VPI Fatboys versus others in its' tonearm weight class.
In their never ending quest to push fiscally responsible audiophiles into bankruptcy, site members have succeeded in making me consider a new gimbaled tonearm to keep a Lyra Kleos company on a VPI Classic 2 turntable. Dover, on my previous thread, pointed out most other tonearm options would be limited on the Classic 2 short of major surgery to it. So here I am considering keeping the tonearm upgrade in the VPI family. Their gimbaled Fatboy, will readily fit onto the VPI Classic 2’s tonearm base without any fuss.
Here’s my question after reading up on the Fatboy. How does the Fatboy compare with other tonearms in it’s $4500 price range? Is it about average in that class, which would be acceptable, or is it much better or worse than its’ peers?. If you.ve had any chance to compare the Fatboy with other tonearms in the same price range, what is your impression? I don’t want to spend that much money on one if the consensus is that it’s at the bottom of its class, which hopefully it isn’t.
I haven’t had an opportunity to listen to one, or any other tonearm as expensive. I would likely need to arrange a two day road trip to accomplish that. In lieu, I’m soliciting your impressions as to whether the Fatboy is worth that much compared to others in it’s price range. I guessing it will be okay, but don’t want to spend $4500 if the consensus is it’s at the bottom of its’ class just because it fits easily on my turntable. So what do you think? I’m all ears.
I’m not looking here for alternative solutions to a Fatboy. That was the topic of my recent thread, I’m only soliciting your impressions of the Fatboy compared to other similarly priced tonearms, and why I should or shouldn’t take a chance on it. Thanks all,
Mike
FYI Music Direct and Elusive Disc have the Kleos (0.5mV) in stock. I’m on my second Delos, the first from MD and the second from ED who took my old Delos in trade credit. Thanks for this thread, I too am looking at going to a Fatboy gimbal. |
I'd be interested to hear your impressions with the new arm all set up and after some time listening. I had a Classic 1 and decided to get out rather than chasing up the VPI line (to be fair, I already owned two and was looking for something different). I went over to a Pure Fidelity Harmony w/Acoustic Signature arm and love it, but am really interested to hear about the path that I did not take but considered. |
Badgerdms. I’ll keep you posted here. The Fatboy has come in at the dealer, but I’ve still probably a couple more months before the Lyra Kleos finally gets here from Japan. Then I’ll have both installed by the dealer and be able to report something to you all. Glad to hear you had good results with your choices. How did your Pure Harmony setup compare with what you had with the VPI Classic 1, and what cartridge and arm did you have on the Classic 1 if you don’t mind my asking? My Classic 2 is so new to me, and such a major purchase after 40+ years with my old Bang and Olufsen Beogram 4002, I couldn’t bear even thinking of swapping it out, though you might have made a wiser choice by doing so. Mike |
