VPI Classic - Now you have one......

Please don't misunderstand my post. I think the Classic is a great table, fantastic for the money. Absolutely fantastic. It just didn't sound as refined as the other tables we compared it too. This was also the second generation Classic table after the mods Harry made since version one (changes to tonearm and platter).

I certainly agree, though, that so many things are system and room dependent. We could have the same three tables on a different system or different room with the same system and come up with different results. Everything in high end audio must be taken into context and looked at objectively.

Macdadtexas, did VPI offer any advice on how to get rid or minimize the hum? Is the hum caused by something in the Classic? I assume it must be since otherwise Grado would certainly have taken measures to fix this problem in their cartridges. I'm curious why a particular table would cause hum in cartridges while a different table wouldn't. Sounds like it might have something to do with the aluminum platter, doesn't it?

No cure, they said that it happened with the LO Grado Statement cartridges, and said they didn't have a cure right now, but they were working on it. They did say it was the platter.

Really, somehow, it doesn't bother me that much. It's only noticable on very high volumes. But really the cartridge does sound stellar.

So it's done; I ordered a Classic with my dealer and the worst part of the process has begun--waiting. I got the black finish and the Valhalla wiring.
I must say the pictures do not give this turntable justice. When I walked into my dealer's today, they had just assembled a black Classic with Valhalla and Dyna 20X cartridge for a customer who had been waiting for his since January. (It must have been a sign!)It looked so much better than in pictures. The finish was exquisite and the table was so imposing with its heft and massive platter. Absolutely amazing. I think the black finish especially makes it beautiful.
My only concern at this point is my current MI cart that's 6.8 grams and has a compliance of 22. I intend to upgrade to Lyra Delos in the near future but my Soundsmith Aida will have to do the job for a while. I hope it has a good synergy with the Classic tonearm.

Actusreus...i plugged in the specs for your Aida cart (6.8g cart mass and 22 cart compliance) with the JMW10.5SE tonearm mass of 12.3g and you get a resonant frequency of 7.76Hz which is right below the 8-12Hz recommended region. As per VPI website the ideal combination for the Classic's 10.5SE tonearm are carts with mass in the 7-11 grams range and compliance in the 11-16 range. The Delos @ 7.3g and compliance of 12 would fit very nicely with the 10.5SE tonearm, yielding a resonant frequency of 10.37Hz. Good luck and let us know how you are making out.