Dear friends @turntablemats: I think almost everything on the subject is covered. My friend Guillermo was VPI dealer here in México and he borrow me at least two different TTs. and herad other models in his show rooms.
In those times and today I still think as @whart that any VPI audiophile needs the alternative to choose other tonearms. VPI owners are " married " with the VPI tonearm for ever.
This is a mistake and the post by @austinbob confirm about when he experice to the Oracle/SME with a truly good Proteus that positevely shout for a different tonearm.
I think that VPI has to think seriously of what is the real role of the TT, tonearm and cartridge in the analog experience and its intrinsical relationship in between.
Maybe VPI thinks that the TT is the star on that equation but it's not in any regards as it's not the tonearm but the CARTRIDGE where its quality level performance depends mainly on that tonearm and with out choices the cartridge owners never be know for sure how good is the cartridge ( S ) they own.
The TT and tonearm designs must be designed around the kind of job they are going to play that's to fulfill the CARTRIDGE needs and not the other way around.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
In those times and today I still think as @whart that any VPI audiophile needs the alternative to choose other tonearms. VPI owners are " married " with the VPI tonearm for ever.
This is a mistake and the post by @austinbob confirm about when he experice to the Oracle/SME with a truly good Proteus that positevely shout for a different tonearm.
I think that VPI has to think seriously of what is the real role of the TT, tonearm and cartridge in the analog experience and its intrinsical relationship in between.
Maybe VPI thinks that the TT is the star on that equation but it's not in any regards as it's not the tonearm but the CARTRIDGE where its quality level performance depends mainly on that tonearm and with out choices the cartridge owners never be know for sure how good is the cartridge ( S ) they own.
The TT and tonearm designs must be designed around the kind of job they are going to play that's to fulfill the CARTRIDGE needs and not the other way around.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.