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Maximizing VPI Prime Performance

My good table is a Sota Cosmos VI with SME V and Transfiguration Proteus cartridge. I happen to have a VPI Prime with HW 40 arm on it for my casual listening table. Currently a ZYX 4D is installed. 

The question is what can be done to the Prime to up its game? I have ordered a Waynes Audio periphery clamp as an experiment to see if I can get close to the vacuum system the Sota has. Honestly looks like a bit of a pain in the butt to use. 

I am considering the Symposium Audio Segue Iso shelf, and the inserts for the Prime feet. 

Are there any other upgrades folks have found beneficial for the table? In a way this one will get more use in terms of hours over the Sota, so getting it to be the best it can would be beneficial. 

Cheers
Mister Pig
neonknight
gpgr4blu
1,093 posts
 
The Stillpoints LP isolator was a nice tweak for me and helped eliminate vibrations of the vinyl. The result is a slightly smoother more well defined sound with significantly less "tizziness" in the high end that I did not realize was there until it was eliminated.
Not a vacuum hold down---but a nice move in that direction.
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,805 posts
 
Why the Waynes periphery clamp? Cost? As you say, it looks a pain to use. I’d bought the VPI as it’s made to work well with their tts.

Avoid screw down spindle clamps! Why does one want to reconnect with the tts’ bearing? Bad idea! I made the right move and invested in an ORB Record Flattener instead of a periphery ring.

I concur with the Stillpoints LP-1

I recommend MyMat. PM me.
neonknight OP
393 posts
 
Couldn't find any links to MyMat

Why the choice for Waynes Audio? It seems to have enough mass to couple the outer portion of a record to a platter. The centering disc looks to work well. The price is reasonable. 

The point of this exercise is to get as much of an improvement as possible within reasonable cost parameters.

Cheers
Mister Pig
 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Get a couple Synergistic Research PHT. Green Dream is very deep and liquid, Black Widow a little more dynamic and present, both just enough each way from neutral to make tuning fun. I've got one of each on my Koetsu, and a third Green Dream on the arm tube. Yes they allow incredible fine-tuning. Then also get a set of SR ECT, put them on the motor and arm, and experiment with different locations. 

Being a secondary system then room acoustics maybe are out but if not SR HFT are very unobtrusive and crazy effective.
melm
1,082 posts
 
I use a TTWeights periphery ring (together with an old center weight) much like the Wayne’s because my older VPI has a slightly smaller platter and the VPI ring doesn’t fit. Nevertheless I find it much easier and quicker to use than the screw clamp. It improves the sound in many ways including by adding flywheel to the platter. And it solves many warp issues.

You can also improve the performance by adding the VPI motor flywheel combo. The factory might even sell you the parts without the motor since you already have the motor. You can also add the VPI or other motor controller.

Better still, you can buy the motor, controller and RoadRunner from Sota. See the discussions on this at the VPI Forum.
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