VPI Classic Series Discontinued 2017

Discussion in 'Vinyl Nutjob World: Turntable and Related Gear' started by Wfojas, Oct 18, 2016.

  1. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Sorry, by clamp I meant the center weight. I've already ordered the periphery ring.
     
  2. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Periphery ring should be delivered tomorrow, and center weight has also been ordered. And now I'm done with purchases for a while.
     
  3. shaizada

    shaizada Friend

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    These last few posts have made me smile :) Pretty funny!
     
  4. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    You're just saying that. We have these new drugs....
     
  5. Dino

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    All I need...

     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2017
  6. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    One of my all time favorite Steve Martin bits!
     
  7. Audio Flynn

    Audio Flynn New

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    First Post! Been a member of the Klipsch forum since it started and just found this forum this week. Been into audio since 1976. I have the Classic 1 with SDS Sound Smith Counter Intuitive and Otello cartridge for about 10 months. It replaced a vintage J A Michell Focus One. I found the unipivot arm a little tweaky at first but it has been very stable for tracking force and azimuth in recent months. I follow Sound Smith and use the anti skate. I use Audio Research SP14 and Conrad Johnson PV10 preamps with no step up transformers so I stay away from LOMC. I cannot see ever getting rid of the Classic 1. I have walnut modded Klipsch Belles so the Classic 1 has very good Wife Acceptance Factor. Only issue is it will surely make you hate your poorly pressed or compressed vinyl. I was listening to Bob James and Earl Klugh collaboration on Columbia half speed mastered. Excellent! My original pressing of Tommy by the Who sounded more compressed than on the Focus One.
     
  8. MellowVelo

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    I've been flirting with the idea of picking up a turntable. I've always admired the look of the Classic series (it reminds me of a Yamaha turntable and a Dual turntable that my dad used to have), and I'm firmly of the philosophy that, if you're going to buy something, invest in something good upfront, so that you don't waste money down the road constantly upgrading or sidegrading.

    I found this special at Music Direct. Can anybody tell me if they think that this is a good value? I don't know much about the special editions. The only difference that I can discern based on the description is that it has a cheaper finish.

    https://www.musicdirect.com/turntables/vpi-classic-signature-se-turntable-with-sds-black-oak-demo
     
  9. nonamodnar

    nonamodnar Friend

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    If I recall correctly, the Classic Signature SE is a Black Friday special that is bundled with the SDS. This edition uses less than stellar-finished platter and Walnut/Oak finish. I would say 4500 is a good price but not a steal by any means. A used Classic Signature usually goes for 3500-3700 and used SDS goes for 700-750. See if they can throw in HRX pulley and belts to make the deals sweeter (and better used with SDS).
     
  10. Dino

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  11. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    Yeah, dealers have recently started stocking it, @Dino. I dunno, but it seems pretty cheesy. It'd make minor azimuth adjustments easier, but the Counter Intuitive does also. And now you're dragging a second pivot across a non-frictionless surface, which I don't love. It'll eliminate some wobble I guess, but that's not really a problem in the first place. So I'm just not convinced there's a real problem that it's solving. I'd like to know why or how this thing came into being, I guess... other than a new opportunity to charge $150 for $5 in materials.
     
  12. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    I would love to hear someone's listening impressions on these. Unipivots I've seen tend to be finicky. I saw Harry mention it a few months ago, but am not sure what the need was, either. Iirc he was working on a gimballed arm, tried this and abandoned the gimbal. I think like the 3d arm, it may depend on preference?
     
  13. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    Agree on the unipivots being finicky, but they do get the job done. Gimbal would not really help this particular arm design IMO, and would add another maintenance need to the system. I'd like try the second pivot in all honesty, but the cheese factor and price have dissuaded me.
     
  14. The Life

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    VPI appears to still be making these. I purchased a new Classic Signature last week, assuming it was NOS. I crack it open once it arrives to find out, according to the included documentation, that it was manufactured less than two months ago.
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2018
  15. neo_the_one

    neo_the_one Acquaintance

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    Out of curiosity, what would be the next step up if you have the prime scout table in the same price range as of VPI prime?
     

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