VPI SUPER PRiMe turntable at UPScale Audio

What price range did you have in mind and what phono stage will you be using?

Well let me tell you what Kat, the Analog manager at Upscale, had suggested to me when I inquired about the Kiseki Purple Heart during the purchase of my Super Prime Scout...

"Think Lyra or Hana"
(good match with the arm I suppose)

You said you already ordered it so are we are talking about $4k including the price of the table?

So you would be in the neighborhood of $1200.

For a Moving Coil cartridge I’m blown away by the livley, open transparent and detailed nature of my Lyra Kleos. I have read of many who have heard both the Kleos ($3700) and the Delos ($1995 before your Upscale discount) and claim the Delos has a lot of the strengths of the Kleos.

For a Moving Magnet option I have a Ortofon 2M Black ($755 retail) and a 2M Bronze ($440 retail) that I had each on the arm for a while. I preffered the Black with the Shibata stylus.

I strongly suggest you call Kat.
When I bought my table the Kleos was $3700 and she gave it to me for $3066. I also took advantage of the $1500 Audioquest Angel pure silver tonearm cable for $600 after discount.

If you want you can ship your arm back to them and they will set up your new cartridge free of charge.

I use a MintLP protractor and a USB microscope.

Can’t comment on Hana

What ever you decide come report back what you got and how you like it.
Would love to hear your thoughts

Let’s see if I can remember how to upload a picture.... Here goes

My S.P.S with Classic Signature feet with Symposium isolators instead of the rubber ones.

It’s on top of a custom size Symposium Segue Iso platform

https://postimg.cc/rRL16gb4

https://postimg.cc/FkVNGs3S

I've also spoken with Ken. Nice guy, real knowledgeable.

Yes Jay you get the screw down record clamp and washer, a felt mat (I don't use it) a stylus scale and a protractor that I would NOT use!

Ask them if you're getting the silver machined motor from the Prime instead of the Black one in the picture. I got the silver one. Much nicer. I ordered a nonblemished. 

The feet retail for $399 (Upscale)
The symposium inserts retail $225
The Segue ISO platform in medium weight 35-75 lbs I ordered custom from Peter for no extra charge from the closest size. I went with 21x17.
21x19 retails for $659. I paid less. Email Peter Bizlewicz at Symposium Owner/Engineer/Designer.

Great guy really passionate. We talked about the technology for 45 min, AFTER I already decided to buy the platform.

It comes with a silver top. Mine has the optional "stealth" (black) top for further isolation. The black would really make that white plinth stand out.

I regret ordering the feet isolators elsewhere before I spoke with him on the phone as he would have given me a better price since I was ordering the platform.

Older picture with clamp on.

I have the Ortofon 2M Bronze on at the time as well.

https://postimg.cc/tsZz6Kpp

Here is a more recent one I found with the clamp on.

https://postimg.cc/Y4s0FCfC

No it's 2M Bronze.. Moving Magnet

Speakers are upgraded Tekton Double Impacts (external xo's w/high quality parts done by me)

Also have Klipsch Forte II with Bob Crites xo"s and titanium tweeter upgrade

Jay as far as the 2M Bronze, it has 5.5mv output and a nude fine line stylus.
The Black and the Bronze have the same magnet and coils the only difference is the Black has a Shibata stylus and I think sounds a little more full bodied and more forgiving of surface noise.

I use a Manley Chinook phonostage.
I set it at 40db of gain for the 2M's.

The convenient thing about the 2M's is if you get the Bronze and down the road you need (or want) to replace your stylus you can swap out the Bronze with the Black in seconds.

Jay if you are leaning that way, Upscale has the Sumiko Blackbird on sale for $999 before Ken gives you your discount for buying the table.

It’s normally $1249 and also available in high or low output like the Songbird.

It’s seems one of the main differences is that the Black Bird has a Boron cantilever as well as a "special hand ground elliptical" vs elliptical.

It’s also one of "Uncle Kevvy Fave’s"

Hahahaha....

The Hana S has a Shibata stylus which has much more complete groove contact than an elliptical.

Jay, glad to hear your enjoying the table. I hear many are happy with the Hana and VPI.

When I bought my TT Kat suggested Hana or Lyra.

 I just ordered the 10" 3D reference gimbaled tonearm before VPI raised all of its prices on July 1rst.
I got the nice machined Prime motor with my S.P.S, now Im looking at the Sota Total Eclipse motor package. It comes with the ultra smooth and quiet motor along with speed controller/external psu (The Condor) and a speed sensing unit (The Road Runner).
From what I've read it's much better than VPI's Hurst motor with the ADS.
Better motor and real time speed sensing and adjusting.

https://sotaturntables.com/products/total-eclipse-package/

The kicker is that the VPI motor case can be machined to put the Sota motor inside. 

http://vpiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=14253&start=40

All for the cost of the ADS (plus machining)

Jay the gimbaled reference arm is going for $2800 from what I was told. Before July 1 it was $2300. It looks like all tonearms went up $500.
With my discount I paid $2k.
You would pay $2500 with your discount now I think.

I've never had them set my cartridges up. Im hands on and really get into what could be considered the "frustrating stuff". They are aces over there though. When you put your mat in place (unless your going to use the stock felt mat) you just need to adjust the VTA tower either up or down to suit your taste or dial out sibilance. And that's if they used the stock mat.

I'll DM you Kats direct phone# if you want it. She will respond to your text.

I like to start with the head shell  perfectly parralell to the record surface using a VTA guage on the record, stylus in the groove, then try adjusting between 30 and 50 lines at a time in either direction.

I found dropping the rear of the tonearm will smooth out the top end and give a little more bass response.
Raising the rear of the arm does the opposite

Recheck the VTF after adjusting VTA. Also check it occasionally as it may change a little as the cartridge suspension breaks in.

As far as the anti skate I have mine set to just start to move the weight at about 2/3 in (toward the spindel) on the record.
That translates to the tonearm staying still in the dead wax, until a run out groove catches it of course.