VPI Traveller

Honoring your late Mother is very commendable. Good luck with the Traveler.

This is an old thread, but as a VPI traveler owner I'll put my 2 cents in. I have a fuller write up on Audio Circle. I've tried the original Grado Gold, a Sumiko Pearl, an Orotofon 2M Red and Rondo Bronze, and with the exception of the Pearl, seemed to work fine. The Pearl has narrow diameter pins, so unless you squeeze the Travelers leads, you will not get a connection. This is not the fault of the VPI - it's sumiko's. I've had this problem with every table I've tried to mount it to except the Project 1.3. it originally came with.

@jarcher, thanks for your post. Does the pro-ject 1.3 have a carbon fiber arm? How does the pro-ject compare to the traveler (both having the ortofons you mentioned)?

I have a pro-ject Xpression III, speed box, tube box ii, wall rack and ortofon mc-3 turbo and I'm wondering if the traveler would be a noticeable upgrade or sideways move?

TIA

Jarcher....I'm thinking of this table. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I tried to register at audio circle, but can't. (They say my address matches a spammer address...good gawd.)

I found another review by jarcher on Amazon - hope neither parties mind the repost:

"I formerly had a Pro-ject RPM1.3, which while pretty, was a fisher price joke compared to this table. Can not tell you how impressed I am with the quality & fit / finish - and how the table alone was such an upgrade from the Pro-ject. Yes, it is almost three times as expensive as my former table, but the sound quality is at least twice as good. The photos don't do it justice - a seriously well built machine. I have a more detailed review at audio circle forum.

These sometimes ship with the Grado Gold - and in fact this table was designed with that cartridge specifically. Nonetheless I found that I preferred other options. So unless you know & like the particular sonic signature of Grado's, the safer bet might be to buy it without a cartridge, as it seems to be sold here."

Now I really want to demo the Traveler! Looks like my baseline Xpression III betters the 1.3 but the Traveler could be a notable upgrade here.