Some noise issues with my new VPI Prime


Hi everyone,

Was fortunate enough to purchase a dealer demo VPI Prime.  Have been enjoying it for the last week or so - it's a wonderful sounding table.  However, I am having a couple of noise issues with it.  It's still under warranty, but I was hoping to find a home cure if possible.   There are two issues:

1)  Motor noise.  This is from the mechanical operation of the motor - it doesn't change with volume of the system, but it's audible during quiet passages.  The motor makes a slight buzzing/rubbing noise with each rotation.  I am guessing that some lubrication is all that is needed.  I've tried setting the motor on a rubber pad, but that doesn't make any difference. 

2)  Buzzing from the tonearm wire.  I get a buzzing that increases with the volume. By 50% on the volume dial it is quite pronounced (you can hear it from the next room).  It is coming from the wire that runs from the tonearm to the Lemo connector on the junction box.  If I touch the wire, the buzzing changes as I move the wire around.  If I raise the tonearm very slightly off the unipivot spike, the noise becomes extremely loud.   I tried to wrap some tinfoil around it, but that didn't make any difference.  Could this be a defect?  

Any thoughts on some simple fixes that might address these issues?

Thanks,
Scott
smrex13
A 4 thousand dollar turntable shouldn't have the loud noise issue.  On my VPI scout, the motor makes a slight whirring sound but I get no noise from the arm, wire out of arm or Lenco connector.  However, my turntable is 12 years old. 
Scott, my Prime displayed a similar motor noise problem. However, I could feel that the motor shaft was loose, too much play. I bought it as a dealer demo, the dealer had me send the motor back and he sent me a new one, which worked fine.

Outside of that the table has worked very well.
Your dealer should take care of this for you. This is not your problem. It is your dealer's problem. He should be all over this to make it right for you. 
Scott, according to your description, not too many folks can enjoy turntable with these kind of issues!
You must be da man indeed!
In other words, it's tough to guess weather you're really enjoying it or not, but we all should only speak positive right?
To me it seems clearly manufacturing defect.