How to choose an upgraded tonearm.

Lewm. you’re right, dover hit the nail on the head right out the gate. Options are limited with VPI’s design. I’m not concerned with resale value as aforementioned. I’m not planning on selling the Classic 2, and I’d not want to attempt any mods on it where I might potentially screw it up. I’m happy to have it as it.is in that respect.

Raul, I appreciate your advice, and it is sound and sensible. But at $7000 retail for the RP-10, I’m not looking to make that kind of outlay, plus have to change out and sell my VPI Classic 2, tone arm and cartridge to make it happen. I started out only wanting to upgrade a cartridge and did stretch my budget to order the Lyra Kleos. Honestly you all convinced me to do that for excellent reasons, Your above suggestion although probably equally sound is really way more than I’d like to deal with on top of getting the Kleos.

I’d take a serious look at the RP-10’s tonearm by itself if it would retrofit onto the VPI Classic 2’s tonearm base, but it doesn’t appear that it will without modifying that base. And i’m unsure if there is any issue with its’ height on that platform. I’ll look for the Fremer review anyway, as I’m not sure if that’s the one I read. In any event thank you for your thoughtful suggestion.

One other thing Raul, please do not address others suggestions on my thread as stupid. A modicum of tact is called for. Other’s ideas are expressed with the best of intentions just as yours are. Whether they are knowledgeable as you or not, or their suggestions are as good or not, that part is up to me to sort out on my thread. They are after all graciously taking their time to be of assistance. I hope this suggestion does not put you off, as I do appreciate your advice and knowledge, and that you have taken the time to generously share it on my behalf here.

Pindac, I wish there were others here near home to visit and share an interest in audio with, as you seem to be able to. Unfortunately I can’t find any. A local dealer told me years ago there was an audio club in Roanoke, but it’s long gone. That’s the peril of living out in the countryside. The Audiogon site really does help in this regard.

Mike

Mijostyn,  My only point was that the example shown is not relevant to the proof that the pivot should be level with the plane of the LP. He raises the AR XA tonearm pivot, causing the headshell to tilt up at the rear, in order to get it to move forward when it encounters a warp.  That kind of loads the dice in his favor. It does not describe the most usual case, where the arm/headshell is parallel to the LP surface regardless of where the pivot is located in space.  Since watching the video, I have figured out for myself that the principle is valid; the pivot ideally should lie in the plane of the LP surface.  For a pivot close to but not quite in the plane of the LP surface, the putative increase in warp wow is probably not such a big deal I would say.  I was surprised in the video that I could clearly hear a deviation in frequency from 1000Hz to 1002Hz.  (I could hear 1002Hz almost as obviously as I could hear 1005Hz.) I don't really think I can hear that in real life; perhaps his instrument is damped enough that it doesn't display the actual peak readings for a brief pulse. Or my sense of pitch is better than I think.

I do own classic 3 and change arm to 3D gimbal .

great arm and better with low compliance cart that I have before .

fit and finish nice and look better too on classic .

Thanks honeyool. I hope that's the case with the Fatboy too which is also a 3D model for the most part anyway. I just stated a new thread on the Fatboys to get  advice on those.

@skyscraper : Looks as you really did not care enough when you read it the Rega links because the price is 5.7 K not 7K that’s the price including Rega cartridge.

VPI TT/tonearm you own is really an entry level and normally not always: entry level audio item is in the lower part of the manufacturer item models and this means inside mediocrity/average level, its price tells you about. That Classic VPI TT can work with the Fatboy or any top tonearm you like but that it can work does not means is a good " place to mount the FB along the Kleos.

I don’t care what you could buy but you already bougth the Kleos and that specific cartridge model along top Lyra models were mounted in that " inexpensive " Rega plattform/tonearm with excellent results for experienced gentlemans that know about quality level performance . As M.Fremer they mounted too other top cartridges coming from Dynavector and Ortofon with the same success.

I made it to you an stupid advise when posted of that " second pivot " that in reality is not a true pivot and that does not solve the VPI tonearm problem you have for that Kleos. Next is a Lyra " warning " in his site for its cartridges:

" tonearms with rigid bearing(s), "

but when we go to better tonearms is critical the plattform/TT where we want to mount it for it works at its best and you have not that kind of plattform/TT. I think you need a new TT/tonearm for that Kleos if you want really enjoy the best that that cartridge can shows you.

Yes, I’m still think that not only my second pivot advise was stupid one but the stand alone arm pod for you it is too.

R.