@bdp24 you don't like unipivot? VPI has the solution. For a mere $150 you can convert the unipivot tonearm, that you were sold as being the bomb, to a dual pivot. If you don't mind tinkering.
I've been listening to vinyl since the early 1950's. I dare say I'm at about the same age as Harry.
I "upgraded" my Denon DP-60L, bought in 1984, to a Classic 1. For those not familiar with the 60 it is a direct drive automatic turntable. You cue the 9" gimbled arm and press a button. The platter spins and the tonearm drops. At the end of the record, the arm raises and the platter stops. I currently have a Grace F9/SoundSmith Ruby OCL Stylus on it. FYI: The TruLift sold as a VPI accessory is necessary for the Prime Sig at $250.
I went from a Classic 1 to a Classic 2.5 to a Prime Signature. Each comes with it's own set of tweaks. You must be a tweaker if you buy VPI, unless you can afford to pay someone else to tweak for you.
I will say VPI does do a tolerable job at customer service, but don't call on Friday afternoon, you'll get the bum's rush. Then you end up fiddling and tweaking until they get back on Monday to solve your problem. I'm not overly impressed with their service, like some are.
You can get some answers from the forum, but don't challenge any old-timers. They have a clique that bully's the forum and will gang up on you.
There is a SoundSmith Voice on the Prime Signature. I can listen to the two tables side by side. A discerning listener can tell the difference, but there is not that much! I've had the Grace on the VPI with equally good results, although I don't think the Denon can do the Voice justice.
What's my point? Well, I spent $6K on the table. Then I had to buy a dust cover, $350. Then I absolutely had to have the Dual Pivot, $150. Need to raise the tonearm, TruLift $250. Outer retainer ring for warped records, $1000. I can't get my platter to spin at less than 33.4 rpm. Vpi says it's fine, but I want to change the pitch. No problem, ADS $1000. And you must tweak every step of the way.
The Denon goes for less than $1000 used. You can put any tonearm on it that you want. And, it's got a Rosewood plinth at no extra cost!
If I had it to do over again I'd think it through more carefully and avoid the hype. I bought the hype and drank the Kool-Aid. @Tuntablemat made a great speech, spoken like the true head of a company. And they're coming out with more latest and greatest as we speak. So I don't believe what he says, he wants to make money.
There's going to be some VPI heads (AyrBag and Barf and others) that want to beat me up over this. I have a right to my opinion, as does everybody else here, whether we agree or not.
I, for one, am not one of VPI's overjoyed customers. Don't get me wrong, it sounds great when you have it tweaked right. It's unique design is oversold with hype. I am sure that there are other, less sexy turntables in the same price category of every VPI table that will perform as good or better.
Want to listen to music? No problem, hold on, it's just a tweak away.
I've been listening to vinyl since the early 1950's. I dare say I'm at about the same age as Harry.
I "upgraded" my Denon DP-60L, bought in 1984, to a Classic 1. For those not familiar with the 60 it is a direct drive automatic turntable. You cue the 9" gimbled arm and press a button. The platter spins and the tonearm drops. At the end of the record, the arm raises and the platter stops. I currently have a Grace F9/SoundSmith Ruby OCL Stylus on it. FYI: The TruLift sold as a VPI accessory is necessary for the Prime Sig at $250.
I went from a Classic 1 to a Classic 2.5 to a Prime Signature. Each comes with it's own set of tweaks. You must be a tweaker if you buy VPI, unless you can afford to pay someone else to tweak for you.
I will say VPI does do a tolerable job at customer service, but don't call on Friday afternoon, you'll get the bum's rush. Then you end up fiddling and tweaking until they get back on Monday to solve your problem. I'm not overly impressed with their service, like some are.
You can get some answers from the forum, but don't challenge any old-timers. They have a clique that bully's the forum and will gang up on you.
There is a SoundSmith Voice on the Prime Signature. I can listen to the two tables side by side. A discerning listener can tell the difference, but there is not that much! I've had the Grace on the VPI with equally good results, although I don't think the Denon can do the Voice justice.
What's my point? Well, I spent $6K on the table. Then I had to buy a dust cover, $350. Then I absolutely had to have the Dual Pivot, $150. Need to raise the tonearm, TruLift $250. Outer retainer ring for warped records, $1000. I can't get my platter to spin at less than 33.4 rpm. Vpi says it's fine, but I want to change the pitch. No problem, ADS $1000. And you must tweak every step of the way.
The Denon goes for less than $1000 used. You can put any tonearm on it that you want. And, it's got a Rosewood plinth at no extra cost!
If I had it to do over again I'd think it through more carefully and avoid the hype. I bought the hype and drank the Kool-Aid. @Tuntablemat made a great speech, spoken like the true head of a company. And they're coming out with more latest and greatest as we speak. So I don't believe what he says, he wants to make money.
There's going to be some VPI heads (AyrBag and Barf and others) that want to beat me up over this. I have a right to my opinion, as does everybody else here, whether we agree or not.
I, for one, am not one of VPI's overjoyed customers. Don't get me wrong, it sounds great when you have it tweaked right. It's unique design is oversold with hype. I am sure that there are other, less sexy turntables in the same price category of every VPI table that will perform as good or better.
Want to listen to music? No problem, hold on, it's just a tweak away.