VPI Prime Extended Turntable - Black

A 12-Inch Tonearm Comes to VPI's Prime Platform

The VPI Prime Extended takes the Prime platform and extends it to accommodate a 12-inch JMW 3D Unipivot tonearm, bringing the tracking benefits of a longer effective length to VPI's mid-tier lineup. It ships without a cartridge, so you choose the model that fits your system.

A 20-pound Classic platter, VTA Tower for on-the-fly adjustment, and an outboard 300-rpm motor form the core of the design, all built around a chassis engineered specifically for the longer tonearm's larger footprint.

The Prime Extended is fully manual, with no built-in phono preamp and no electronic speed control, so it needs a separate phono stage and a belt move between 33⅓ and 45 rpm.

Where the 12-Inch Tonearm Earns Its Keep

A 3D-Printed Unipivot, Built for Longer Reach

The 12-inch JMW 3D Unipivot tonearm is 3D-printed from epoxy resin and Delrin, with VPI's own copper-weave internal wiring carrying the signal from cartridge to phono cable with minimal loss.

An adjustable drop counterweight, azimuth side weights, and on-the-fly VTA adjustment via the VTA Tower let you fine-tune geometry for whatever cartridge you mount, without needing to remove the tonearm to do it.

A 20-Pound Platter, Machined to Tight Tolerance

The Classic platter is machined from 6061 aluminum to within ±.001 inches around its full 39-inch circumference, giving it the mass and precision to resist speed fluctuations from stylus drag.

Its inverted bearing pairs a hardened stainless-steel shaft with a 60-Rockwell chrome ball in a phosphor-bronze bushing riding on a PEEK thrust disc, with the belt's side load centered on the bearing to eliminate uneven wear.

Who Is the VPI Prime Extended Best For?

• You want a longer effective tonearm length without moving to VPI's flagship tier: the 12-inch JMW 3D Unipivot is a genuine step up from the Prime's standard-length arm
• You already own a cartridge you want to keep using: mount it straight onto the 3D Unipivot instead of paying for one you'd have to remove
• You want on-the-fly VTA adjustment: the VTA Tower lets you fine-tune arm height without disassembling the tonearm mount
• You already have (or plan to add) a phono stage: the Prime Extended has no built-in phono preamp, so it needs a compatible Phono preamplifiers
• You want electronic speed control: the Prime Extended changes speed by moving the belt manually, so if push-button switching matters more than price, VPI's optional Analog Drive System adds it

How Does It Connect to Your System?

The output jacks need a phono preamp that matches your chosen cartridge — an MM input for a moving-magnet design, or a compatible high-gain MC stage for a moving-coil. Never connect the Prime Extended straight into a standard line-level input.

After mounting your chosen cartridge, balance the tonearm and set tracking force, VTA, azimuth, and anti-skate to that cartridge maker's own instructions. Switching between 33⅓ and 45 rpm means moving the belt to the other step on the motor pulley.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the system around a VPI Prime Extended:

• Phono cartridges — the 12-inch tonearm's added effective length suits a wide range of moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges
• Phono preamplifiers — required since the Prime Extended has no built-in phono stage
• Audio racks — a firm, level, vibration-free shelf a turntable this substantial actually needs
• Record cleaning machines — a clean groove matters even more once resolution stops being the limiting factor

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Prime Extended include a cartridge?

It doesn't. A compatible moving-magnet or moving-coil cartridge needs to be purchased and mounted separately.

Does it have a built-in phono preamp?

It doesn't. You need an external phono preamp, or an amplifier with a phono input, that matches your cartridge's type and output.

Why a 12-inch tonearm instead of the standard length?

A longer effective length reduces tracking-angle error across the record compared with a shorter arm, one of the genuine benefits VPI built the Extended chassis specifically to accommodate.

How do I adjust VTA?

The VTA Tower lets you raise or lower the tonearm's height on the fly, without removing or disassembling the arm mount.

How do I change speed from 33⅓ to 45 rpm?

Move the drive belt to the other step on the motor pulley. There's no electronic speed selection on this model.

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Learn More

Want to learn more about turntable setup, choosing a cartridge, or getting the most from a 12-inch tonearm? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.