VPI Traveler MKII w/ Grado Sonata wooden cartridge
nspindel
Posts: 5,343
Those who have been following my rotation of equipment know what it means if this turntable is up for sale. It's Prime time for me! Now that the Mrs. and I have moved on to life in a small apartment, I've been on a mission to get rid of all my surplus and redundant gear, sell everything off, and build a new system around the VPI 299D amplifier. As I sold off stuff, I realized I'd not only have enough cash to pay for the new amp, but I'd also be in striking distance of the killer Prime turntable. I put in my order today for the Prime with the Soundsmith Zephyr MKII cartridge. So now up for sale goes the Traveler, which is going to make someone very, very happy.
I'm offering up what I'd have to say is a killer deal. This table was recently discontinued, but sold for $1599, and the Grado cartridge was $600. It was discontinued because the Scout Jr. came in at right around the same price, but it had a much better upgrade path than the Traveler.
I would estimate that the Grado has somewhere around 300-400 hours on it tracking at 1.6 grams, and every record I play has been cleaned with Mofi solutions on a VPI 16.5 machine. I've looked at the stylus under a jeweler's loop and it looks beautiful. So the stylus should easily have more than half of it's life left.
The table is a final generation Traveler in black. Rock solid performer and designed with a Grado cartridge in mind. You could purchase it factory bundled with one of the entry level Grados, but I decided to step up my game to the Sonata.
I really can't speak highly enough about this turntable. I had a vintage Thorens with a Shure Mx97e, prior to this, and the VPI/Grado just blew it away. I don't really think you can compliment a product more than by passing it along because you are stepping up in the manufacturer's product line. I wouldn't be buying a VPI Prime if I didn't love the Traveler enough to invest even more money in VPI.
Turntable with Grado cartridge is offered for $999 shipped in CONUS, might ask for a few bucks more if you're in Alaska or Hawaii. I will disassemble and re-pack in factory foam and box. All original materials included.
Thanks for having a look, PM with interest.
More pics to follow, but I love this one:
I'm offering up what I'd have to say is a killer deal. This table was recently discontinued, but sold for $1599, and the Grado cartridge was $600. It was discontinued because the Scout Jr. came in at right around the same price, but it had a much better upgrade path than the Traveler.
I would estimate that the Grado has somewhere around 300-400 hours on it tracking at 1.6 grams, and every record I play has been cleaned with Mofi solutions on a VPI 16.5 machine. I've looked at the stylus under a jeweler's loop and it looks beautiful. So the stylus should easily have more than half of it's life left.
The table is a final generation Traveler in black. Rock solid performer and designed with a Grado cartridge in mind. You could purchase it factory bundled with one of the entry level Grados, but I decided to step up my game to the Sonata.
I really can't speak highly enough about this turntable. I had a vintage Thorens with a Shure Mx97e, prior to this, and the VPI/Grado just blew it away. I don't really think you can compliment a product more than by passing it along because you are stepping up in the manufacturer's product line. I wouldn't be buying a VPI Prime if I didn't love the Traveler enough to invest even more money in VPI.
Turntable with Grado cartridge is offered for $999 shipped in CONUS, might ask for a few bucks more if you're in Alaska or Hawaii. I will disassemble and re-pack in factory foam and box. All original materials included.
Thanks for having a look, PM with interest.
More pics to follow, but I love this one:
Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
Comments
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Congrats on the Prime. You are going to love it with the SoundSmith.2 Channel Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II, 2 REL Carbon Limited, Norma Revo IPA-140B, Lumin U2 Mini, VPI Prime w/SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC, Modwright PH 150, Denon DP-59l w/Denon DL-301MKII, WAY Silver 3 Ana+ Speaker Cables, WAY Silver 4+ Interconnect Cables, AudioQuest Niagara 7000 w/Dragon and Hurricane Power Cables
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Thanks!Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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Nice upgrade and AWESOME price on the Traveler/Grado!
If I had the funds, this would be on its way to NY... -
Bump for this...
I wanted this thing so bad, and Neil graciously answered all of my PM's while I considered. Wasn't able to pull the trigger.
You won't find a TT/Cart combo at this price...especially one that you know has been taken care of by someone trusted.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 -
Thanks Paul. I'd love to see this stay in the family, but I do need to get it moving so I can pay for the Prime when the credit card bill shows up. So I did just list this on Craigslist as well, and after about another week I'm going to put it on eBay if it's not sold yet.Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance. -
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If I wasn't trying to get OUT of the vinyl game, this would be gone. I waaaaaaaaant this but my checks and balance (wife) says no.
Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!! -
Getting OUT of the vinyl game? Get with the program man, the world's going the other direction!Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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Here are a few reviews of the Traveler. A couple of these are from the first version. It only improved with the second version:
http://www.stereophile.com/content/vpi-industries-traveler-turntable#OmqIT4M1EdMmwKH2.97
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue61/traveler.htm
http://www.analogplanet.com/content/vpi-traveler-plants-american-flag-mid-entry-level-turntable-territory#KUWESHYRb0XraEoP.97
Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance. -
Deal pendingGood music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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Awesome!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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SOLD! Leaving the family though, it sold on HeadFi.Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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Just shipped this to my buyer from headfi who works at Dolby Labs in LA. Pretty proud to be shipping my turntable to one of the biggest digital audio labs in the world!Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
