VPI

Harry Weisfeld of VPI has been busily designing improvements for all of his tonearms. The new JMW-9 Signature represents the greatest number of improvements and changes. This $1,400 model features stainless steel bearings, a fine tracking force adjustment on the counterweight stem, Nordost Valhalla wiring in the arm and junction box, 2.5 grams more effective mass for lighter cartridges of low compliance, a larger, more solid design, adjustable fluid damping, and a mechanical anti-skate device. This is, effectively, an entirely new and superior arm with significantly better performance than a standard JMW-9. Current owners of the original JMW-9 can have their arms upgraded for a cost of $700. If you just want to buy a JMW-9 with the Valhalla wire, you can have that upgrade for $200. Current owners of a standard JMW-9 can have their arm rewired for $200.

The JMW-10.5, JMW-12.5, and JMW-12.6 have all been replaced with new models, the JMW-10.5i at $2,000, the JMW-12.5i at $2,400, and the JMW-12.6i at $2,400. In the 10.5i, for example, a new base and dog leg were designed to incorporate the full sized azimuth rings of the 12.6i and 9 Signature tonearms. This results in a lower center of gravity, greater stability, lower distortion, and a great cross between the sweetness of the 12.6 and the speed and impact of the 9 Signature. As always, with the JMW-10 series, you can adjust vertical tracking angle while listening. This yields the ultimate in setup control. These three models are also available with Valhalla wiring for an extra $300. Current owners of these or earlier 10 and 12 inch models can have the Valhalla wiring upgrade for $300.

Please contact us at the store if you wish to make arrangements for upgrades to any of these tonearms.

In other VPI news, the new Aries 3 turntable replaces the Aries 2. The Aries 3 is a combination of the Aries 2 and the HR-X. By reconfiguring the HR-X chassis to the shape and size of the Aries, VPI was able to incorporate the unique laminated design properties of the HR-X chassis into the Aries3. The Aries 3 has the speed and cleanliness of the HR-X sound with the natural-sounding mid-range of the Aries 2. This offers vinyl lovers a much more affordable version of the HR-X sound using the more compact size of an Aries. The Aries 3 is a world class turntable in every regard, and, when combined with the newly redesigned JMW-10.5i tonearm, the result is Class A sound.