VPI new turntable series: The Traveler

[pivot]

Here is the price in USA -

http://www.soundstagedirect.com/vpi-ind ... bles.shtml

[bauzace50]

Hi,
Most of the popular "budget" turntables have no removable headshell, and most owners have not expressed a desire for such a feature. But it is SO good to know that the Traveler will have a removable arm-wand for easy cartridge changes! I could imagine having TWO arm-wands for such an application.

Comparing with my SME 309 removable headshell costing around $110.00, and considering the complications involved in its design, the approach chosen for The Traveler seems QUITE logical and convenient, considering it is an entry level machine. I would imagine that the cost of an SME-type removable headshell would take the Traveler outside the "budget"category.

The Traveler is shaping up as a great "entry level" product, with a possibility of the accustomed VPI upgrades. Vewy Intewestingh!

Regards,
b50

[tomytoons]

Does anyone have one of these tables.
Sound???

[DaBroadcasta]

The Traveler certainly looks pretty. But I still haven't seen much in the way of reviews.

[jrobby]

The November issue of Stereophile has a review of the Traveler.The review was done by Stephen Mejias. He used a Dynavector 10X5 cartridge for the review.It is a pretty positive review. No knock on Mejias but I would like to get Fremer's take also.

[jrobby]

It looks pretty sharp in red. Yummy!!!!

[bauzace50]

Looking great! I wonder if they comment anything about the removable tonearm, in regard to easier cartridge mounting?

Thanks for the wonderful photo ,
b50

[iramack]

Just thumbing through my new Stereophile and looked at the cover photo.....
It seems that the photo was taken before Stephen Mejias had both screws for the cartridge. Woops!!

If you read his column in this very same issue about his fear of mounting cartridges, he mentions that the original Dynavector he received had only one screw so he abandoned the project until he received the newer version. Hmmmm. Wonder what was up with that now that we see it WAS mounted with ONE screw?? Who releases the photos for publication? They will have some "splaining" to do!! lol

Steve

[iramack]

Meantime, I REALLY want one of those!! Gorgeous piece of equipment!!

[tomytoons]

There is a black "open box" on Agon for $999 right now.
That is a pretty good price.

[Jim Leach]

I like the looks of it as well as the longer tonearm.

Based on the basic design, price point and color choices, their primary target audience is clear (Rega) and I think hey are doing to do well with that market if it sounds as good or better than Rega offerings at the same price point...

(observation from a Rega owner that would not throw one of these away!)

[abs1]

I've owned my Traveler for almost two months. I ordered it with the factory installed Grado Prestige Gold1 cartridge and a red plinth. I really like it. A lot! It's a competition killer at its price point. Made in the USA out of real materials, not mdf and plastic and with excellent workmanship.

I've always enjoyed the Grado "house sound" and I'm very pleased with the Gold1/Traveler combination, but I've been wondering about how my Traveler would sound using a totally different breed of cartridge so if I can count on the UPS guy a Denon DL-103 cartridge and its companion AU-300LC step-up transformer should be in my possession by this afternoon. There's not much info on the Traveler gimbal tonearm available, but from what I can see it appears to be a medium mass design and while it might not be "ideal" for a low compliance cartridge like the DL-103 I'm going to give it a try. Installation shouldn't be a problem, especially since the entire arm assembly easily detaches from the 'table simply by unplugging the tonearm wiring connector and loosening the setscrew holding the arm assembly to the plinth. VTA setting is a snap with the large thumbscrew on the threaded arm base right there in front of you allowing seemingly infinite adjustment.

Well, hopefully I'll have the DL-103 installed soon and once I've got the break-in out of the way I'll be back here to post the results.

[bauzace50]

abs1,

Thankyou for the update, and best wishes on the turntable's performance for you. Here is a question for you to add some detail, if you please:

VPI specifically advertise (in their webpage) that the Traveler has "easy cartridge mounting" due to the removable tonearm feature.

Your comment above seems clear about this, but this is a request for confirmation. Would you judge the removable tonearm feature as a boon towards easier cartridge installation?

Would you judge this to be easy to do, or is it delicate operation?

The reason for thisrequest is that ease of cartridge swapping is a top consideration for me. Otherwise, I would just go with a different turntable with removable headshell ( such as my present SME 309).

Thankyou,
bauzace50

[abs1]

It's certainly not as easy as swapping headshells, but it's the easiest arm to R&R that I've ever seen. You just unplug the tonearm cable from the top of the plinth just like the other VPI's. Then you loosen a setscrew with a serrated head where the arm assembly fits into the plinth and lift the complete arm assembly up and off.

I received my DL-103 yesterday, about an hour after I posted. I found that the removeable arm feature allows an easier cartridge swap. After removing the arm I took it over to my desk and placed it on a quarter-inch thick foam pad that was kinda dense. This allowed me to change cartridges under the illumination of my desk lamp and position the arm in the various positions that I wanted. Much, much easier that squirming around while attempting the job on a fixed arm/headshell model, especially with these old eyes

Just a short update on the sound with the DL-103 vs. the Gold1. I fully realize that it's easy to confuse "different" with "better" at first listening, but I've got over eight hours of serious listening on it now and so far the Denon stands heads and shoulders above the Grado on every kind of music I've played up to this point (mostly classic rock followed by jazz and a very small sampling of classical).

More to follow.