Maximizing VPI Prime Performance

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.

I use a TTWeights periphery ring (together with an old center weight) much like the Wayne’s because my older VPI has a slightly smaller platter and the VPI ring doesn’t fit. Nevertheless I find it much easier and quicker to use than the screw clamp. It improves the sound in many ways including by adding flywheel to the platter. And it solves many warp issues.

You can also improve the performance by adding the VPI motor flywheel combo. The factory might even sell you the parts without the motor since you already have the motor. You can also add the VPI or other motor controller.

Better still, you can buy the motor, controller and RoadRunner from Sota. See the discussions on this at the VPI Forum.

Mister pig, you'll use the periphery clamp two or three times then give up.
It is just too much of a PITA. It is much more important to have a solid platform under the table than any crazy feet. Your SOTA and SME tables are so stable because they hang from their suspensions, an inherently self stabilizing situation. Putting the suspension under is inherently  unstable.  Other than an upgraded cartridge and arm I really do not think you can do much other than waste money. The SOTA Eclipse package would be fun. Would it really improve the sound? I do not think $1000.00 worth.  You might notice it if you had perfect pitch. I think you would be better off buying music.
If you swallow the acid Millercarbon is on you can get a bunch of those PHT things and really hallucinate. 

"
mijostyn"If you swallow the acid Millercarbon is on you can get a bunch of those PHT things and really hallucinate."
It is so sad that so many hear pollute they're minds, brains, and bodies with drugs that destroy they're ability to reason and think clearly!

IME, in no particular order:

1.  The VPI Periphery Ring (which is a lot heavier than the others out there) and HRX center weight.  Noticed darker backgrounds when listening to quiet passages at high overall gain.  Also provides more platter mass for rotational stability and flattens both concave and convex LPs so that the cart doesn't need to use its suspension as much.

2.  Phoenix Roadrunner and Eagle.  Self correcting stability is a wonderful thing.

3.  HW40 feet.  Better definition throughout, especially the bass (not that the VPI is lacking in any way).

4.  Any type of isolation for your situation - wall mount, maple blocks, leadshot filled reservoir, etc.