New Turntable Day

Today is a good day ... VPI Prime with Kiseki Purple Heart just arrived! On the down side, my receiver really only supports MM. So, have to wait a bit to spring for a proper Phono Pre.

 

Very nice.

 

Congrats - very nice table. Can't go wrong with a VPI - I sure love mine.

 

It was tough choice from several other companies. I was considering the Rega 10 for example. But that was a little over my budget if I wanted a proper cartridge. Also, I'm not sure I buy into the super lightweight plinth or not. I'm probably going to get a Manley Chinook to go with the VPI. Then work my way out. I have an Edge m6M Class A as the amp running the mains. The worlds most inefficient room heater We'll see if a good tube pre will bring some warm to what is a home theater setup that is just a hair on the clinical/bright side.

 

Nice looking table! Best of luck with it!

If you want to hot rod it, talk to Steve Leung at VAS. He does a ceramic bearing mod which is relatively cheap, extends the service life of the bearing, and lowers the noise floor dramatically.

 

The heavy platter and solid plinth are game changers on the Prime. You’ll love it.

 

You see the used one for sale in they classified section?

 

No, thanks for the heads up!
Oh, and Herbie will be on this bad boy very soon

 

In my opinion, that color is a great looker unlike the black!

 

Have been seriously considering a VPI for a while now. How did you decide to do the gimbal arm instead of the unipivot?

 

That's a seriously sweet table!
And Cart!

 

I like tight deep bass. It could be bs, but supposedly you lose a little bottom extension and speed with unipivot. I could be wrong but didn’t want to risk it. Also, I don’t see me swapping arms on a regular basis, so no advantage on that front either.

 

Just WOW! You bought the perfect table and the equally perfect MC cartridge. I have heard so many great things about the Purple Heart.

 

Congrats! Love my Manley Chinook! That will be a great combo.

 

Thanks for saying that. I'm really torn between that and a Sutherland Duo. It is likely going to be the Chinook, but I keep having this nag in the back of my head.

 

Having owned many VPI arms, and now a 12-inch gimbal, I would say that a unipivot with the 2nd pivot has essentially the same bass performance as the gimbal. The unipivot may be a touch more open in the midrange, but I wouldn't stake my life on it.

For a phono stage, don't fail to consider the new PS Audio Stellar. I just upgraded to one and it is as good as the reviews say, plus it is extremely flexible. If you have something to trade in you can bring the price down significantly (in my case by $810 since I had an old PS Audio DAC).

JohnK

 

We are cursed in this damn hobby. Any chance you can listen to both? Otherwise you may always wonder “what if”. That being said, the Chinook is highly praised & cant go wrong with it. Good luck!

 

Nah, I live in the boonies. No audition places within a few hours.

 

It’s gorgeous.

 

Beautiful! Congrats (I just got a Prime Scout!)...

 

Congrats! EDITED: Never mind .. see the Ortofon.
Awesome. Can't wait to have it all dialed in.

 

Take a look at the Icon PS1, personally I think it's better than the Chinook at roughly the same price.

 

Those are really beautiful tables. If only I had the dosh...

personally Im partial to the black but the wood plinth would certainly match the furniture.