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Another VPI Classic and SS Zephyr thread

Well, a post actually. It would become a "thread" if someone would respond. If Retipper (Peter Lederman) or HW (we all know who he is) would respond, this would become "a damn good thread".
I am the original owner of the first edition of the VPI Classic, the one with the squared off corners of the walnut base. I bought it from Galen Carol and when I asked him which cartridge and phono stage he recommended, he suggested the Benz Glider and Simaudio LP5.3 which he also sold me.
I always liked the sound, but never was in love with it. I played with different phono stages, interconnects, a Fozgometer, a Mint LP, a USB microscope, different feet for the table, etc. Small changes, but nothing huge. I installed a different brand new Glider and then a SS re-tipped Glider ($250 tip). The re-tipped Glider caused a substantial improvement.
By now you might well ask-"what improvement are you talking about and what didn't you like?" The sound was too Hi-Fi, there was little or no body and breath to the sound, it was a tad too sterile. There was zero soundstage. I have a rebuilt Thorens TD124 with a VPI 9T and a Benz Glider and it has always show much more life and body, though also little in the way of sound staging.
This last weekend, I installed a SS Zephyr upon the recommendation of an unknown salesperson at MusicDirect. I anguished over the Mark I and Mark II and chose the Mark I. I am not going to tell you that the Zephyr has shocked me with the improvement. I expected "different" and that is what I got. I do prefer it. The sound is a bit more course, notes do not come across as finely delineated as with the Benz, but the life and jump factor are there, the sound staging I expect is excellent. Female vocals sound a bit "throatier" and I unless that changes, I will give the Benz the nod there, but for most music, I am inclined to keep the Zephyr. My conclusion is that nobody knows his product better than the now-retired HW and nobody knows cartridges better than Mr. Lederman and there is a reason for HW's prior recco of Grado's, despite their shortcomings, and now the collaboration with SS. It may largely be the unipivot but I suspect it also has to do with the overall mass and characteristics of the JMW arm. I think it needs a higher mass cartridge than the Benz Glider as well. Thoughts? Does anyone claim to have first-hand experience with comparing MM or MI with MC and still preferring MC with this particular table?



Edits: 08/19/14

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Topic - Another VPI Classic and SS Zephyr thread - FSonicSmith 05:16:18 08/19/14 (10)

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