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Maximizing VPI Prime Performance

My good table is a Sota Cosmos VI with SME V and Transfiguration Proteus cartridge. I happen to have a VPI Prime with HW 40 arm on it for my casual listening table. Currently a ZYX 4D is installed. 

The question is what can be done to the Prime to up its game? I have ordered a Waynes Audio periphery clamp as an experiment to see if I can get close to the vacuum system the Sota has. Honestly looks like a bit of a pain in the butt to use. 

I am considering the Symposium Audio Segue Iso shelf, and the inserts for the Prime feet. 

Are there any other upgrades folks have found beneficial for the table? In a way this one will get more use in terms of hours over the Sota, so getting it to be the best it can would be beneficial. 

Cheers
Mister Pig
neonknight
demarcus903
4 posts
 
I know I'm late to the party, but I recently did a secondary tonearm installation on my Prime. Although a decent tonearm I have always felt I could get better sound from another tonearm. I chose to go with a Jelco 850M and a Hana ML cart just to test the waters. It actually blew the 3D printed tonearm out the water. My table also looks pretty cool with both tonearms.
jtsnead's avatar
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jtsnead
217 posts
 
Yes the 3d arm is one of the worst arms to dial in not to mention you need the counterintuitive and the second pivot its like it wasn't thought out entirely.
The 850M is awesome I have in the rear spot on my Dr Feickert Blackbird.
Great choice now to replace the 3d one!
tablejockey
3,870 posts
 
"It actually blew the 3D printed tonearm out the water."


Good to read a thread resurrect with substance.
  
Interesting. Sonic improvement being subjective, I've noticed more threads for anything but the 3D arm lately. 

Wasn't too long ago the 3D  was being  praised as a huge improvement over the standard arm.  

I won't let that stop me looking at the attractive deals on used Primes to replace my Classic, which is getting long in the tooth.
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
if your Sota is your better table, why would the prime get more use?  I would think it would be the other way around....
fyud's avatar
fyud
9 posts
 
I have a Prime table with standard 3D 10" printed tonearm. Have the following upgrades: symposium Suege Ultra Platform and Symposium footer inserts, VPI Clamp, VPI Signature clamp, VPI ADS, Dynavector XV-1S Cartridge, Pass Labs xp-17 Phono Preamp and Nordost Frey2 phono cable. The rest of my system is comparable in quality.

I think the Prime TT is quite upgradeable and depending on cartridge you can really get a lot out of it. Even if you did not add some of the upgrades right away you still have increases in sound quality to do in the future. Definitely a reference quality TT in my opinion. Look for a great condition used or demo Prime.
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