Maximizing VPI Prime Performance

Here is a list of the mods I have made to my Prime:

• Eagle & Roadrunner - Very worthwhile if you can find them
• 2nd arm - it’s a mono/stereo thing
• Dual pivot mod for both arms
  
• 3 belts - audible difference
• CounterIntuitive - facilitates setup
• Stillpoints LP1 - best of several tried
• VPI Periphery Ring - worth the aggravation on warped records, but for someone with a vacuum table, forget about it
• Deer skin platter mat - fuzzy side up, sounds better
• Litz silver wire - brighter, shimmery sound

I have owned the prime for 3 years and with all those changes am still not totally happy with it. I prefer my SL1200GAE that sits right beside it. HW40 currently on order to replace it.

I have a Superscoutmaster/rim drive/3D arm/2nd pivot,Classic Platter,BearPaws (large brass cones replacements for stock feet). Every one of those upgrades was a significant performance upgrade...each having their own way of improvement. If I had to pick which made the most significant improvement, I’d say BearPaws.  I do use the VPI peripheral ring, VPI s/s weight (for years..never a problem)...  Use the record directly on the platter...mats always had warts of their own.

Bill, you should really try one of the SOTA tables with vacuum. It works great and dampens the record beautifully. I do not hear a difference with various mats but I do with vacuum. You get tape like rock solid consistency. We are rhythmic creatures. Tiny alterations in rhythm are noticeable like you get from records that are not perfectly flat. I do not think this is psychological as prof would say "expectation bias" I am pretty sure if I were to mount a mildly warped record and have someone turn the vacuum on and off I would be able to tell the difference reliably. I should run this experiment. It is like the difference between a so so drummer and Gavin Harrison or Dave Weckle. 

You have one amazing set-it-and-forget-it table in the Cosmos, and you’re trying to chase that performance with a much lower level, tweak-of-the-day VPI? I’m not sure why you decided to abuse yourself in this manner :(
Those 2 companies have polar opposite philosophies. Look at the SOTA Sapphire/Star/Nova, still produced from the 80s to today in the same basic design with material upgrades and refinements. Whereas VPI runs through countless lines, designs, Mk versions, tweaks, updates, etc. Imagine buying a Classic Direct for $30 K a few years ago, and then seeing the HW40 being touted as superior for only 15 K.

Perhaps consider get a refurbished Star/Nova if you really need that 2nd deck?

Also I have a ring clamp on my Clearaudio deck, and the only way these items make sense is if they are machined for your specific platter, so that they can go on quick & centered (the Clearaudio ring works like this, with a lexan adapter lip for the platter). If you have to fiddle with some centering device, or eyeball it, then you’ll probably hate it. The SOTA vacuum hold down is a joy to use. 

Well the ring clamp did not work out for a couple reasons. It will be going back. Will give the Symposium isolation base and foot inserts a try.