VPI Classic - Now you have one......

Trejla...you can order the JMW10.5i tonearm with the VTA on the fly feature from VPI (it's a $700 upcharge). Just fyi.

EL841...don't do it. Check out this thread on AVGuide.com. Check out the post by Ron. He bought discounted VPI table and accessories from a guy in S. Florida and it turns out that guy is selling defective VPI product. Here is the link to the thread: http://www.avguide.com/forums/vpi-classic

Could be the same guy you are thinking of buying from.

For those of you who have recently put in an order for the Classic tt, what are you being quoted for delivery times? I know they are back-ordered but are we talking a few weeks or a few months or what? Thx

John...I am considering the Classic with A Benz Micro Glider S Lo output cart for my first ever vinyl set up. What digital do you have in your system? And givent hat this is your first vinyl set up, how would you compare the sound of the Classic to your digital set up? Pros and cons vs. digital? Thx

Thx John. Appreciate the response.

Suteetat..have you tried using an SDS with your setup? It may make a difference in adding some punch and pace to the low frequency presentation of the Classic (and it may actually do so across the frequency band). Just a thought in case you have not tried it. Let us know. Thx

Quick question on the JMW 10.5 tonearm that comes with the Classic (SE version without VTA tower) and those of you who ordered the standard JMW10.5i (with VTA tower and Valhalla wiring). Can you please tell me what the effective mass is for both versions of this tonearm. I checked out VPI's website and could not find the info (not even in the manuals that they post on their website). Thanks very much.

Suteetat...looks like your cart is a great match with the 10.5i. I put in the Dyna XV-1S' 12.6g weight and 10 compliance with the tonearms 12.3g effective mass, and on paper, you get a resonant frequency at 10.07, which is smack in the middle of the sweet spot. Nicely done. I am sure the cart sounds great and is a good match with the tonearm. Thx for the response.

Alun...did you order one with the VTA tower and Valhalla wiring? do you know what the price difference is to the base Classic configuration (i.e., with the 10.5SE tonearm)?

Are a lot of people getting VTA on-the-fly and Valhalla wiring?

Philb7777...interesting comparison. Did you use same tonearm and cart as well on the 3 tables or no? How about isolation under the tables (same or different)? Just curious if there were any different variables or if you used precisely the dame variables when comparing the tables. Thanks for doing the comparison and posting the results.

Thx for the follow-up.

Actusreus...i plugged in the specs for your Aida cart (6.8g cart mass and 22 cart compliance) with the JMW10.5SE tonearm mass of 12.3g and you get a resonant frequency of 7.76Hz which is right below the 8-12Hz recommended region. As per VPI website the ideal combination for the Classic's 10.5SE tonearm are carts with mass in the 7-11 grams range and compliance in the 11-16 range. The Delos @ 7.3g and compliance of 12 would fit very nicely with the 10.5SE tonearm, yielding a resonant frequency of 10.37Hz. Good luck and let us know how you are making out.

Actusreus...I hear you. As you say there has been a range of estimates. Maybe it's because some people have put the traditional 10.5i (with Valhalla wiring and VTA tower) on their Classic (I am assuming this is the 12.3grams) and others have put the 10.5SE (which is the tonearm that comes standard with the Classic without the VTA tower and Valhalla wiring). It's kind of frustrating that VPI does not put the specs on their website for their products. Just as a clarification, so you wired the 10.5SE tonearm with Valhalla wiring but did not get the VTA tower? Is that correct? If so, can you tell us what the upcharge was for the Valhalla wiring? Thx and looking forward to your impressions once you have the table up and running and all is settled in. Congrats.

Good point Suteetat. The difference in effective tonearm mass probably has to do with the steel vs. aluminum arm wands and not whether the VTA Tower is included or not as I said. I guess one has to check with VPI to be sure what they have.