Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird vs VPI Prime Signature
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird · VPI Prime Signature.
| Specification | Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird |
VPI Prime Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Highlighted difference. $8,000 | $8,700 |
| Category | High-end | High-end |
| Status | current | current |
| Years | 2012–present | 2017–present |
| Drive | belt drive | belt drive |
| Speeds | Highlighted difference. 33/45/78 rpm | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual | manual |
| Cartridge supplied | sold bare | sold bare or with Shyla |
| Phono stage | No | No |
| USB output | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Platter | POM/aluminium, heavy | aluminium, 20 lb |
| Tonearm | sold bare (two arms) | VPI Fatboy gimbal |
| Wow & flutter | — | — |
Practical differences
Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.
There's a real gap here: $700 separates them, with the VPI Prime Signature the pricier of the two.
Both are belt-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: a motor that's mechanically isolated from the platter by an elastic belt, which is the usual route to a quieter noise floor — the default choice across most of hi-fi.
Bottom line: $700 separates these reference prices. That difference is factual; this specification comparison does not assign an overall winner.
Live retailer offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird…
Live retailer offers
Checking current in-stock offers for VPI Prime Signature…
Retailer searches
7 US retailers stock VPI — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acoustic Sounds | hifi independent | Ships worldwide from Salina, Kansas at carrier rates. | View at Acoustic Sounds ↗ |
| Elusive Disc | hifi independent | Free shipping on orders over $79. | View at Elusive Disc ↗ |
| Music Direct | hifi independent | Free shipping on orders over $49. | View at Music Direct ↗ |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at Reverb ↗ |
| Turntable Lab | hifi independent | Free shipping to the continental US on most orders (bulk/oversized items excluded). | View at Turntable Lab ↗ |
| Upscale Audio | hifi independent | Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). | View at Upscale Audio ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at eBay ↗ |