Aries II

About the Aries II

The VPI Aries II is an evolution of the original Aries turntable, incorporating an inverted bearing and offering options such as clear or black acrylic platters (Aries II Dark Knight) and an extended chassis (Aries II Extended) to accommodate larger tonearms like the JMW 12. It features a 1.75-inch thick acrylic platter rotating on a Teflon thrust plate for ultra-low noise, and a heavy solid steel motor assembly with a low noise 300-RPM synchronous motor and Delrin motor pulley. The chassis is constructed from 2-inch thick MDF bonded to a 10-gauge steel plate, finished with three layers of polished black polyester, supported by adjustable aluminum tiptoes with hardened steel ball bottoms. The armboard is 1-inch thick black acrylic, sonically matched to the chassis. The Aries II is available in three models: standard Aries II, Aries II Extended for larger tonearms, and Aries II Black Knight which includes a JMW-9 tonearm and black platter. It can be upgraded with VPI's flywheel and Synchronous Drive System for enhanced performance. The turntable is no longer in production but upgrades remain available.