damage or de-value the turntable any more than its age, place in the VPI pecking order (it’s not the latest version of the Classic, after all), and general desirability. Anyway, I apologize for being one of the protagonists for changing the brand of the tonearm. As to the Fatboy, there seems to be general consensus that it is superior to the original. Plus, the mating between tonearm and cartridge (not tonearm and turntable) is the major determinant of "success", which really boils down to a matter of opinion. So, given skyscraper’s reluctance to do any mods, why not buy the Fatboy and then take care to mate it to a cartridge that complements the characteristics of a Fatboy, and then listen. This is how one grows as an audiophile, not by asking advice from we who are strangers.

lewm
12,537 posts
 

I have never seen a VPI Classic but if what Mijo says is true, if you do have a removable mount, then why are we even here? You can have any tonearm you want provided the P2S distance is not crazily different from the OEM tonearm, simply by replacing the mount. You can probably acquire a replacement from VPI, or Mijo, or a sympathetic local machinist. And you won’t have to compromise the originality of the deck itself.

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