My 35yr old Sota Comet has been showing its age so the search for a new turntable started a few weeks ago. I don't have 10's of thousands in equipment to support paying insane cash for a new turntable I set my budget at about or less than $2000 including cartridge. Id pretty much decided on a VPI Player or a Rega P6. Both highly reviewed and good customer support. During the research older VPI Aries line kept being referred to as a solid platform to refurbish and upgrade. I checked out Facebook Market place and found an Aries 3 for sale. The price had started at 3500, dropped to 2000 then in conversation became a make offer. This peaked my interest.

Yesterday I called a well regarded store outside Los Angeles, Upscale Audio, to ask their opinion based on my current set up and what they would recommend. As I ran through my equipment (I'll list at end) I mentioned I had access to the VPI to possibly buy. This changed the conversation and they stated, "If it were me, I'd get get the older VPI and use any extra for an upgraded sound stage/pre-amp and Cart". I was surprised they didn't pressure me to buy something from them and thanked him for his honesty. He asked if there was a local person to go through it and set up properly, which there is, he said to go see them, buy a good cart and see what phono stages they represent and buy from them. He did recommend one they sold which would pair well.

After this conversation, I contacted the seller again, went and looked at it. WOW for such a higher end piece of equipment it had not been taken care of well, dirty, dusty, drive belt missing, not adjusted. I took a chance at tossed out a number of $800.... no haggling she accepted. I handed her the cash, loaded it up, brought it home, took it apart, gave it a good cleaning, put together a plan of needs.

VPI Aries 3

on pickup


after disassembly and cleaning (yes I know the kitchen needs the same, I ate dinner first )









Needs:
drive belt
nub under tonearm for cueing support arm
Platter clamp
Dust Cover (never came with one)

I'll put either a Sumiko Blackbird, or an Ortofon 2m Black cart

upgrades someday
20# Platter
VTA on the fly
possibly anti-skate assembly (though VPI has differing views on this)

Rest of my system
Arcam AVR 850
Arcam CD73
Pro-ject S2 phono stage
Monitor Audio Silver 6's
GoldenEar Supersub x2

To say I'm excited to put together a Reference level turntable for initially less than $2000 is an understatement


************
Updated questions….
Considering upgrading other components to let it shine to potential

I’ve ordered a Soundsmith Zephyr Mkiii MC cart

Solid state or tube preamp?
Brands?

Main amp. SS or tube? Possibly yo tie into the Home theater 7ch?
Brands?

Power conditioner? With surge protection?
If I’m looking in the upper tier components, I’d want to to operate properly, but also be protected more than a standard surge protector. I think. This a whole new realm of gear for me

I don’t have an unlimited open checkbook so considering used, demo, refurbs

Let’s say budget up to $10,000

Warmth, open soundstage preferred



Let’s have fun

This message has been edited. Last edited by: snwghst,

That's a beautiful table. It drive's me crazy how someone can acquire such a fine piece of gear and then fail to maintain it. Glad to see it has a new home where it will be appreciated.

Keep 'em spinnin'!

Awesome, love it!

Nice stuff.

thats a great looking turntable

congrats

I bought a Dual 1229 while serving in the Navy. That was about 50 years ago. I haven’t used it in 25 years but I’m planning on pulling it out and cleaning it up.

My B&O 3000 has served me well coupled with my McIntosh for about 50 years. Digital on the pc is so convenient, but analog rules.

So help me out here - and this is an honest question. What does a $3000 turntable offer over a good old Soundesign unit from the 70's?

I suppose it's like a $39 Timex vs a $6000 Rolex, but what do you get for your money when talking turntables?

Talked to the analog specialist at a local store today. He’s very familiar with VPI having set them up in a previous store he worked at. Soon as I get the parts and pieces to get it running again I’m going to bring it to have him go through and dial in.

He’s going to put a Sound-Smith Zephyr MK iii MC cartridge

Keeping within my budget pair it with a Pro-Ject tube phono stage

Ill be into it about $2200. 200 above my initial budget

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:
So help me out here - and this is an honest question. What does a $3000 turntable offer over a good old Soundesign unit from the 70's?

I suppose it's like a $39 Timex vs a $6000 Rolex, but what do you get for your money when talking turntables?

Good analogy. Can also look at it as the difference between a hipoint and a Swiss P210

Basically Soundstage, separation, clarity through Resonance control with precision parts

That’s the basic of it

This message has been edited. Last edited by: snwghst,

Well...it may look a little rough around the edges - but looks don't make a turntable sing.

I'm betting it's going to be beaut when you get it set up.

This year I'm hoping to get a phono stage that switches between MM and MC and a Hana EL cart.


Rick

Enjoy your turntable. Still have my Thorens 126MkII although have not played it in a year.

that's a cool looking turntable, I've never seen that model, look forward to end results when you get it rolling. I have nothing on that level but recently bought a Technics SL1500 and love the sound.

I'd guess she inherited it or something similar. Most people that purchase equipment of that caliber tend to care for it.

I would have thought she didn't know what she had..but she obviously did based on the initial ask. Good on you to rescue that fine equipment. I just found a bunch of old records in my stuff and I plan on going down that rabbit hole once I get to the new house...

when you have it all set up play Dark Side of the Moon. A great piece for turntable.

Additional questions in OP

What do the audiophiles of the forum recommend

I do not have a direct experience with your questions, however:

I played in a band and the tube amps always sounded better, warmer, than the solid state amps being used on stage. An all tube amp, i.e. preamp and power amp tubed, can set you back thousands of dollars depending on the wattage you want. If you want to thump your neighbors out of their beds, it'll cost you some coin. However, you can get loud with a low wattage amp and still have the clarity without going deaf for a few hundred dollars. You don't need to break the bank on an amp, unless you are competing with the Jones's.

A power conditioner would not hurt either. Not only for this equipment but any electronic device. That said though unless you experience a lot of brown outs, a surge protector will work too and in most cases will be all you need. I have a couple Monster Power surge protectors for my equipment. They are rack mountable, so not a power strip, and help keep things looking orderly. They will not regulate the voltage if you have rise and falls in your voltage, but will shut down with a spike. I have never had them shut down, ever. Furman is known mainly in the musicians circle and also have surge protectors.

If you want a voltage regulator to keep a constant 120 volts, you'll have to shop around. The quick Google search I did found mostly discontinued units. Monster Power and Furman each had units and are both discontinued. They were about $2000 back in the day and also served as surge protectors.

Most of this equipment can be had for well less than your budget you posted. Good luck and let us know what you decide on.

The VPI is a great table.
As for carts, I'm a big Denon MC fan.

For your recent questions I'd advise joining and then posting here:
https://www.audiosciencereview...m/index.php?reviews/

From my knothole, as a bang for your buck guy, I've avoided the extraneous for the most part and have gone for solid great sounding system components as described here:
https://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/320.html
In the past I've posted pictures of both my stereo and home theater systems as well as close ups of my turntable and equipment rack here on sigforum. Yes I have separate systems as mixing them and their objectives never passed my sanity check as diluted compromised results would not be acceptable.

quote:

Originally posted by petr:
I do not have a direct experience with your questions, however:

I played in a band and the tube amps always sounded better, warmer, than the solid state amps being used on stage. An all tube amp, i.e. preamp and power amp tubed, can set you back thousands of dollars depending on the wattage you want. If you want to thump your neighbors out of their beds, it'll cost you some coin. However, you can get loud with a low wattage amp and still have the clarity without going deaf for a few hundred dollars. You don't need to break the bank on an amp, unless you are competing with the Jones's.

A power conditioner would not hurt either. Not only for this equipment but any electronic device. That said though unless you experience a lot of brown outs, a surge protector will work too and in most cases will be all you need. I have a couple Monster Power surge protectors for my equipment. They are rack mountable, so not a power strip, and help keep things looking orderly. They will not regulate the voltage if you have rise and falls in your voltage, but will shut down with a spike. I have never had them shut down, ever. Furman is known mainly in the musicians circle and also have surge protectors.

If you want a voltage regulator to keep a constant 120 volts, you'll have to shop around. The quick Google search I did found mostly discontinued units. Monster Power and Furman each had units and are both discontinued. They were about $2000 back in the day and also served as surge protectors.

Most of this equipment can be had for well less than your budget you posted. Good luck and let us know what you decide on.

Whenever I’ve auditioned gear I always piss the salespeople off. They want to turn it up. I judge gear on how well it sounds at low volume levels. I attribute this to my father. “Anything can sound good loud, listen low, faults are easier to hear”