Has anyone heard the VPI Classic yet

Good review, thanks for the pointer. Makes me want to own a Raven. :-)

Seriously, are the "rich-toned," "tonal color" qualities he attributes to the Raven available from any $2,500 turntables?

Good question. I do think it's unfair to compare the Classic to the raven AC, but the way I think about it, is if the Classic tt + modified JMW 10.5 arm's primary strength is PRaT, then one should look for cart and phono stage that lends more emphasis to midrange tonality and textural timbres (maybe Koetsu, Benz, etc...). This is where system matching becomes the key to 'voicing' the entire tt system.

If they compared it to the TW Raven AC then I think this Classic should do fairly well compared to the TW cheaper model the Raven One $6500 ?

Here is another review from today:
http://www.hemagazine.com/VPI_30th_Anniversary_Classic_Review

I ended up buying one months ago. It sounds incredible and the build quality is insane.

Fruff1976...just curious what cart and phono have you pared up with the Classic? Also, did you audition many different carts and is the Classic revealing of their different sonic characteristics? Thx for the link to the HE Mag review.