VPI Traveller

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.

I posted this over on Audio Circle; thought some here may be interested...

Got a blue Traveler in my rig for the last week. Run it into a Yamaha A-S2000, Daedalus (hot rodded) DA-1s, w/a Dynavector 10x5 cart.
Sounds wonderful! No pops on start/stop via the motor. A bit of belt squeak on startup when set for 45rpm, but never on 33rpm. Great build quality,
beautiful table. Don't have as much experience w/tables as many here, but I love the arm. Works flawlessly & tracks quietly. Seems
very nice compared to a prior Rega P3 rb300, entry Sota Comet, & most recently an Empire 598. Can't wait to 'hear' what others think the arm can
'get the most out of', cartridge wise. Oh, & the MM/MC on the Yamaha, which I had never heard, is a wonderful match. Damn good & & easily
a match for my modded Transporter & 8g Mac mini server. This thing soars! Esperanza Spaldings 'Chamber Music Society' will remind you of
'Ella'. Jackson Browne's 'Time the Conqueror' is relaxed, warm & inviting in a way the digital never is & will remind you of why you liked Jackson
in the first place. Dave Matthews Band 'Away From The World', is striking, sublime & evocative as Dave's voice is captured as rhythmically primal, a ritualistic creative instrument, casting its musical spell in an enchanting & mature forest of instrumentation. Did I mention I like the Traveler very
much? A high quality product, @ a most reasonable price, that reminds oneself that music is indeed a "long, long, journey". A beautifully built
product that invites one to stop, come inside, have a closer look & consider what the artist has achieved all with minimal cost or fuss. Seems to me,
that this one is pretty special....

I've also a question as to the MM/MC on the Yamaha A-S2000. As mentioned, I'm using the Dynavector 10x5 cart. It seems a very sweet match w/the arm/phono..... but as always, down the road a bit, does the specs on the integrated support a move to a low output MC? I've only owned MM & don't
really understand the 'lingo'. Yamaha says, 100(?)v/50?, & the volume control
is plenty loud around 10 o'clock, so would I run into any problems attempting
to run the 20xl or the 13d dynavectors?

Thanx....

@Jarcher and @Regismc, do you feel you noticed more and tighter bass upgrading to the Traveler?

When I upgraded my phono preamp from the Pro-ject Tube Phono Box II with upgraded tubes to the Jasmine LP2.0 mkII, the bass definitely tightened up (less boomy and bloated), which is a good thing, but I also feel the need to increase the bass frequencies on a bass tone knob that does not exist on my main preamp. I do not want to add a sub to my system and I hope that the Traveler gives more good tight bass than my Xpression III. My cartridge, the Ortofon MC-3 Turbo is known for delivering a good amount of bass and hopefully the more weighty plinth plus the nice non-carbon arm on the Traveler deliver the goods I want.