Rear arm on VPI Classic 4 Turntable

Some arms, not many, have heavier weights, often Titanium. That allows a shorter rear counterweight, which might fit on the plinth or inside a dust cover. Also, a small diameter base might be needed if close to something.

I found a compact Mission (Jelco) that just barely fit for my third arm which is typically a Mono cartridge.

They made a fixed version which I started with, and the one I found later with a removable headshell. I just barely squeezed it on the plinth/under the dust cover when on. I had learned by getting lucky with my 2nd arm.

Anybody want a DD TT81; two arm plinth; awesome UA-7082 arm (11-1/8" effectve length, 270mm spindle to pivot.

Listed 2 days ago

https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/650211441-victor-tt-81-turntable-quartz-locked-direct-drive-with-long-victor-ua-7082-tonearm/

CAD 1,100 equals $805 usd, the arm alone is worth that.

add tax, insurance, shipping, tarriff ..... it still might be a bargain, these plinths don’t pop up so often these days like they did in 2019 when I got mine.

My friend is having new veneer applied to his very rare CL-P3 Plinth designed with 3 removable arm boards.

That arm is awesome, very smooth ’on the fly’ height refinement and ’on the fly’ anti-skate. I wish it had an adjustable headshell fitting like the Micro Seiki’s, but I have several Audio Technica Headshells with Azimuth Adjustability to solve that. 

I had my time with a 12-1/2" Effective Length arm, I much prefer this 11-1/8" arm (same exact length as the Micro Seiki MA-505L

It’s big: 508mm deep; 565mm wide, special 7 layer construction, see thru the arm cutout. My armboard is OEM, same layered construction, seriously stiff; some replacement arm boards are different. 

Tis one: rear armboard never drilled, that’s very rare if it’s the OEM board. I had to ease my rear hole a few mm for my Acos Lustre GST-801 arm, and the right board is rotated, original OEM 270mm hole, my little blue level is covering the hole for my 12-1/2" arm. And I made a recess for the 45 adapter that sits in another old hole it came with. I gave that arm to a friend I met here.

Steve Leung owner of VAS

https://vasnyinc.com/

worked with VPI and knows their stuff well. He might be able to give you some answers and suggestions.

He has a big VPI deck and like you several arm wands, unipivots, that have the mini-din connector and VPI junction box.

A compromise length is 11-1/8" effective, either JVC Victor UA-7082 or Micro Seiki MA-505L. I have installed both, prefer the JVC, but highly recommend either.

Here’s a 10" EL that has VTA on the fly, Micro Seiki MA-202L

https://www.ebay.com/itm/147014554998?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&campid=5336403535&toolid=10001&customid=itemlinkUS

VPI had been showing off a standalone arm pod on social media. IIRC it was called "the pod". I don’t know if it’s a product they’ll "flirt" with but never release. 

You might try their Facebook group "I love my VPI turntable", if you’ve have trouble through call / email inquiries. Matt and Harry both frequent that group and are very helpful. There’s other extremely helpful & informed folks there, too (prepare to be impressed by Sherry). I’ve had the experience (from calling) that VPI’s other employees are far less than impressive, ugh. 

I don’t have experience with Classic, but their sandwich plinths (Aries, HR-X, Avenger) seem very sensitive/reactive to bass frequencies especially in combination with the 3D arms. Speculating here, but a standalone pod might help to break that up?