I currently own a Rega P3. What in the VPI line would be a significant upgrade? Budget is not a major factor. I like the Rega, but want the flexibility that VPI turntables appear to bring (multiple tone arms, upgrade paths). Please no suggestions at this point for XY or Z brands. Thanks in advance.
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Upgrading Turntable
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twiiii
Lunatic Member
I own a Mark Levinson 515B which is an up graded Prime Signature with electronic speed selection and speed control and Fat Boy Gimbaled arm built in association with VPI. I enjoy my Turn table thoroughly, I had always wanted an Aries III, but this does everything the Aries III did and more. Sometimes you can find great deals on these. Got mine for almost half price at Audio Classics. Mark Levinson newer 5105 is a great performer, too, but both the Mark Levinson's and the Vpi's all need to be an a very stable surface that is absolutely level. Otherwise pulley height and belt alignment and the throwing of belts can be a real issue. There are new feet featured on the more expensive Vpi turntables that can be added to the Prime Signature, too. Floor vibrations can be an issue too if your floor is suspended. If you have any of these issues I would recommend a pre-owned SME instead. The Synergy or the model 15 by SME. If speed accuracy is your thing you might consider a Technics SL1200 G if you can find one or a SL 1000R. If you want a really sophisticated arm, Then SME is still the answer. If money were no issue I would have a SME 30 with one of the longer arms or a Bergmann with the vacuum record hold down and air floating linear arm.. Magne is a great place to start. There are a lot of great turntables out there. So make sure you personnally audition each before you buy. It might be better to pick the cartridge first which will determine which arm you should use and therefore which turntable. As you can see I have two systems. A stereo system and a HT system. The Thorens goes with the Stereo and HT system and the Threshold goes with the HT system.
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tube-a-lou
Addicted Member
If price matters I would look at a Scout or Scout 2, I was looking at one of those and was
really was thinking about it but something else came up that I liked at a steal of a price
and could not say no.
really was thinking about it but something else came up that I liked at a steal of a price
and could not say no.
tabarddn51
Super Member
Any of them will be better that the Rega. But make sure your cart & VPI match. But beware of cookie jar upgrade paths, similar to Linn suck you in & then suck the funds out of you with this & that supposedly necessary ungraded.
These are what I did for under $2,000 each, would wipe the floor of anything up to $15,000 or so.
Cheers
These are what I did for under $2,000 each, would wipe the floor of anything up to $15,000 or so.
Cheers
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tabarddn51
Super Member
I can assure you, you need to hear it the appreciate how good it is. I am just trying to show there are alternatives to buying ''Off The Shelf''
Cheers
Cheers
At one point I had my heart set on a Classic Signature in Rosewood, but they stopped making them, it seems. The Classic 4 with two tonearm capability also appealed. So many VPI models come and go. At this point, I'd probably go for Prime 21 or a Scout 21, because they seem like relatively stable models, and I would consider used. I would like to see how a VPI uni-pivot tonearm handles my Decca cartridge. It seems easy to get swayed by their upgrade ecosystem and mind-set. At this point, I'd want a rock-solid, basic model from them, and hope to never have to call the factory about it, as long as I live. 
Just to offer an alternative view, have you considered upgrading within the Rega lineup? I find the stability of products and iterative evolution of Rega turntables to be appealing. VPI changes so much and so often and their principle answer to everything seems to be something along the lines of 'make it heavy, machine it out of blocks of alloy', which is certainly one way to go, although less appealing to me than it used to be.
I wound up with a Planar 6. It is incredibly light, incredibly quiet, incredibly simple to set up and use, and sounds amazingly great. Unless you're craving the large, heavy, intricate and constantly-changing designs coming out of VPI, I struggle to believe you'll get better sound from one than you would from, say, a Planar 8.
I wound up with a Planar 6. It is incredibly light, incredibly quiet, incredibly simple to set up and use, and sounds amazingly great. Unless you're craving the large, heavy, intricate and constantly-changing designs coming out of VPI, I struggle to believe you'll get better sound from one than you would from, say, a Planar 8.
No knowledge of VPI tables, or high end tables.
Personally, If a company changes models often. I would investigate if owners have been supported with repair parts being available, after 10 years. There are boat anchor turntables out there.
I have a an old LP12, I rebuilt. Your not interested in Linn, and I'm not promoting them. I think they're over priced. But given that, Linn and after market parts can be found after 40+ years. Because of thier model stability.
Personally, If a company changes models often. I would investigate if owners have been supported with repair parts being available, after 10 years. There are boat anchor turntables out there.
I have a an old LP12, I rebuilt. Your not interested in Linn, and I'm not promoting them. I think they're over priced. But given that, Linn and after market parts can be found after 40+ years. Because of thier model stability.
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