If you want to hear what the Benz and Audioquest can do - which is a lot given their price - do the upgrade. I didn't do an "official" VPI upgrade (acrylic plinth/armboard and steel subchassis) but, instead, made my own plinth out of Corian, using the particleboard Jr. plinth as a template - total cost, about $10. I found all of my other parts - platter and bearing - used on Audiogon.
What I had found was that there is a "softness" to the sound on the stock Jr (Harry W. may disagree) from the platter and, even more, the plinth itself. The difference from changing the plinth was significant: opens up the whole sound bringing the "presence" you mentioned, as well as more detail, air, tighter bass etc. If you want more info on what I did, feel free to email me ([email protected]).
I would say, you should even do just the Corain plinth to start (it might take an hour or two - you need to cut it to size and drill 8 holes) and get the Mk3 platter later (the bearing is the same). You'd be amazed.
What I had found was that there is a "softness" to the sound on the stock Jr (Harry W. may disagree) from the platter and, even more, the plinth itself. The difference from changing the plinth was significant: opens up the whole sound bringing the "presence" you mentioned, as well as more detail, air, tighter bass etc. If you want more info on what I did, feel free to email me ([email protected]).
I would say, you should even do just the Corain plinth to start (it might take an hour or two - you need to cut it to size and drill 8 holes) and get the Mk3 platter later (the bearing is the same). You'd be amazed.