VPI 2nd Pivot for 3D


I just installed mine and discovering my old records anew.  I thought I knew everything there was to know on the original pressing of Fleetwood Mac's Rumers......but no - there's more.  You immediately hear a more solid bass, but then the dynamics hit hard.  It sounds like my amp is on steroids.  More cleanliness, - everything is better.  Very highly recommended.
128x128stringreen
@billstevenson. "Based on my limited experience with two arms, I am of the opinion that this mod benefits all VPI unipivots".

I can accept this. But the 2nd pivot mod also changes the original design concept, thereby making it (not a unipivot anymore). This is, I think, the argument Raul is making and the point I was initially referring to.

(In my experience with the 3D arm, it does not "hold" it's adjustment from hour to hour, day to day. I always have to check the VTF. A big inconvenience.)

I just wanted to make this point. Not to argue about it.





Doesn’t the fact that VPI has introduced the 2nd pivot option for their unipivot arm as an "upgrade", made clear by you and the OP, make a dramatic statement by their own admission that their unipivot arm is lacking and in need of additional design implementations/improvements?
I have a couple of questions that I would think be of concern to all VPI owners: @billstevenson, You may be positioned as our best form of information on these questions?

(1) The factory off-set setting of S2P distance by 2mm on my Classic 3....is this difference on any of their other TTs? The Prime? Why is it a good thing? If it isn’t, why are we experiencing it?
(2) Is there a good reason why a designer of TTs and tonearms won’t reveal their preferred cartridge geometry method?
@stringreen..."I can’t help wonder why there is so much discussion on this. Raul thinks the single pivot is flawed because it is unstable (wiggle)....the 2nd pivot stabilizes the arm and thus corrects the issue. It me it sounds better with the second pivot than without. Done."

Without realizing it, stringreen just answered Raul’s concern and my problem with VPI as a whole, in his summarization.



IMO this second pivot is a tweek. As with all tweeks, some combos will benefit while others not.  I bought two kits but used only one between two arms. One arm is steel, the other 3D.  The carts are Ortofon Cadneza Red on the steel arm in which I much prefer the second pivot.  The 3D arm has an Ortofon Cadenza Black in which I prefer the uni pivot only.  My take away is that some stylus geometries benefit while others don't.  I don't feel I own a flawed design.  😊