Via text to OJ: "Send me a phono pre. ASAP. Sorry for last minute notice. Got a TT"

I know quite a few of you guys have been seriously considering going to vinyl. The truth is, I've been secretly looking for table for quite a while - despite telling you guys not to go down that rabbit hole. Every now and then, a great deal, not merely a good deal, but a fantastic deal that Donald Trump would be proud of, presents itself. About a year ago, I lost out on a Clear Audio table (one of those big platter units with multiple armboards) with good tonearm on Audiogon I have been kicking myself over it since then. I had every chance in the world to click BUY, but I hesitated for about an hour. When I made up my mind, it was gone. Sold. So when I saw that this thing had dropped in price to somewhere between a multi-bit Gungnir and Yggy, I did not hesitate. I apologize to those few folks I have been in communication with concerning a DIY turntable, but this was too interesting of a table for me to pass up. After putting the numbers together, a DIY table was not going to beat this in terms of price-performance.

The VPI Classic has a two inch platter, all aluminum (actually my preference over acrylic which tends to sound too dead, unless sandwiched with other materials or loaded with lead shot). Total weight of the table is near 60 lbs. These are good things. I've always liked higher mass tables. While there were things I like and didn't like about the VPI sound (specifically the Aries, Scout, Scout Master, etc.), I figured I'd take a chance since the Classic is sort of a departure for VPI when they used to keep the motor assembly totally separate. With the Classic series, I believe the motor is attached to directly to the plinth, probably with some kind of absorption material in between. I am not totally sure so I'll defer to the resident experts like DaveBSC here who might know more about it.

In any event, I am fantastically pleased with this table. Yeah, the unipivot arm is a bit of an oddity, and I don't like how the azimuth adjustment on it works (by rotating the counterweight), but in the end, the arm and table work well as a system. And yes, IMO, this is a better table than the Aries, Scout, Scout Master tables I've heard in the past. Although as we say here: too many variables. However, I can confidently say that I extremely pleased with all aspects of playback, even with the POS Project phono-preamp, which might be one of the worst in current existence. Maybe the Creek might be worse, but that's another story. There was always a thing or two just not quite right with those other VPI tables mentioned. Still I'd take any VPI over most Rega (yuck) or non-modded Linn LP12 (OK, but yuck in specific ways). I've owned fairly expensive several tables and arms in the past, and the VPI Classic is by far the best yet.

Anyways, the joys of being a dad.

"Hey what's that? How does that work?"

"You know sound is like waves. There are little bumps on the records."

"Oh that's cool."

"Take a listen. It sounds different from CDs or computer doesn't it?"

"Yeah... it sounds different" HOLDING BOTH HANDS UP" it sounds there."

And yes, this does sound better than the Yggy, even with that horrible phono-preamp in the way. I hope you guys realize that Mike Moffat is probably listening to his Decca cartridges right now. Yeah, he's a vinyl nut. Digital sucks. But that's exactly the kind of guy who we want to make digital.

P.S. Bonus points to whoever can identify the album (not hard if you grew up during that time).