VPI Traveler w/ Grado Sonata is in the house!

nspindel
nspindel Posts: 5,343
edited April 2013 in 2 Channel Audio
photo 3.jpg
photo 1.jpg


Definitely a step up from the Thorens TD-166 MKII w/ Shure MX97E that I had previously. The Grado is warm, rich, and lush sounding, even without having gotten to the recommended 50 hours break-in time. The VPI is solid and tight, especially on top of the massive cutting board it's sitting on. Since I took these photos I received a set of anti-vibration pads that the cutting board now rests on. The end result is very, very precise music, I'm listening to records that I'm very familiar with and noticing that instruments are so much more precise. There's a certain muddiness/grunge that's gone, quite consistent with what should be happening when you have better control over resonance. I bought it from ElusiveDisc, they did the cartridge install and all of the tonearm adjustments for me. I'm extremely happy with this purchase!
Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited March 2013
    VERY nice!

    That cutting board looks pretty powerful under the TT and actually makes the whole package look pretty spectacular.

    Congrats on the new TT.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    It's massive. The combination of the board and the table is over 50 pounds.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited March 2013
    Very nice, the Traveler looks like a winner for sure, I think you're going to love it, n'joy!

    What's the rest of your set-up? Are you using a dedicated phono pre?
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    No Mike, not a dedicated phono pre. I have the Dared MC-7P which has a tube phono stage, you can see it right underneath the turntable.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    That goes to a Krell KAV-2250 and on out to my 4.1TL's.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited March 2013
    Sweet, I'm sure it sounds as good as it looks.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,498
    edited March 2013
    Congrats on your upgrade!
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    edited March 2013
    very nice tt enjoy the vinyl
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    I want to be listening to it right now, but too busy watching the hoops!
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,222
    edited March 2013
    Very nice tt. Congratulations!
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited March 2013
    nspindel wrote: »
    I want to be listening to it right now, but too busy watching the hoops!

    Be like me...

    Watch the tourney with no sound, and spin some vinyl!
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited March 2013
    Congrats !
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    hochpt21 wrote: »
    Be like me...

    Watch the tourney with no sound, and spin some vinyl!

    Don't have a tv in my music room. Besides, then I can't hear Charles Barkley give me a linguistics lesson.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited March 2013
    nspindel wrote: »
    Don't have a tv in my music room. Besides, then I can't hear Charles Barkley give me a linguistics lesson.

    That's tewwible.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    No. It's a 2-syllable word. Turble.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    hochpt21 wrote: »
    That's tewwible.

    Sounds more like Elmer Fudd.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited March 2013
    Congratulations on the new TT.Enjoy
    Dan
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  • indyhawg
    indyhawg Posts: 1,642
    edited March 2013
    Congrats on the upgrade.
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited March 2013
    nspindel wrote: »
    Sounds more like Elmer Fudd.

    Your right...sorry.

    Terrrible.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • doctorcilantro
    doctorcilantro Posts: 2,028
    edited March 2013
    This table is going to steal a lot of biz from Music Hall, Pro-Ject and company. How do you like the arm? It's not a uni-pivot IIRC.

    Also, do you have to remove the platter to switch to 45rpm?

    Think this has less than .03 wow/flutter spec which is impressive for the price in my opinion, and the delrin plinth!
    thanks!
    Jon
    For Sale 2019:
    Tortuga Audio LDR passive preamp
    Decware EL34 amp
    Allnic H-1201 phono
    Zu Union Cubes
    iFi iDSD DAC, .5m UBS, iFI Gemini cable, Oyaide Tunami XLR 1.3M, Oyaide Tunami Speaker wire 1.5M, Beyerdynamic DT1990 headphones, PS Audio P3 power center

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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited March 2013
    Congrats on the new table, looks very nice!
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    doctorcilantro wrote: »
    This table is going to steal a lot of biz from Music Hall, Pro-Ject and company. How do you like the arm? It's not a uni-pivot IIRC.

    Also, do you have to remove the platter to switch to 45rpm?

    Think this has less than .03 wow/flutter spec which is impressive for the price in my opinion, and the delrin plinth!
    thanks!
    Jon

    Yes - I think this is a great sector of the market for VPI to enter, and I think they will be very successful with this product. Previously their cheapest table was the Scout, which is up in the $2000 range, and they were giving a lot of the entry-level market to Pro-ject and Rega. With the Traveler they should capture a lot of that business.

    The arm is gimbaled, newly designed just for the Traveler.

    Actually wow & flutter is less than .02%, but who's counting :mrgreen:

    Plinth is delrin and aluminum combo. Between the plinth and the cutting board, this thing is rock steady.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Obsession18
    Obsession18 Posts: 191
    edited March 2013
    I have an earlier version of the Traveler with the motor mounted on the side. Although the table is a great performer, keep an eye on the tightness of the inner tonearm pins, they can work loose and the tonearm will become detached from the gimbaled assembly. I had this happen to me a couple of weeks ago, the fix was easy – get everything lined up and in place, then tighten the pins and finally back the pins screws off a quarter turn.
    2-Channel System
    Analog: VPI Traveler TT, Audio Technica 150MLX, Pro-Ject Tube Box DS
    CD Player: Jolida JD-100 Preamp: Cambridge 840E Amp: Odyssey Kismet Stereo
    Spkrs: Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature Systems
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    You're not the first person I've heard having this issue. I think they've fixed that problem. Mine is the most recent revision of the table, it's just been revised.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Obsession18
    Obsession18 Posts: 191
    edited March 2013
    nspindel - the version I have apparently had the pins lengthened to address this issue and yet I had a problem. The tonearm will warn you if it is coming loose, keep an eye out for any additional motion in the gimbal assembly when locking the tonearm in its holder (the pins are spring loaded and as they loosen there will be additional lateral motion in the arm). The factory did use Loctite, but only after the screws had been tighten (applied to the top of the screw and not down in the threads) and very sparingly at that. You will also have to recheck your tracking force after the pin tightening.
    2-Channel System
    Analog: VPI Traveler TT, Audio Technica 150MLX, Pro-Ject Tube Box DS
    CD Player: Jolida JD-100 Preamp: Cambridge 840E Amp: Odyssey Kismet Stereo
    Spkrs: Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature Systems
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    So will this be a long term issue for you? They will keep coming loose and you will need to keep retightening and recalibrating?
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Obsession18
    Obsession18 Posts: 191
    edited March 2013
    nspindel wrote: »
    So will this be a long term issue for you? They will keep coming loose and you will need to keep retightening and recalibrating?

    I'm still debating if I want to apply some additional Locktite (blue instead of red) making sure that this time it makes its way into the threads. I have only had to do it once in the two months I have owned the table and it only took about ten minutes to get everything up and running again.

    Not what I expected out of a table at this price point, especially when you look at how well built the table is. The thing gets a pass though because it sounds so damn good!
    2-Channel System
    Analog: VPI Traveler TT, Audio Technica 150MLX, Pro-Ject Tube Box DS
    CD Player: Jolida JD-100 Preamp: Cambridge 840E Amp: Odyssey Kismet Stereo
    Spkrs: Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature Systems
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    Have you called VPI to get their take on this problem?
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Obsession18
    Obsession18 Posts: 191
    edited March 2013
    nspindel wrote: »
    Have you called VPI to get their take on this problem?

    No I haven't contacted VPI, but I have followed numerous threads regarding this issue on Audio Karma. Posters at AK who have contacted VPI have either been walked through the fix or been told to send their tonearms back to VPI. Others were told by VPI to just put a bit of nail polish over the screw heads, sort of like Locktite I guess.
    2-Channel System
    Analog: VPI Traveler TT, Audio Technica 150MLX, Pro-Ject Tube Box DS
    CD Player: Jolida JD-100 Preamp: Cambridge 840E Amp: Odyssey Kismet Stereo
    Spkrs: Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature Systems
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited March 2013
    Ok, definitely something I will keep an eye on. If VPI is aware of the issue, hopefully they are adjusting the production of these on the newer revision, E.g. using more locktite. So far ago good, though, I love this thing.
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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