Does the VPI Aries1 best the VPI Classic1?

I have the Aries 1, and I found no reason to change to other VPI products, especially since the increase in cost never produces the 'better sound' that I would expect. Let us all be honest, Harry is a profit making machine and he does so by reinventing the 'wheel' every two years. A marketing genius he is.

The Classic aluminum platter is a step up

It seems to me that the original Aries is the best designed turntable out there. Built like a rock and delicate enough to handle anything you can throw at it. With the right cartridge and tonearm combination this should be all the table anyone would need.

Stringreen - I respectfully disagree. The arm on the Classic should take it beyond the Aries 1, yet the overall quality falls short. Everything else being equal, the edge should go to the Classic if the aluminum platter is a step up. But the Aries 1 still covers it handily.

I've always admired the look of the Aries and HRX series -- gorgeous works of art. I can even admire the Super Scoutmaster (though to a lesser extent) for its no-nonsense solid build. With those tables, it seems like you pay X amount of cash and get back 2X in build quality & looks. At least in that regard, the Classic line was such a huge step backwards. To be fair they're still nice looking tables, but...what happened?