Have found the LPI to be a tweak that punches well above its weight ($$). My friend is very much an audio skeptic, but he listened to 3 LPs in a row and announced he was keeping the LPI V2. Luckily, Ivan had a V2 in stock as a replacement. Haven't compared them head-to-head, but the V2 seems to be a bit different to my audio brain memory of the V1.
Great to read your success with the HW-40. Do wish VPI would 'flesh-out' their DD TT line (non-anniversary models, retrofits, etc.) as I'm jonesing for an upgrade. I'll give them the rest of this year before going elsewhere.