I've been using the Origin Live Conqueror for about a dozen years now. Highly recommend Origin Live. One of the pitfalls of some arms is you wind up in the situation of being limited on cartridges, worrying about compliance, mass, etc. Read Mark Baker's philosophy, when the tone arm is correct these things fall to irrelevance. That has been my experience. You can buy and arm that is a lot of trouble if you want. Sounds like you maybe have had enough of that though.
Next thing about Origin Live, the lead is integral. Arms that require an interconnect might seem like a good idea but it adds a lot of extra connections to a very delicate signal. Also then you need to spend and find a good phono interconnect. $$$ Another feature in favor of Origin Live.
Mounting a new Conqueror on your VPI will be a major upgrade. Huge. Then if you are still happy with the VPI you could get another huge upgrade simply by putting it on something like a Townshend Platform. Or you could go to a new table. Even with a new table though the Townshend would still be a major upgrade. I put Pods under my table and it was a major improvement, and my table is on a 750lb rack of solid concrete, sand, and carbon fiber!
Next thing about Origin Live, the lead is integral. Arms that require an interconnect might seem like a good idea but it adds a lot of extra connections to a very delicate signal. Also then you need to spend and find a good phono interconnect. $$$ Another feature in favor of Origin Live.
Mounting a new Conqueror on your VPI will be a major upgrade. Huge. Then if you are still happy with the VPI you could get another huge upgrade simply by putting it on something like a Townshend Platform. Or you could go to a new table. Even with a new table though the Townshend would still be a major upgrade. I put Pods under my table and it was a major improvement, and my table is on a 750lb rack of solid concrete, sand, and carbon fiber!