Almandog, curious if the arm in question is a 3D arm or one of the metal arms?
VPI Uni-Pivit Tone Arms
I have owned a few VPI TT with the uni-pivit arm. My current TT is the VPI classic 3 signature. The uni-pivit arm is wearing me out. The arm is always tilted to one side no matter how I adjust it. I also notice that the sharp point in the arm housing has rounded quite a bit. I remember some time ago when I touched it I would get a sharp prick like a pin sticking me. Now i can run my finger across it without worrying. Is this normal?
Has anyone else notice the tilted arm? Mine is tilted to the left and sometimes the ears (the part that sticks out from the arm housing) touches the base of the housing.
But with all this discomfort, the TT still sounds awesome. But I hate those things about the TT that I pointed out. I owned the vpi classic, scout, and scout 2, and they all have those faults I mentioned that bothers me.
What's your experience with the uni-pivit arms?
Has anyone else notice the tilted arm? Mine is tilted to the left and sometimes the ears (the part that sticks out from the arm housing) touches the base of the housing.
But with all this discomfort, the TT still sounds awesome. But I hate those things about the TT that I pointed out. I owned the vpi classic, scout, and scout 2, and they all have those faults I mentioned that bothers me.
What's your experience with the uni-pivit arms?
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- 54 posts total
As mentioned, the pivot spike is replaceable. Meanwhile a fine file can de-bur the tip or sharpen it. If you're using a Fozgometer, stop. You may find setting azimuth with a block similar to this https://www.amazon.com/VTA-Azimuth-Gauge-Alignment-Block/dp/B0771Z3XMH/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=azimuth+t... as a starting point and dialing in by ear works quicker and better. I sure did. If azimuth drifts too quickly, dump the teardrop weight and get something like the Espressimo Audio half moon. http://www.expressimoaudio.com/101VPI.html After 20 years of unihell these things worked for me. I will never go back to a uni though. |
@testpilot, the ears as far as I know are only adjustable on the 3D arms but being they are rubbing that would indicate to me that that is what he is dealing with and needs to screw these all the way in and adjust the azimuth as close as possible with the dropped counter weight and only fine tune with the side weights. A Soundsmith Counter intuitive might help also, I know they work well for me. Enjoy the music. |
VPI now makes a Gimbal bearing tonearm. About time. The unipivot topology came about because it is a cheap easy way to make a tonearm. Don't have to by expensive bearings and worry about tolerances but there is trouble in paradise. To many degrees of freedom. A tonearm should only be able to move up or down and side to side. It should be absolutely rigid in all other planes. Records are not flat. Any change in altitude is going to subject the arm to torque because the arm is offset which is going to change azimuth. Graham tried to fix this using a magnetic field to hold the arm steady and it works if you want to spend ridiculous money on an arm. I would rather get a 4 point. Much less expensive, better sounding and more suitable for a wider range of cartridges. VPI has finally come out with a turntable I could consider, the new Direct Drive with the gimbal pivoted tonearm. If they could figure how to suspend it like a SOTA it might even be perfect. |
- 54 posts total