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What direction is VPI headed?

First let me state that I own a VPI Prime w/perifial ring, SDS, and a couple extra arm wands so I have invested some $ overall, this being my third VPI table, with that said I am a happy VPI customer but here recently have taken a few notes on their constantly coming up with the next iteration of what ever is moving well and I do believe the Prime is one of those. When they came out with the Prime Signature it was hard not to sell and replace with it but I didn't now the Prime Signature Rosewood is gorgeous but at $6,800.00, now when you get to that cost level I started looking used and have seen the prices dropping ridiculously low on a couple of HRX setups with all the extras for  a lot less than that and they still aren't moving. I know there are those that speak of VPIs marketing from time to time but what is going on.
tooblue

Showing 2 responses by jollytinker

jollytinker
147 posts
 
OMG more VPI bashing... what a waste of time! they're a great family company in a complicated market and they're staying afloat while negotiating a generational transition. Yet they still make top notch products and in my experience they're a model of personalized customer service. What more do you want? Of course they're not perfect. But many companies have diversified product lines (I dunno, Apple and Porsche?). Only with VPI does it become evidence of some kind of bad intentions. I don't get it. 

jollytinker
147 posts
 
@tooblue  you're absolutely right - there was no VPI bashing in your original post and in most of the responses.  I'm responding to a general theme that crops up in threads here on A'gon, which I think is unfair. But I should have clarified that I'm referring to posts that are not actually in this thread, so Mea Culpa!  That said, I can't agree with you @slaw about this alleged "total industry failure." I've had great experiences with VPI and been very well treated by them, but I also don't expect too much hand-holding.  It's a company built by tinkerers, and their products have a certain amount of play built in. You might be pro-antiskate or not. you might prefer one cartridge geometry or another. They all require some kind of trade off, and that's just the nature of the technology.  If you want super simplicity then maybe a VPI turntable is not the best choice - there are plenty of other excellent companies and formats to choose from!  
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