VPI Industries---Love the Company as Much as their Turntables


I'm starting this thread because I just purchased my 4th VPI turntable. I started with a Cliffwood base model and kept working my way up the ladder until I recently purchased a Signature DS with the Analog Drive System (ADS). Over the years I have owned at least a dozen turntables ranging from a Thorens (TD145 MKII) to Rega Planars 3 through 8, and as I was contemplating a Rega P10, I looked at my VPI Prime in its stealth black and the MNPC Tech chrome feet and decided to slap on an old Ortofon  Quintet Bronze Cartridge and began listening---WOW--I missed the VPI sound. I started tweaking the Prime and realized why I had moved on to Rega--great tables but lacked the raw power that a VPI table properly set-up can do.

After a few months ignoring the P8, I decided to contact Mat Weisfeld the current family audio guru at VPI, thinking I could upgrade my Prime with their new gimbal tonearm and signature base. Over the years I have met Mat ay several different vinyl and audio conventions--I have even been to the factory in Cliffwood, New Jersey on two occasions. Mat is a high energy brilliant man who understands the visceral power of quality music reproduction. he's also one of the most accessible CEO's I have ever encountered in any industry. Anyway, he e-mails me back and says forget upgrades, I'll take your Prime in trade and outfit you with a new Signature DS. Since the factory is just up the NJ Turnpike from Philly, I drove up to see him.

The fellow that built my table, Howie was just packing it up when I arrived. What a beautiful piece of art this is!! The Rosewood finish sandwiched between a shiny metal plate is amazing. The new gimbal tonearm has an amazing musical replay ability and the new HW-40 feet isolate any extraneous noise. Is a fully rigged turntable (cartridge, ADS controller, Signature TT) pushing $10K a great value?

I think it's a veritable bargain--if you properly adjust the VTA, align the cartridge, the Azimuth and add a 1 to 3 inch solid wood base as recommended, this TT sounds better than anything I have ever owned.and in my opinion, properly set up is 'As Good As it Gets"--Good times and noodle salad.

The TT is great, but the real value is VPI itself. A family owned business run by passionate audiophiles as well as employees who are proud of the products they produce. That is the real bargain.

I started this thread to see what experiences others have had--to me a great piece of kit entertains you for sure, but a company that is service and job 1 is priceless.. 

mervo

I love my VPI Prime 21.

I started with a VPI Nomad and an Ortofon 2M red then blue.

I then put a Soundsmith Zephyr on it and was amazed at the sound.

 

I upgraded to the Prime 21 with gimbal arm and couldn’t be happier with it. I’m running a Soundsmith Zephyr Mk3 ES moving iron cart.


Great company, great product made in USA and great customer service.

 

I met Mat at his offices and he was incredibly down to earth, nice and reasonable. Sold me a new van den Hul cartridge (they are the US distributor) instead of getting my old one serviced since he said the pandemic had made it very difficult to to get the worn out stylus replaced and whatever other service would be needed. Made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

He had his top tech guy install it on my Rega P8 and didn't denigrate the table at all. Just said if I was ever thinking of making a move he would do a side by side demo for me versus one of his tables. Very professional.

Great little company, just not a fan of their arms. My brother in law has one of their top of the line multi arm tables and loves it. I can't stand the unipivots and their gimbals seem to be overpriced. They do a better job of isolation than Rega - different philosophy.

If you want to buy American, I think there are only 2 choices these days. 

I have the unipivot on my Aries Scout and placed springs under the supplied feet never a warble, skip or wiggle and I'm working out on the in the same room with a wood floor. 

 I like VPI also. I have had three of their tables starting with a Super Xcoutmzster with the 9 inch arm followed by a prime and finally a Classic 4 in rosewood with the 3d arm.

  The Classic 4 is my last turntable.  It has a Lyra Kloes on it.