VPI Classic 3

Captain, I read your post. I wonder out loud how much of your improvement related to the Classic 3 arm versus the Classic 3 plinth?? As I mentioned above, I upgraded the arm to the Classic 3. I totally agree with your comments about the Dynavector 20X2. I switched out my Soundsmith Zephyr for retipping and installed my backup DV 20X2. Uuuggg.

Bifwynne, to answer your question. One of the most noticeable thing about the classic 3, is the plinth and the VTA tower. The motor is also 300 rpm, hence it has bigger pulley than the Classic 1. The plinth has a solid aluminum top which actually is elevated from the surrounding piano black aluminum plinth. The Classic 3 feet are also more substantial than the Classic 1. I use a dust cover, so the elevated aluminum top is welcome, because it fits into place without moving around. The plinth, which includes the integrated aluminum top is very heavy and extremely solid. Love or hate the walnut versus piano black, that is user preference, but there is no doubt the aluminum top on the Classic 3 is at a different level versus the Classic 1 synthetic top. Also fit and finish is at a different level. The combination of materials of the plinth, aluminum top, aluminum piano black surround, is extremely solid.
I only changed out the turntable, everything else, including the cartridge and my alignment method was the same. As I mentioned the noise floor, bass response, tighter bass, then all frequencies seem more musical. I speculate that the lower noise floor is a combination of the plinth, 300 rpm motor, the different coupling of the motor to the plinth and the Classic 3 feet. In my system, to give you an idea of the noise floor reduction from the Classic 1 to the Classic 3, I will use an analogy. My analogy: System on, phono section on, tonearm on arm stand. Noise floor difference is analogous from a 12:00 volume control to a less than 9:00 volume control, where 2-3:00 is pretty much max volume. What I felt was a very substantial improvement, which was immediately noticeable. I speculate the combination of the Classic 3 arm with the Classic 3 motor, Plinth and feet in combination result in the total improvement that I witnessed in my upgrade. I don’t believe you will get the entire Classic 3 performance without the Plinth, especially the lower noise floor.

Thanks for all the info.
I have a Benz Micro Wood Series 2. They made 3 versions
MC-H2, MC-M2 & LC-2. Mine is the MC-2. I have on another table, I was going to use. But I was told that VPI'S are not a good match for this cartridge.
Any comments please?

I can't comment on the Benz, but I hadn't heard that before.
For reference, when I was going through my upgrade decision process I had some great correspondence with VPI:
"The 3 does everything slightly better than the 1, it's like a car that they do a few changes to and Car and Driver says "There a 10 small changes but the end result is a much better handling car" same thing here. It is quieter, faster, deeper bass, larger stage but with more focus, a whole bunch of little things that add up to a better listening experience."

In general, VPI does not believe you need an ubber expensive cartridge to achieve a great listening experience. They typically will recommend cartridges costing from $600 to a little over $1000.
The differences between the Classic 1 and Classic 3 that I noted (everything exactly the same, just the table swapped out) were done with a $600 cartridge the Dyna 20x2 Low output. My experience was summed up pretty well by the quoted text above by VPI. In addition, however, when I went from the Dyna 20x2 low to the Dyna XX-2 MKII ($2000), the entire system went to a different level. So the quality and resolving power of the table revealed the differences in the cartridges.
Note: The Classic 1 was long gone when I purchased the XX-2 MKII, so I don't know if the Classic 1 would also have that much resolving power to reveal the real differences in the cartridges.

Thanks for getting back to me with all your info.
I will be getting my Classic 3 on Monday. I'm looking forward in putting in my 2 cents on here, about my new table.

Cheers, Alan2