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VPI Fatboys versus others in its' tonearm weight class.

In their never ending quest to push fiscally responsible audiophiles into bankruptcy, site members have succeeded in making me consider a new gimbaled tonearm to keep a Lyra Kleos company on a VPI Classic 2 turntable. Dover, on my previous thread, pointed out most other tonearm options would be limited on the Classic 2 short of major surgery to it. So here I am considering keeping the tonearm upgrade in the VPI family. Their gimbaled Fatboy, will readily fit onto the VPI Classic 2’s tonearm base without any fuss.

Here’s my question after reading up on the Fatboy. How does the Fatboy compare with other tonearms in it’s $4500 price range? Is it about average in that class, which would be acceptable, or is it much better or worse than its’ peers?. If you.ve had any chance to compare the Fatboy with other tonearms in the same price range, what is your impression? I don’t want to spend that much money on one if the consensus is that it’s at the bottom of its class, which hopefully it isn’t.

I haven’t had an opportunity to listen to one, or any other tonearm as expensive. I would likely need to arrange a two day road trip to accomplish that. In lieu, I’m soliciting your impressions as to whether the Fatboy is worth that much compared to others in it’s price range. I guessing it will be okay, but don’t want to spend $4500 if the consensus is it’s at the bottom of its’ class just because it fits easily on my turntable. So what do you think? I’m all ears.

I’m not looking here for alternative solutions to a Fatboy. That was the topic of my recent thread, I’m only soliciting your impressions of the Fatboy compared to other similarly priced tonearms, and why I should or shouldn’t take a chance on it. Thanks all,

Mike

skyscraper
skyscraper OP
830 posts
 

Bsion I'll be sending my JMS tonearm in on trade tomorrow towards the Fatboy. purchase.  The trade-in certainly helps defray the cost. Hope you can get one for yourself sooner, rather than later. Good luck with that. 

Mike

badgerdms
158 posts
 

I'd be interested to hear your impressions with the new arm all set up and after some time listening.  I had a Classic 1 and decided to get out rather than chasing up the VPI line (to be fair, I already owned two and was looking for something different).  I went over to a Pure Fidelity Harmony w/Acoustic Signature arm and love it, but am really interested to hear about the path that I did not take but considered.  

skyscraper OP
830 posts
 

Badgerdms. I’ll keep you posted here. The Fatboy has come in at the dealer, but I’ve still probably a couple more months before the Lyra Kleos finally gets here from Japan. Then I’ll have both installed by the dealer and be able to report something to you all.

Glad to hear you had good results with your choices. How did your Pure Harmony setup compare with what you had with the VPI Classic 1, and what cartridge and arm did you have on the Classic 1 if you don’t mind my asking? My Classic 2 is so new to me, and such a major purchase after 40+ years with my old Bang and Olufsen Beogram 4002, I couldn’t bear even thinking of swapping it out, though you might have made a wiser choice by doing so.

Mike

todd30312's avatar
todd30312
13 posts
 

I recently went from a Classic 3 with the 3D tonearm & dual pivot to a Classic Signature with the gimbal Fatboy and heard a significant difference with my Soundsmith Paua Mk II. It is significantly quieter in the grooves with less chatter. I had the HW 40 feet on the Classic 3 as well (plus it sits on a Symposium) and attribute most of the difference to the tonearm. I noticed improvement across the frequency band with low and mid-bass being the most noticeable change. Mid-bass is more three dimensional. Cymbals have more shimmer and there seems to be more space between the instruments/notes. 

As I get older my hands get a little shaky sometimes which makes me nervous when playing records. Even if the gimbal Fatboy is not quite as good as the unipivot with the dual pivot I see myself enjoying the turntable more with the gimbal tonearm. 

As others have said matching the cartridge to the arm is vital but you also need to consider matching the cartridge to your phono stage. The Paua and my Modwright PH9 X seem to be an exceptional match. 

@Skyscraper will you install the Fatboy now and have the dealer assist when your Lyra comes in? Using the Fatboy with your current cartridge should really highlight the differences between tonearms. 

I hope you'll enjoy your upgraded turntable!

skyscraper OP
830 posts
 

Todd, thank you for sharing your experience with your gimbaled Fatboy. I hope my results are as good as yours.. I’ll listen for the qualities you describe when the Lyra Kleos cartridge finally arrives. The Fatboy is already at the dealer who’ll be doing the installation and set-up once it does. I’m not going to attempt to set it up with my current cartridge first.

I looked into the Soundsmith Pau you have but it was unfortunately not compatible with my Luxman’s 507uX Mk2’s integrated amp’s built in phono stage setting. VPI indicated the Lyra Kleos wihich does match would by compatible. I read VPI has used Lyra carts to demo products at shows. 

I hear you on the issue of not trusting your hands when placing and removing the tonearm/cart on a record. I hate that process too, as I notice a decrease in fine motor control at age seventy. Taking the arm off a record after it is done playing is much less nerve wracking though since I acquired a "Little Fwend" tonearm lift.

Mike

 

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