VPI Fatboys versus others in its' tonearm weight class.

No...going from the 10.5 to the Fatboy is not a huge improvement....perhaps Fatboy was properly adjusted.   The Fatboy sound is just different...not better (but everyone has their taste).  To get the 10.5 arm closer to the sound of the Fatboy, there is the 2nd pivot for about 100 dollars or so that I am using a is certainly worth the little expense and trouble to set up.

Ghdprentice, Congrats on your new tonearm. Glad to hear you’re getting some real enjoyment out of your upgrade. What differences have you experienced listening to your records with the new Ekos SE arm installed?.

That’s a lot of records you have. I think I’ve maybe up to 1500 LP’s, but rarely buy any anymore, since used CD’s are some much more reasonably priced and usually in pristine condition, unlike used vinyl.

I’m hoping the Lyra Kleos cartridge will be in by the end of May so I can take a listen to how it will sound on the Fatboy.

Stringreen, I hope the Fatboy sounds better than what you describe. I’d hate to have wasted the thousands it cost. Most reviewers and Audiogoners have indicated it should be a significant upgrade over the 10.5 arm, but the proof will be in the pudding. We’ll see.

Mike

OP,

Upgrading my Linn Akito to Ekos SE (and to Keel sub chassis) was notable with increases in detail, air, and solidity. No change in character (good). I am very happy with the change. My dealer / friend thinks it is one of the best analog ends he has ever heard… the particularly synergistic combo of the Linn / Koetsu and the Audio Research Ref 3 phono stage is what pulls it ahead. While I have heard more detailed systems… the combination of detail and musicality is captivating. I am actually listening to the Blues Brothers vinyl album. The blues are so engaging.

It took the level of performance from parity with my digital end to an increment above. This is the hard thing to communicate. To me, well worth the incremental investment of $5K or ~10% the cost of my analog end or or 3% the cost of my system. It really allows my system to reach to another level… but doesn’t leave my digital end behind. I think this is because the variability of recording quality fluctuations are greater than the difference between the analog versus digital end. So, a great recording on the digital rig will still sound better than a typical recording on the analog end.

However, if I pull out a 1957-60 jazz recording on vinyl and time stops… I  get goosebumps on my arms, chills up and down. Definitely capable of spiritual inspiration.. I have a lot of albums from that era, in pristine condition.

There is more variation between cartridges than between arms so you're better off putting yr money into trying a different cartridge. 

I have a VPI TNT 1 with 9" JMW Memorial arm. Then Upscale got me with a sale on the VPI Avenger with printed arm. This was the top arm a few years ago. Two decades of turntable evolution and I couldn't hear any difference using a Benz LP. Much bigger improvement switching from the LP to a Gullwing. There is no body like no body. The Gullwing combined the ethereal transparency of the Clearaudio Goldfinger with the rich sound of the LP. The best of both worlds - and cheaper!

*  Lumi and Manley Steelhead phono stages.

No experience with Fatboy or Lyra but my datapoint chimes with what another poster said about VPI having a house sound.

Also have a Clearaudio Panzer with Universal and TT5 arms. And a Versa 1.2. In my observation more variation between cartridges than arm/turntable.

It looks like you're moving two items at the same time—the arm and the cartridge. You'll never know what component is making the most significant improvement. Not best practice.