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VPI Aries 3 Questions - Looking to make a switch

I have a VPI Aries 3 turntable with the following upgrades. Periphery Clamp, Mini HRX Feet, Super Platter, XLR Junction Box, SDS Speed Controller, Single Flywheel motor. I am presently running a Lyra Delos with 200 hours on it. I love the sound of the turntable, but it is simply too big in my opinion. 

I am pondering trading it for a VPI Classic 3 or similar. I also can get a good deal on an AMG Giro. I am wondering how the performance of my current rig would compare with a smaller footprint VPI like a classic 3. I don't want to take a step backwards. I was also wondering how my current rig would compare in performance to the AMG Giro.

I was also wondering what my rig is worth with and without the Lyra Delos? 

Thank you.

pilrem
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,370 posts
 

Get a Classic platter.....the SuperPlatter sounded dead on my Superscoutmaster.

sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 

VPI for VPI, you'd lose an isolated motor and your speed controller, which both contribute to better SQ, and are offered on most of their best tables. The xlr junction box could easily be installed on the Classic3, and is worth the effort IMHE.

You don't mention which tonearm, but VPI made a number od changes during the period you're looking at. 3D is an improement, as are the better mounting method that took place between 12.6 and 12.7 (similar probably happened on the shorter arms).

No first-hand experience with AMG. 

Any consideration to Sota? Small footprint, vacuum beats the periphery clamp imho, stable, full suspension beats the vpi feet and size needed to isolate the motor. Also plentiful upgrade path like you have leveraged. I won't go back to VPI fwiw. 

Cheers,

Spencer

melm
1,057 posts
 

You have a great table and set-up. The super platter has a non-inverted bearing which is superior to later VPI designs IMO. It's hard to know exactly the nature of the AMG bearing from the printed descriptions in the reviews, all of them merely repeating AMG's publicity.  However since the bearing is actually one of the 3 feet, I assume it is also a non-inverted bearing.   A platter, by the way, is supposed to be dead. Otherwise you'll have resonances.

If you haven’t done it in a while you might want to check the bearing for wear both the ball and the plate. It can easily be brought to better than new.

It’s not clear what you would expect to improve with the AMG TT.

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