[greg7]

Forgive the dumb question (I'm just getting started in analog): I just pulled the trigger on a Traveller and a Clearaudio Aurum Alpha II cartridge. The cartridge weight is 10 grams, which is (?) at the heavier end of the spectrum. Am I OK? I just want to be sure.

The cartridges I see paired with the Traveller are generally 7-8 grams or less (Ortofon 2M, Dynavector 10x5, etc.) and VPI bundles it with the Grado Gold, which is only around 4 grams (!)

[orthobiz]

Call VPI from Tues to Thurs, tell them you have a technical question. You can always ask for Mike. He'll tell you definitively.

In the meantime, you can look at pics of the setups from the reviews and see where the counterweight is with respect to the very back end of the tonearm, see if there's room to be further back yet.

Congrats on the table. Sounds like an auspicious start!

Paul

[roscoeiii]

Forgive the dumb question (I'm just getting started in analog): I just pulled the trigger on a Traveller and a Clearaudio Aurum Alpha II cartridge. The cartridge weight is 10 grams, which is (?) at the heavier end of the spectrum. Am I OK? I just want to be sure.

The cartridges I see paired with the Traveller are generally 7-8 grams or less (Ortofon 2M, Dynavector 10x5, etc.) and VPI bundles it with the Grado Gold, which is only around 4 grams (!)

Also, Vinyl Engine's cart database should give you the info you need, if you know the effective mass of the tonearm (which may be in Vinyl Engine's tonearm database, and would likely be in the Traveller specs on VPI's webpage or elsewhere).

[roscoeiii]

For the Aurum Alpha (not the II, but same mass and likely similar compliance so not a big difference):

http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator_results.php?m=Clearaudio+Aurum%20Alpha&cm=10&dc=15&search=search

And the Traveller arm seems to have an effective mass of 10.2g. So you are very solidly in the green.

[neobop]

The Traveller arm spec is - cart weight 4 - 12g. You should be fine balancing the arm.

Cart compliance is 15cu, same as series 1. You should be fine with the arm mass (12g), also.

Make sure your Traveller has a pebble paint finish, rather than glossy. The first batch with glossy finish have a defective tonearm collar, or they might be missing that part, I'm not sure. If it's glossy, it should be easy to exchange. Good luck with it. 

Not a dumb question at all. 
Welcome to analogue,
neo 

[TheChairGuy]

There are no dumb questions; there are only earnest ones here at Vinyl Circle, Greg   

Please don't ever feel unqualified to ask something that you don't know about vinyl.  There are hundreds of years of experience ready and willing to be tapped - use it.

Thanks,

John / Facilitator

[jarcher]

The Traveller arm spec is - cart weight 4 - 12g. You should be fine balancing the arm.

Cart compliance is 15cu, same as series 1. You should be fine with the arm mass (12g), also.

Make sure your Traveller has a pebble paint finish, rather than glossy. The first batch with glossy finish have a defective tonearm collar, or they might be missing that part, I'm not sure. If it's glossy, it should be easy to exchange. Good luck with it. 

Not a dumb question at all. 
Welcome to analogue,
neo

Can you please elaborate on the defective tonearm collar?  I have an early traveler that would appear to have a glossy finish.

[neobop]

Can you please elaborate on the defective tonearm collar?  I have an early traveler that would appear to have a glossy finish.

     Not really.  I was curious about the Traveler and did a Google search for info. I came across an amateur review with that advice, based on the users experience. From what I understand, the fixed headshell arm has the tonearm wires terminated in a spring loaded lemo connector to facilitate cart swapping/installation. You can disconnect the lemo and remove the entire arm to install a cart. The review said that (apparently) the collar that holds the arm was defective, as was the entire first batch of Travelers.

     This might be something worth calling VPI for, especially if your arm seems insecure.    Sorry. It could be that the user just received a table that didn't have the arm tightened down, but it didn't read that way.  Looking for the review again, which of course I couldn't find, I saw that the table is back ordered, so any retailer, or even VPI might be reluctant to deal with this if you're not having a problem.
neo

[orthobiz]

As originally taught to me by John Chair Guy, if you call Mike at VPI he will tell you the truth and be very helpful. Highly recommended. However, you must call Tues thru Thurs and tell the person answering the phone that you have a technical question and could you speak with Mike.

Paul

[jarcher]

I did see on Audio Karma one post regarding an issue or two, and one of these was with the tonearm coming loose from the gimbal due to the pins being too short - and that this has subsequently been addressed by VPI.  I actually had this problem as well (which I noted in a brief review here in AC).  In my case though I was able to re-assemble it without a problem by adjusting the screws in the gimbal housings.

Will note in passing that I'm not so crazy about the minor aesthetic changes to the Traveler since the first edition.  I.e. I prefer the smooth glossy finish over the new more pebbled one.  I also prefer the look of the former integrated mat over the new more textured one.  Lastly, I prefer the VPI badge on the front to the silk screened VPI logo on the top of the plinth.  For me - given that the tonearm issue has only affected some, and is easily user resolved - I'd prefer a 1st gen table - new or used - for aesthetic reasons........