Good, better, best. VPI Classic 1 accessories and upgrades.

Pmotz...the 3D arm has no sound. The difference between the 3D and the 10.5 is very clear. The 10.5 sounds a bit bright, and certainly more hi-fi...not natural. If you value natural, you will value the 3D. Also...I have used Bearpaws and Terrastones. Bearpaws is the better device. Also...I've use the Gingko. It was awful, took away the low bass, and pumped the midbass...ruined the midrange...I quickly sold it.

Sound experience. The 3D arm is well liked, but definitely a very expensive upgrade...almost enough to make the Prime push the Classic into a piece of history. Still like the classic look a lot more, though, and style affinity still counts. I have a mix of terrastones and eden sound brass throughout my system and can try both...although the terracones are at the base of my speaker stands....might be a little tough. Dan has a lot of good things to say about the advantage of the terracones and has always been pretty accurate in my experience...and the black looks very cool....

Wood has always made the best sounding platforms for isolation and decoupling to my ear. All my gear is on myrtlewood plinths/platforms (which have edensound brass footers!), but my source dried up so the VPI is going on a 2" block of maple on a wall mounted shelf. I'm thinking that should be pretty damn sweet even with the standard arm.

I'm thinking the Funk FIrm 5mm Achromat. Any experience out there with that piece on VPI?
http://www.thefunkfirm.co.uk/turntables/page21/page21.html

Macdadtexas, why did you hate the Aries? I have been using one for 10 years and I think it is a great table. When I asked the local Vpi dealer if I should upgrade to the classic he said it would be a downgrade. He said the original Aries is one of the best tables they ever built.

Taters....you're right but make sure the Classic platter is spinning.