The VPI Turntable Thread

VPI also has great technical support. If you can’t solve it in a day or two, drop them a note. VPI does not require you to be the original owner or for the unit to be under warranty for them to help. It is a small, family owned business.
 
Angsty said:
There may be a thin metal rod, slightly thinner than a toothpick, in your box. It is for azimuth adjustment. Balance it in the groove on the headshell and tweak the azimuth until the rod appears to be level.
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Found the balance rod, which lever/knob adjusts the azimuth given VPI doesn't recommend you loosen the azimuth weights?

Can tell I'll appreciate the additional tweaks available with this table, but outside of tracking force utilizing counterweight they're new to me.

Haven't had time to investigate Left channel feedback. It's only apparent in Phono amp setting. When removing the RCA on the Left of the JMW junction, as soon as the male touches the noise is there, loud at first and a little quieter (but still very much present) once the RCA is secured.

Here's the diagram from VPI's website. Which of these need to be adjusted to obtain a level (right to left) and (nose to tail) tonearm with the proper force?
5e0564_ace92e21f82c4f16b31fbf240604ca57~mv2.jpg

5e0564_c5cbc80163f54250a1fb1c7c8e57d89f~mv2_d_2000_1414_s_2.jpg
 
spydrwebb44 said:
Found the balance rod, which lever/knob adjusts the azimuth given VPI doesn't recommend you loosen the azimuth weights?

Can tell I'll appreciate the additional tweaks available with this table, but outside of tracking force utilizing counterweight they're new to me.

Haven't had time to investigate Left channel feedback. It's only apparent in Phono amp setting. When removing the RCA on the Left of the JMW junction, as soon as the male touches the noise is there, loud at first and a little quieter (but still very much present) once the RCA is secured.

Here's the diagram from VPI's website. Which of these need to be adjusted to obtain a level (right to left) and (nose to tail) tonearm with the proper force?
View attachment 183054

View attachment 183055
Click to expand...
Oh wait, yours is a unipivot arm? Okay I gotta bow out on that one. I thought it was gimbal. I would assume in order to balance the cart you'd loosen the inside azimuth counterweight slightly? But I don't actually know so wait until someone else chimes in. But that's my bet.
 
Mather said:
Oh wait, yours is a unipivot arm? Okay I gotta bow out on that one. I thought it was gimbal. I would assume in order to balance the cart you'd loosen the inside azimuth counterweight slightly? But I don't actually know so wait until someone else chimes in. But that's my bet.
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Yes, unipivot. Thus far it doesn't really intimidate me and I enjoy the idea of better overall contact within the grooves... that made the risk worth taking.
 
Setting the Azimuth

- Using the supplied aluminum rod or a fireplace match or coffee stirrer (something light and about 6” long) place one of them into the groove behind the mounting screws on the tonearm headshell.

- If it is not level loosen the thumbscrew on the drop counterweight and rotate the counterweight around the shaft until the headshell is parallel to the record. Be careful not to change the tracking force setting.

- With the new 3D arm on the Prime you can also rotate the side weights for even finer azimuth adjustment, this lets you leave the tracking force as set. You want the rod to be parallel to the record.

Note that the Classic 3 with unipivot is very similar to the Classic Signature with unipivot.

 
Angsty said:
Setting the Azimuth

- Using the supplied aluminum rod or a fireplace match or coffee stirrer (something light and about 6” long) place one of them into the groove behind the mounting screws on the tonearm headshell.

- If it is not level loosen the thumbscrew on the drop counterweight and rotate the counterweight around the shaft until the headshell is parallel to the record. Be careful not to change the tracking force setting.

- With the new 3D arm on the Prime you can also rotate the side weights for even finer azimuth adjustment, this lets you leave the tracking force as set. You want the rod to be parallel to the record.

Note that the Classic 3 with unipivot is very similar to the Classic Signature with unipivot.

Click to expand...
Thank you, will try this afternoon. My wife shares her office space with my audio room and she just went to catch up on some paperwork. 😁
 
Angsty said:
Setting the Azimuth

- Using the supplied aluminum rod or a fireplace match or coffee stirrer (something light and about 6” long) place one of them into the groove behind the mounting screws on the tonearm headshell.

- If it is not level loosen the thumbscrew on the drop counterweight and rotate the counterweight around the shaft until the headshell is parallel to the record. Be careful not to change the tracking force setting.

- With the new 3D arm on the Prime you can also rotate the side weights for even finer azimuth adjustment, this lets you leave the tracking force as set. You want the rod to be parallel to the record.

Note that the Classic 3 with unipivot is very similar to the Classic Signature with unipivot.

Click to expand...
The ES-series SoundSmith carts also allow for azimuth adjustment via the included alumina mounting rods: https://www.sound-smith.com/dems
 
spydrwebb44 said:
Haven't had time to investigate Left channel feedback. It's only apparent in Phono amp setting. When removing the RCA on the Left of the JMW junction, as soon as the male touches the noise is there, loud at first and a little quieter (but still very much present) once the RCA is secured.
Click to expand...
A loose wire sounds like the likely culprit to me. If feedback continues, phone a friend at VPI; they can help diagnose it remotely. If you have to, you can send the arm and junction box to VPI for analysis and repair.
 
I don’t have direct experience with the Zephyr MIMC Star, but I don’t recall hearing anything specifically about low noise. Here’s a review by HiFi News that may point towards other benefits. I find HiFi News to be pretty trustworthy.

www.hifinews.com

Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC Star Cartridge

Arguably best known for its high-end strain-gauge pick-ups, Soundsmith also offers a series of high- and low-output moving-iron/fixed-coil cartridges. Is the Zephyr a 'star'? The so-called 'vinyl revival' has not only fermented an uptick in sales of both turntables and LP records but it's also...
www.hifinews.com www.hifinews.com
 
With the provided instructions here, I was able to dial in azimuth/VTA. Still trying to figure out the Left channel feedback, as I've tested for loose wires/ground to no avail. Leave first thing tomorrow until Thursday night so I won't get back to this until then, unfortunately.

Progress is good. 😁
PXL_20230924_203158811.PORTRAIT.jpg

PXL_20230924_203117116.PORTRAIT.jpg

PXL_20230924_203048181.PORTRAIT.jpg

PXL_20230924_203002098.PORTRAIT.jpg
 
Now that the Zephyr is nicely dialed in… one way to see if the feedback issue is the table or the cartridge would be to change carts!

Sorry about that late notion, but it’s something to consider for when you get back.
 
Hey @kvetcha, wanted to thank you greatly for the offer regarding demoing the Zephyr. I think that with the cost of the unit it would be too scary for me to have it shipped across the border because any number of things could go wrong on that front, so I think I'll hold off on a demo. But it's very kind of you to offer so I very much appreciate it.
 
Mather said:
Hey @kvetcha, wanted to thank you greatly for the offer regarding demoing the Zephyr. I think that with the cost of the unit it would be too scary for me to have it shipped across the border because any number of things could go wrong on that front, so I think I'll hold off on a demo. But it's very kind of you to offer so I very much appreciate it.
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No worries at all. :)
 
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