Maximizing VPI Prime Performance

VPI Prime as the backup? Not bad.

I always struggled to hear an audible difference with the peripheral clamp. Maybe if one is using terribly warped records in the first place? The simple screw down clamp/rubber washer seems to do a pretty good job of making sure a record is flat as possible on my VPI. I wasn’t sold on the peripheral clamp thing, glad I didn’t open my wallet for that one.YMMV

I have the Mapleshade footers/maple slab under mine. Does it actually do the things in the website write up? Well, maybe not as much as reported. It's quite subtle, but it sure makes the table look sharp. I think the lateral give in my $150 Sanus, along with the low tech Mapleshade approach actually does some isolation. I can jump up and down in front of the table without audible/visible harm. YMMV

The Stillpoints LP isolator was a nice tweak for me and helped eliminate vibrations of the vinyl. The result is a slightly smoother more well defined sound with significantly less "tizziness" in the high end that I did not realize was there until it was eliminated.
Not a vacuum hold down---but a nice move in that direction.

Why the Waynes periphery clamp? Cost? As you say, it looks a pain to use. I’d bought the VPI as it’s made to work well with their tts.

Avoid screw down spindle clamps! Why does one want to reconnect with the tts’ bearing? Bad idea! I made the right move and invested in an ORB Record Flattener instead of a periphery ring.

I concur with the Stillpoints LP-1

I recommend MyMat. PM me.

Couldn't find any links to MyMat

Why the choice for Waynes Audio? It seems to have enough mass to couple the outer portion of a record to a platter. The centering disc looks to work well. The price is reasonable. 

The point of this exercise is to get as much of an improvement as possible within reasonable cost parameters.

Cheers
Mister Pig
 

Get a couple Synergistic Research PHT. Green Dream is very deep and liquid, Black Widow a little more dynamic and present, both just enough each way from neutral to make tuning fun. I've got one of each on my Koetsu, and a third Green Dream on the arm tube. Yes they allow incredible fine-tuning. Then also get a set of SR ECT, put them on the motor and arm, and experiment with different locations. 

Being a secondary system then room acoustics maybe are out but if not SR HFT are very unobtrusive and crazy effective.