VPI Classic 3 Upgrades or Move On to Something New

Get a Sota Sapphire, put a Schroder CB on it and you will never think about buying another turntable. This will set you back just under $10K.
Once you get use to a properly designed suspended turntable you will never believe people could buy a fixed one regardless of weight. Suspended turntables are immune to foot falls, they will not feed back, and they are much quieter. Mechanically coupled environmental noise can not make it to the cartridge. On top of this you get a magnetic thrust system for the bearing, you can add a brilliant 3 phase motor and control system and you get the best customer service in the business. If you do get the urge to move up in the line, Sota will take your table back in trade for the new one. 

For your money spent to upgrade better got another table as mention above ,But 
with your cartridge now will not make a lot difference btw .
i do have classic 3 too with metal arm .just get better cartridge you will be happy 👌

I started with the Classic 1, then a Classic 2.5, and a big BAT Phono Pre running an SS Voice. I then upgraded to a Prime Signature and an SS Helios with the same VK-P6SE and since added the 10" Fat Boy, Tru-Lift, Avenger Reference Feet, ADS with HRX pulley and Periphery Ring Clamp.
With each upgrade I noticed an improvement, some subtle and others major. Adding the 10" FatBoy tonearm was the most audible upgrade with the Reference Feet next. The bass is robust and clear, mids and highs are balanced in tone and detail. I have achieved, from within my budget, the best I can do. And, I am very happy with it.
VPI as a company is a different story. I agree that it is often times very difficult to reach someone knowledgeable since Marc left. Now it's a crap shoot who you get and if they know anything. Jose acts like a gate keeper with strict orders not to let anyone in, in fact he wants to be the "be all" to people and his knowledge of the products and audio is very limited. He wouldn't let me talk to Matt so I sent Matt a Personal and Confidential letter. He responded through Mary, sending me the stuff Jose couldn't get his act together on. I won't go into the litany of screw-ups on getting the FatBoy and Reference feet.
Finally everything is settled and I am once again a happy camper enjoying the tunes.

I have a Classic 3 and did the SDS upgrade. It was amazing to get the correct speed on the platter. Everything was a clearer, truer and easier to understand.

My suggestion is to get a kit to measure the platter speed and a VPI SDS to regulate the speed.
I got the SpeedStrobe Turntable Speed Tester by KAB. I created a wire stand from a hanger for a stable point to measure drift against the platter. I put the strobe mat over an old record to get the full weight on the platter.

My system is Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua -> Classic 3 -> Sutherland Phono Block -> Spectral DMC 30SV -> Spectral DMA 400 -> MIT Oracle Cables -> EgglestonWorks Rosa -> plenty of room acoustics

It was like a new turntable after the upgrade. It was inexpensive. I you don’t like it, you can sell it!


Thanks,
Alan