System edited: Well the conversion to the small Maggie Super MMG system was complete last year. I'm very happy with the changes, and like the room a lot. I do wish I had known the Maggie .7's were coming out, I would have waited and ordered them instead. Now that I've bought these and the corresponding Mye Stands (great job Grant, as always), I don't feel like switching out for what might be a minor, if any upgrade. Funny that I never think about changing our my turntable, as much as I have always liked to try new gear. I really love the Classic, kudos again to Harry at VPI. I had a VPI Typhoon which I seldom used so I sold it to a record shop who would ge more use out of it. Then I missed having a cleaning machine, so I bought a Nitty Gritty Mini Pro 1 since it does both sides at one time. I'm really happy with it. I buy mostly new records, and this is perfect to get off the release compound from new records, and clean deep dust from records that are played a lot. If I need to do mult-step cleaning I just do it manually on the Nitty and them vacuum both sides. Works really well. Not the suction of the VPI 17, Typhoon, or I assume the new one they have. But works great. I'd love to do a DIY ultrasonic cleaner. It looks like you just buy an existing cleaner and repupose it with an external spinning mechenism. Anyone with experience at this?

macdadtexas May 31, 2015 13:15

System edited: sold the Harbeth's and AR amp, moving back to Maggies. I got a Super MMG system for the smaller room, just not enough space for even the 1.7's to breath. I'm hopeful, I'll post pictures when all in.

macdadtexas June 27, 2014 13:36

System edited: Well for now, I'm settled. I'm still thinking of changing out the speakers and amp combo. I miss the sound of Maggies tremendously, but the room is too small for them to breath. I'm thinking maybe the Super MMG system would work, but I need to move the turntable since the Maggies are still 48" high. Pretty happy right now though.

macdadtexas February 27, 2014 18:39

System edited: Pictures when I choose a new rack

macdadtexas December 19, 2013 21:34

System edited: I'm almost done. Still adding more sound/bass mitigation, and I need a new rack system. But I am actually loving the new gear, so much fun to change it all out. I miss my Maggies though.

macdadtexas December 19, 2013 21:13

System edited: More to folllow

macdadtexas December 04, 2013 21:57

System edited: Evolving, more next week.

macdadtexas December 04, 2013 21:53

System edited: It's been a long time since any changes. I don't currently have a DAC, since I listen to 99% vinyl, but I'm intrigued by the new Oppo 105 and I may replace my Oppo 83 with that, and use it as an external DAC as well. The Sanders Amp is fantastic, very happy with it. I also did some tube rolling with great success, and started using the phono stage from my preamp again. I do like the sound, but I miss the modded PS Audio, it was better. New tubes for the phono section have closed the gap though.

macdadtexas February 09, 2013 15:05

System edited: I've moved houses, and cities, and have a new room. I need to work on the acoustics of the room, they suck, but I have made some other changes, and have a projector now, so that's cool.

macdadtexas March 25, 2012 02:17

they sound nice, but they are not in the same league. The K-Horns would be a better comparison, not really fair. I do really like the modded Heresey II's though. I true bargain of the century

macdadtexas September 23, 2011 13:48

Wondering how you like the Klipsch in the other system compared to the Maggies here?

mapman September 23, 2011 11:08

System edited: edited the system, new sub and cartridge. Don't miss the DAC, never listen to digital.

macdadtexas November 16, 2010 11:27

System edited: I am DAC-less. Never used it, so I guess I didn't need it, but is was the best of all the DAC's I tried. Thank you to Bryston.

macdadtexas September 19, 2010 00:45

Don't know why my last link did not work. Try this-

maybe it will @#$%^&* work this time

srwooten September 17, 2010 17:56

If your likin' the La Familia try this-

Del Dueño - Jerezito

Muy Bueno!

srwooten September 16, 2010 23:25

Thanks, I do like the Reserva De La Familia!!

macdadtexas September 16, 2010 21:44

That's some pretty good Tequila.

srwooten September 15, 2010 23:35

I think I am going to move to a SoundSmith "The Voice" in ebony. I have tried some others, I do love the sound of my Grado, it's very warm, dynamic, but highly detailed.

macdadtexas July 26, 2010 16:40

Did you ever try out any of those other carts, or still going with the Grado? I'm toying with the idea of a Grado for my Classic.

jerico July 26, 2010 13:19

Great system by the way

tzh21y July 14, 2010 12:25

T-Z glad to hear it. I think they help the most with sibalence at the end of a record. The guy who makes them couldn't be any nicer too, great guy.

macdadtexas July 10, 2010 15:22

My tracking is much better on my Scout now. It took me forever to get everything setup right. I cannot tell you how many hours it took me to do this. I was ready to give up but I did learn a lot. I thought it was my cartridge, It really takes time to get the alignment right, especially for the first time attempting it. The mintlp did help. I could have never done it without it.

tzh21y July 10, 2010 11:36

I have heard exactly what you said. Thanks for your input.

tzh21y July 03, 2010 20:50

I never had any type of tracking problem with the Scout, they seem about the same as far as that piece of the analog pie.

I had trouble with my Scout sounding bright, especially compared to the Clearaudio table that came before it. I had it on a Gingko platform, tried some different cartridges, and used both the SDS and the periphery ring, but my scout always was brighter than I wanted it to be.

When I got the Classic, it was a whole different ball of wax right out of the box. Warmer, smoother, faster right from the start. In fact, I didn't use the periphery ring most of the time (I do now, it's just stupid not to), and I found that I didn't need the SDS with this table. Also, an isolation platform made no difference. I think it's the "whole system" approach that VPI took on this table that made the difference. You know they didn't expect this type of response, I heard it was supposed to be a niche product for the 30 year anniversary, that just took off.

The only problem I have had, and talked with VPI about, is that the new Grado Statement The Reference 1 cartridge I have has caused hum. That bothers me, but the guys at VPI told me that with the unshielded low output MI cartridge, and the location of the motor in the plinth that was just a byproduct. No real fix. That said, they told me they use the same Grado cartridges in their test gear, and live with the hum because the cartridge has such a great sound to it.

I have been given a few cartridge choices, Soundsmith Voice from several, of similar cartridges that are really well shielded, or some fixes to the motor shielding problem, but I have not acted on any of them yet. It's really a pretty small problem.

As an aside, when I bought a MintLP tractor for this table, I was suprised/disappointed/happy to find that with the VPI gig I had gotten the cartridge setup dead on first time. How often does that happen?

Good luck, if you get one you won't be sorry. I think it's a huge upgrade over the other VPI tables, including the Aries, that I have had.

macdadtexas July 03, 2010 12:13

I have been flirting with the idea of upgrading my table to the Classic. I have the scout. What can you tell me about the differences in each? I am on the edge. Did you notice that it tracked better?

tzh21y July 03, 2010 07:07