2. analog
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What direction is VPI headed?

First let me state that I own a VPI Prime w/perifial ring, SDS, and a couple extra arm wands so I have invested some $ overall, this being my third VPI table, with that said I am a happy VPI customer but here recently have taken a few notes on their constantly coming up with the next iteration of what ever is moving well and I do believe the Prime is one of those. When they came out with the Prime Signature it was hard not to sell and replace with it but I didn't now the Prime Signature Rosewood is gorgeous but at $6,800.00, now when you get to that cost level I started looking used and have seen the prices dropping ridiculously low on a couple of HRX setups with all the extras for  a lot less than that and they still aren't moving. I know there are those that speak of VPIs marketing from time to time but what is going on.
tooblue
turntablemat's avatar
turntablemat
36 posts
 
Actually, you have been... Bill you are rewriting history a bit as usual but that's fine, I'm used to it from you and not going to waste time with a fight.

Speaking of which, I see it is a waste of time for me to hang out on this thread any longer. I hope I answered everyone's questions. The direction is leading us to more focus and quality products that we will still be able to service for everyone 20 years from now.
fsonicsmith's avatar
fsonicsmith
962 posts
 
Mat, I pretty much bled my pancreas of bile upon you (undeservedly) and rather than blast something back, you responded like a true gentleman. A true gentleman you are. In particular, I know many think very highly of the 3D arm and my attack on it as a "plastic gimmick" was a bit much. I do happen to think my 9T sounds 98% as good but that is my subjective opinion in my particular Thorens rig. Thanks for being a nice guy running a great (but imperfect) company. On the topic of B&M retailers, I will not drop his name but I live in Columbus OH so you can probably figure out his identity-it happened to be me who informed him of Sheila's passing which I had just learned from one of the boards-this particular guy was on the verge of tears-such was his fondness for Sheila developed over many years of phone conversations. And yes, you are wise not to engage too much in these forums-they are like zoos run amuck by the inmates, of which I am undoubtedly one of the elephants. 
testpilot
952 posts
 
+1 fsonicsmith.  
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,846 posts
 
I haven't investigated the VPI "dual pivot/stabilizer/outrigger", but Frank Van Alstine developed what he named the Longhorn in the 1980's. It was a thin rod with a weight on each end, which was attached to the cartridge. Frank described it as acting like the pole with which high-wire acrobats balance themselves. He recommended it especially for use with Grado cartridges, for some reason, but to me seemed very apropos for use with unipivot arms, for the obvious reason. It was, as with all things Van Alstine, ridiculously cheap. Perhaps that's why it never caught on with high end snobs ;-).
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,993 posts
 
Frank Van Alstine developed what he named the Longhorn in the 1980's.
Looks like he still does them.

http://avahifi.com/products/for-vinyl-lovers/longhorn-phono-cartridges
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