VPI Industries
VPI Prime 26 Turntable with CRG-258 Tonearm
VPI Prime 26 Turntable with CRG-258 Tonearm
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VPI · House of Stereo
The Scout foundation, with CRG-258 at its center.
VPI describes Prime 26 as a fully upgraded Scout 21, supplied with the CRG-258 tonearm. The arm is included from the outset, giving cartridge support and adjustment a central place in this new configuration.
Holiday price: $4,680
Standard retail is $5,200. The advertised offer runs through December 31, 2026. Black finish; CRG-258 tonearm included.
Meet the included tonearm
The CRG-258 uses a carbon-fiber/resin tube, machined headshell and ABEC-5 gimbal bearings. The photograph shows the arm on a Model One platform to illustrate its construction; it is not a photograph of the Prime 26 chassis.
The arm tube
Carbon fiber and an internally bonded resin structure combine stiffness with resonance control. This is the structural link between the cartridge and the bearing.
The cartridge interface
A machined metal headshell provides the mounting surface. Cartridge alignment still matters: a better arm does not eliminate careful setup.
The bearing assembly
ABEC-5 bearings support the gimbal. Azimuth, counterweight and VTA adjustments let the installer set cartridge position and tracking force.
Three adjustments. Three different jobs.
The counterweight sets how firmly the stylus follows the groove. Verify the final force with a gauge and the cartridge maker’s recommendation.
Viewed from the front, the stylus needs the correct orientation in the groove. This is separate from arm height.
Arm height changes the cartridge’s angle relative to the record. Set it after alignment and tracking force, then recheck the complete setup.
From the groove to your speakers
The stylus follows the groove; the cartridge converts that motion into a small electrical signal.
Cartridge type, output and loading determine the appropriate phono stage. Some amplifiers include one.
The phono stage feeds a line input. The amplifier then supplies the power your speakers need.
Build the cartridge and phono-stage match
Tell us the cartridge you plan to use and the phono stage it will feed. A low-output moving-coil cartridge requires suitable gain and loading. House of Stereo can help arrange cartridge selection, mounting and alignment.
| Model / SKU | Prime 26 / PRIME26-B |
|---|---|
| Finish | Black |
| Manufacturer description | Fully upgraded Scout 21 |
| Included arm | CRG-258 |
| Standard / holiday retail | $5,200 / $4,680 through December 31, 2026 |
Explore VPI’s CRG-258 engineering · Goldy cartridge · Shyla cartridge