Project Xtension 12 or VPI Classic 3

VPI has a very active and friendly customer service. If you have a problem/question, they will make it right. They do everything in their power to please their customers. Classic 3 and Benz LP is a great combination (I have an LPS - even better). The Classic and Black is very good as well.

Thanks for the responses.

Will the Conrand Johnson ET3 SE be sufficient for the phono stage?

I am about to sent it back to CJ to have it installed.

Is there something else that you would recommend in the $2000 range for a phono pre?

Zd542 i heard both tt in same system, but sadly not in same time. At most 1 month distance between demos. System was ; yg anat professional speaker, ar ref 5(maybe se), ar ref 610, transperent ref cables(mm or mm2 not sure), ar ref 2 phono. Both tt had ortofon jubilee and benz lp cartridges. Inmho Vpi classic was better in every way, again imho benz had a better chemistry with vpi and ar phono. Also i used Extension, i cant say anything bad for the price/performance or building quality, but simply classic 3 is better. Of course i am doing this comparing with an assumption that extension has the project 12" tone arm. If you mount an ikeda 407 things may change, i do not know.

12-26-13: Jperry
When someone says one is better than the other they need to also be able to say they have heard both in the same system.

While I do agree with this, personal tastes are also critical as to what is "better". I have seen many times when several audiophiles were listening to the same comparison in the same room at the same time yet had different perspectives of the "winner". Better is in the ear of the beholder. So any opinions expressed should be taken with a very large grain of salt.

Taking into account everything you and the other posters have said, my take is that you would be happy with either system. Just make sure the phono preamp is up to the task.