What Turntable to Buy

Totally agree with Doug,Raul. I'll go out a step further to say that, if you have ears, either VPI is something you will eventually replace once you realize what you bought vs. what else better is out there for similar money. A table designed and made like the Galibier you could actually keep.
How many of each have you seen for sale used? This says alot...

Doug, While I will certainly second the recommendation of the Galibier Gavia (being a satisfied owner myself), your pricing is a bit off the mark. The basic Gavia with a PVC platter is $4500. The standard Gavia with a Gavia platter is $7000, and the price with a Stelvio platter is $8000. See Thom's site for the details.

http://www.galibierdesign.com/prd_gavia.html

Perhaps you were thinking of the new Galibier Serac which, as far as I know, has not yet been released.

Dave

I forgot to mention that my current tt/arm is a VPI MK III with a Rega RB-300 and a Benz Glider cartridge.

I have been in contact with Thom and am awaiting the release of the Serac. I intend to use mine with a Micro Seiki MA-505 tonearm, which Thom also has and occasionally uses in his set-up. I'm actually in search of a cartridge and have been focusing on Shelter and Dynavector. However, based on my recent table search in which I have looked at Acoustic Signature, Acoustic Solid, and some vintage tables, the Serac to me is shaping up to be an excellent long term value.

Clarock, a couple of additional comments. Before my Galibier, I used a VPI 19 Mk.III with SDS and VPI JMW-10. Cartridge was a Glider M2. I went to the Galibier Gavia, first with what is now called the Serac platter (PVC) and I then upgraded to the previous top platter, a Teflon/aluminum platter with lead and oil damping. I've used the VPI arm, an AudioQuest PT-6 and a 12" Moerch DP-6.

The Galibier Gavia is a dramatic improvement over the VPI 19 Mk. III in terms of detail, dynamics, background noise (the background becomes black), and speed stability. These comments apply regardless of platter, arm or cartridges that I've tried. I haven't heard any of the more recent VPI tables, but since you're using the same VPI I had perhaps my comments are relevant.

The Benz cartridges work really well with each of my arms, so I don't think you'll have any compatabilty problems there. That applies not only to the Glider but to the L2 that I am using now.

If I were you, I would think in terms of putting more of my money into the table (in order to get something like the Gavia) and less into the arm or cartridge. From my experience, I know I could live quite happily with the Gavia and something like the AQ PT-6 or a similar arm like your Rega 300 and a decent cartridge like the Glider. Of course, it is also easy to upgrade in the future to an even better sounding arm and cartridge, but the point is you could be happy with a setup like that without any need to upgrade.

I would also recommend the Moerch arms. They are genuine over-achievers.

I hope some of this is useful.

Dave