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Any love for VPI here?
I'm smitten with the looks of the new Prime which is currently out of my price range for at least a couple of years until their 2nd hand value drops.
The Scouts also look really nice but I know better than to buy audio gear based on looks alone.
Can anyone comment how they sound, against for example the Notts Analogue Hyperspace TT?
I just can't get beyond how muscular they look! Like the Pit Bull of the TT world...
Cheers
Over engineered, overpriced and what's with having the tonearm wires poking out the top of the tonearm so it's easily damaged.
And more importantly will not sound any better than turntables costing a fraction of what they are asking.
Unless looks are more important than sound quality.
Another overpriced product made to appeal to the rich Audiophools.
Over engineered, overpriced and what's with having the tonearm wires poking out the top of the tonearm so it's easily damaged.
And more importantly will not sound any better than turntables costing a fraction of what they are asking.
Unless looks are more important than sound quality.
Another overpriced product made to appeal to the rich Audiophools.
Must make me an Audiophool then Paul. Interesting comments from someone who seems to be judging a TT based on its looks only!
I have heard many many turntables including a Notts analogue and indeed have owned many great ones but the VPI sounds better than most in my experience.
Those looks are not just for show!
Thanks Jimbo
Is the 1.1 the same as the 2?
Any idea what they go for 2nd hand in the UK?
I owned a Super Scoutmaster,silly name,for some 5-6 years.The deck and arm worked faultlessly during that time,speed was spot on and never needed adjusting,only problem I had was the crap drive belts they,then used.
I don't understand over engineered,how can anything be over engineered?
I must assume that the gent in post 2 has never heard a VPI,so why post ?
Over engineered, overpriced and what's with having the tonearm wires poking out the top of the tonearm so it's easily damaged.
And more importantly will not sound any better than turntables costing a fraction of what they are asking.
Unless looks are more important than sound quality.
Another overpriced product made to appeal to the rich Audiophools.
A bit strong, Paul. Consider that for those out there who earn half of what you do, and who've bought their system from a supermarket, might look at yours, and consider YOU as a "rich audiophool"...
In future, therefore, rein in the venom. Ta! :)
Marco.
Spectral Morn
08-05-2017, 08:17
Over engineered, overpriced and what's with having the tonearm wires poking out the top of the tonearm so it's easily damaged.
And more importantly will not sound any better than turntables costing a fraction of what they are asking.
Unless looks are more important than sound quality.
Another overpriced product made to appeal to the rich Audiophools.
Have you ever heard one ?
You are making a habit of using the Audiophools word. That for many is highly offensive, please desist in future - thank you.
The Black Adder
08-05-2017, 08:37
Look nice... the prime is very pricey though. £4.5k !!? Yikes!
But if it floats your boat then you lay down your green. :)
I've never heard one myself but I've always heard good things about VPI.
I own a used Scout. A very nice 'table and the nicest I've ever owned. I have never used a Nottingham, so I can't compare, but it does many things very well. The arm is of good quality, and the reason the wire sticks out the top, is because it is interchangeable. If you own more than one arm, you can mount different cartridges on each, and pick the arm right up, unplug it, and place the next one on. Although the extra arms are expensive to say the least, it's the reason for the design. Great speed stability, rock solid performance, super quiet, silent passages are just jet black. The Scout 1 and 1.1 have an acrylic platter, and the 2 has an aluminum platter. They claim the new aluminum platter is better, but I've heard it was just cheaper to manufacture than the acrylic. Mine has the acrylic platter and I love it. I paid less than half price used. And it may be the last table I will ever own?
As for VPI the company, I am not thrilled with. I sent my 16.5 RCM in to be repaired and never saw it again! Most disappointing. Still makes me angry to think about that.
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Spectral Morn
08-05-2017, 09:33
Look nice... the prime is very pricey though. £4.5k !!? Yikes!
But if it floats your boat then you lay down your green. :)
I've never heard one myself but I've always heard good things about VPI.
Highly respected in America, for many, many years. Presence/representation in the UK has been patchy over the years like so many other North American turntables.
I have heard a few over the years, and liked what I heard. Anything coming from the States or Canada ends up expensive here and like wise anything going from here to the States, such is life.
Spectral Morn
08-05-2017, 09:36
I own a used Scout. A very nice 'table and the nicest I've ever owned. I have never used a Nottingham, so I can't compare, but it does many things very well. The arm is of good quality, and the reason the wire sticks out the top, is because it is interchangeable. If you own more than one arm, you can mount different cartridges on each, and pick the arm right up, unplug it, and place the next one on. Although the extra arms are expensive to say the least, it's the reason for the design. Great speed stability, rock solid performance, super quiet, silent passages are just jet black. The Scout 1 and 1.1 have an acrylic platter, and the 2 has an aluminum platter. They claim the new aluminum platter is better, but I've heard it was just cheaper to manufacture than the acrylic. Mine has the acrylic platter and I love it. I paid less than half price used. And it may be the last table I will ever own?
As for VPI the company, I am not thrilled with. I sent my 16.5 RCM in to be repaired and never saw it again! Most disappointing. Still makes me angry to think about that.
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VPIs look and always have like a professionally built item, Nottingham Analogue, not so much, particularly the tonearms, the finish on those is pretty basic - in my opinion. They do sound good though. I recall hearing a Mentor Reference in Fortress Audio in London years ago and I was very impressed with the sound it was making in their system.
That's very bad customer service :(
walpurgis
08-05-2017, 09:37
I had an HW-19 briefly. It worked, but did not impress.
Spectral Morn
08-05-2017, 09:39
I had an HW-19 briefly. It worked, but did not impress.
That was an entry level deck I think, never heard or seen one. Maybe a poor arm and cart combination with it.
walpurgis
08-05-2017, 09:48
That was an entry level deck I think, never heard or seen one. Maybe a poor arm and cart combination with it.
It was fairly solid. but I didn't like the particle board top which just rested on four Sorbothane pads. They are prone to sag I believe, although mine hadn't. I put an RB250 on it. As I say, it worked, but that was about it. I should have spent the money on a TD150!
Spectral Morn
08-05-2017, 09:51
It was fairly solid. but I didn't like the particle board top which just rested on four Sorbothane pads. They are prone to sag I believe, although mine hadn't. I put an RB250 on it. As I say, it worked, but that was about it. I should have spent the mnoey on a TD150!
Having never heard one, seen one or taken one apart I can't comment. Never heard a TD150 either.
walpurgis
08-05-2017, 10:03
Never heard a TD150 either.
:) I thought everybody had one at some time.
They are a very nice little turntable. In my opinion, with careful setup, they will outperform the TD160 comfortably. I regard these as being as good sonically as the TD125. With the benefit of no electronic complexity.
Why does everyone still think a higher price equals better quality.
Do the math it cant, you cannot improve on the sound of the original, the Vinyl played on it how can a 100 grand turntable do anything better than a 10 grand turntable, the simple truth of the matter that no one wants to admit to even though there is a mountain of evidence is that a quite low cost system will attain 99% of the original sound off the vinyl once you spend a grand on a turntable you have probably maxed out what a turntable/Arm/Cartridge combination can extract from vinyl, spending any more is pointless, but those who do will never admit to that will they, if you have attained perfection how can spending money give better than perfection.
Mod note. Edited dont use that term again or you will get a holiday. Youve been warned already
walpurgis
08-05-2017, 10:32
once you spend a grand on a turntable you have probably maxed out what a turntable/Arm/Cartridge combination can extract from vinyl
Hardly.
Why does everyone still think a higher price equals better quality.
Do the math it cant, you cannot improve on the sound of the original, the Vinyl played on it how can a 100 grand turntable do anything better than a 10 grand turntable, the simple truth of the matter that no one wants to admit to even though there is a mountain of evidence is that a quite low cost system will attain 99% of the original sound off the vinyl once you spend a grand on a turntable you have probably maxed out what a turntable/Arm/Cartridge combination can extract from vinyl, spending any more is pointless, but those who do will never admit to that will they, if you have attained perfection how can spending money give better than perfection.
Sounds like you need to open another thread to discuss, bye.
He probably still drives a Morris Minor,after all spending anymore would be pointless.
Why does everyone still think a higher price equals better quality.
Do the math it cant, you cannot improve on the sound of the original, the Vinyl played on it how can a 100 grand turntable do anything better than a 10 grand turntable, the simple truth of the matter that no one wants to admit to even though there is a mountain of evidence is that a quite low cost system will attain 99% of the original sound off the vinyl once you spend a grand on a turntable you have probably maxed out what a turntable/Arm/Cartridge combination can extract from vinyl, spending any more is pointless, but those who do will never admit to that will they, if you have attained perfection how can spending money give better than perfection.
Mod note. Edited dont use that term again or you will get a holiday. Youve been warned already
A record deck is a piece of mechanical engineering and good mechanical engineering is not cheap. Your ultimate deck for £1000 breaks down as: VAT £200, dealer margin £200 Distributer margin £250 manufacturer margin £250 cost of parts and build £100
A £1000 deck is nothing like the best possible.
Haselsh1
08-05-2017, 11:02
I seriously beg to differ as when I worked in retail the dealer cost for a £1k turntable was £500 plus VAT. That makes their margin quite a bit more than 200 quid.
I really do love the look of the older VPI decks. That Scoutmaster II to me was a thing of real beauty and as Martin has already said, turntables are a serious piece of engineering. Maybe the other guy still uses a BSR deck...?
RothwellAudio
08-05-2017, 11:56
Your ultimate deck for £1000 breaks down as: VAT £200, dealer margin £200 Distributer margin £250 manufacturer margin £250 cost of parts and build £100
I seriously beg to differ as when I worked in retail the dealer cost for a £1k turntable was £500 plus VAT. That makes their margin quite a bit more than 200 quid.
Yes, the dealer's gross profit on a £1000 item is about £330 normally. Bear in mind though that a dealer on the high street has some serious overheads.
Any love for VPI here?
I'm smitten with the looks of the new Prime which is currently out of my price range for at least a couple of years until their 2nd hand value drops.
The Scouts also look really nice but I know better than to buy audio gear based on looks alone.
Can anyone comment how they sound, against for example the Notts Analogue Hyperspace TT?
I just can't get beyond how muscular they look! Like the Pit Bull of the TT world...
Cheers
Hi Anthony, sorry i did not answer your questions first.
Any VPI turntable from the Scout upwards are definitely work considering. I have the Scout 1.1 which is a very substantially built turntable weighing in at around 11KG. The ethos with VPI turntables is high mass to negate acoustic vibration which is a similar approach to the Notts Analogue. I looked at the NA turntables and indeed it was my first choice but the VPI are better engineered, especially the tonearm and in particular their Unipivot tonearms. These have a quick release armwand so different cartridge can be swapped very easily although you would have to buy another armwand. Again the engineering is first class with typical American substantial build quality.
The Scout runs totally silent and produces inky black backgrounds with vinyl and a wide deep soundstage with pinpoint imaging. Although belter turntables can be lighter and more airy sounding than DD the VPI does dig deep in the bass. I have heard the VPI Prime and it has an even lower noise floor than the Scout, heaven knows what their top models sound like! If I were to buy again i would go for the Prime, it would be the last TT you would ever need although the Scout is a much more reasonable price. Yes these TT are expensive but the quality is there and they are truly fabulous sounding, they are shipped from New Jersey so not a cheap import. If I had £10,000 I would buy their Avenger TT but to be honest I believe the Scout and prime give you 80% at a fraction of the cost, law of diminishing returns.
I see you are in Bristol Anthony so if you want to hear what a VPI Scout sounds like you are welcome to pop up to mine - only 1.5 hours away. A few folk on this site have heard mine and I would say they were not disappointed.
Seeing one and using one in the flesh is even more impressive than any of the photos you may have seen - yes they are a bit of a Pit Bull!
PS The Notts A Hyperspace is also a great TT but I was not engaged with the sound like the VPI.
I own a used Scout. A very nice 'table and the nicest I've ever owned. I have never used a Nottingham, so I can't compare, but it does many things very well. The arm is of good quality, and the reason the wire sticks out the top, is because it is interchangeable. If you own more than one arm, you can mount different cartridges on each, and pick the arm right up, unplug it, and place the next one on. Although the extra arms are expensive to say the least, it's the reason for the design. Great speed stability, rock solid performance, super quiet, silent passages are just jet black. The Scout 1 and 1.1 have an acrylic platter, and the 2 has an aluminum platter. They claim the new aluminum platter is better, but I've heard it was just cheaper to manufacture than the acrylic. Mine has the acrylic platter and I love it. I paid less than half price used. And it may be the last table I will ever own?
As for VPI the company, I am not thrilled with. I sent my 16.5 RCM in to be repaired and never saw it again! Most disappointing. Still makes me angry to think about that.
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Over here Russell the Scout 1.1 has a steel platter not acrylic and mine had the Unipivot tonearm not the Gimball bearing tonearm. I use the 16.5 RCM and find it effective but noisy. Built like a tank but not in your case? i suppose tanks can go wrong:)
Yes, the dealer's gross profit on a £1000 item is about £330 normally. Bear in mind though that a dealer on the high street has some serious overheads.
Yes I played it down a bit because otherwise dealers come on and complain that they are not making anything like that ;)
I am not insinuating any rip-off just pointing out that the retail cost of any hi-fi component will be 10 to 20 times more than the cost of parts and build. With a turntable especially it will show up any cost cutting in the parts that matter since quality mechanical engineering is not cheap and there are no short-cuts.
Haselsh1
08-05-2017, 13:23
Yes, the dealer's gross profit on a £1000 item is about £330 normally. Bear in mind though that a dealer on the high street has some serious overheads.
Oh yes, I agree entirely. Having the usual costs involved in running a shop is highly prohibitive.
The more expensive the item the less they have to sell. I know one dealer who only had to sell 1 pair of .... Speakers a year to make his profit!
Haselsh1
08-05-2017, 13:28
I may be so wrong here but wouldn't say a tonearm come under micro engineering...? This must surely be aircraft grade stuff and so must surely have an appropriate cost...? As for Nottingham Analogue turntables, they are hugely over engineered but the cheaper ones like mine are largely MDF. There can't be much of a cost incurred in using the same bearing for all and a huge slab of MDF...? I think that is why my turntable was so improved by fitting a Funk Firm Achromat. It has isolated out some of that MDF.
I may be so wrong here but wouldn't say a tonearm come under micro engineering...? This must surely be aircraft grade stuff and so must surely have an appropriate cost...? As for Nottingham Analogue turntables, they are hugely over engineered but the cheaper ones like mine are largely MDF. There can't be much of a cost incurred in using the same bearing for all and a huge slab of MDF...? I think that is why my turntable was so improved by fitting a Funk Firm Achromat. It has isolated out some of that MDF.
Mine is MDF Shaun but with a huge slab of steel bolted to it!
I think that is why my turntable was so improved by fitting a Funk Firm Achromat. It has isolated out some of that MDF.
What do you have it sitting on? I found that my Interspace sounded leaden on anything other than my Project wall shelf.
How would you describe the improvement with the Funkmat?
Hi Anthony, sorry i did not answer your questions first.
Any VPI turntable from the Scout upwards are definitely work considering...
Thanks for the response Jim, very helpful.
I'm definitely in the market for a Scout now...
Tony
Depends on how many you are making - order 10 high precision bearings you pay a lot more than if you want 1000 of them.
This is why the old SL1200 was so cheap despite being fairly high quality in terms of fit and finish. If you are only selling a few hundred a year and you want every element to be maxed out it will get expensive real fast. Hence the 10X to 20X multiplier from cost of parts and labour to retail price. And some still go broke.
IMO there is no way to max out everything on a deck retailing for £1000 even if you sell thousands of them a year. £1000 retail is a budget deck, heavily cost cut compared to a no-compromise deck. Unpalatable truth, I know. But it doesn't mean the £1K deck will be poor sounding. It just won't be anything like the best possible.
Haselsh1
08-05-2017, 14:59
What do you have it sitting on? I found that my Interspace sounded leaden on anything other than my Project wall shelf.
How would you describe the improvement with the Funkmat?
Yep, leaden would be how I would describe it but the Achromat mat sharpens things up a helluva lot with lots more focus and clarity. Don't forget though that my Interspace is an early model, not the current one. Don't forget also that I have an Origin Live arm on it and that mine is sat on a Pro-Ject isolation platform.
Intenso... First, the gentleman who was unimpressed with his "HW-19" had an HW-19 Jr. based on his description of the table. The Jr. was, at the time, the rock bottom starting point for VPI tables. It was easily, although not cheaply, upgraded to a full HW-19. The Junior came, in the US anyway, with a couple of different Jelco-made tonearms.
The HW-19 I had replaced a Thorens TD 125 and I was happy for years. I would not reject a full HW-19 three or four if the price is right, but the Scout and its variations with motor off the plinth does sound good. However, the HW-19 offers the user the ability to change tonearms by changing an arm board, which the Scout and its various iterations to not do.
The problem I have seen with VPI is that their customer service can be a little...how should I say this? Unresponsive? I would, for instance, be very cautious about buying a used speed control, especially the very first ones. While VPI says they can repair the SDS, friends' experience says this may be misleading.
VPI is, like many turntable companies, in a mad rush to take advantage of a vinyl revival. In the process the company seems to have lost touch with some of the values that made it so successful...like good customer service for its older products. YMMV
Haselsh1
08-05-2017, 15:02
Yes again, the Interspace is a budget deck but not as budget as some. And of course, by the time you have added your own arm, cart and other items it no longer sounds like a stock deck. Thank the lord it doesn't require the same treatment as an SL1210.
Spectral Morn
08-05-2017, 15:11
Depends on how many you are making - order 10 high precision bearings you pay a lot more than if you want 1000 of them.
This is why the old SL1200 was so cheap despite being fairly high quality in terms of fit and finish. If you are only selling a few hundred a year and you want every element to be maxed out it will get expensive real fast. Hence the 10X to 20X multiplier from cost of parts and labour to retail price. And some still go broke.
IMO there is no way to max out everything on a deck retailing for £1000 even if you sell thousands of them a year. £1000 retail is a budget deck, heavily cost cut compared to a no-compromise deck. Unpalatable truth, I know. But it doesn't mean the £1K deck will be poor sounding. It just won't be anything like the best possible.
Spot On.
Yes again, the Interspace is a budget deck but not as budget as some. And of course, by the time you have added your own arm, cart and other items it no longer sounds like a stock deck. Thank the lord it doesn't require the same treatment as an SL1210.
I have a very early model as well with a thick platter, rewired RB300 made a huge difference as well.
When I bought it in the 90's secondhand I demoed it against the Space deck and actually preferred the Interspace as it had a fuller bass.
The Hyperspace was however, another league altogether.
In my view the Interspace is a wonderful deck but after all these years I fancy something new and I'm going to have a look at the VPI Scouts.
Thanks everyone for the feedback.
VPI now makes a Scout Jr. And also their Nomad model, which have gimbaled tonearms, that do not look impressive to say the least. As someone said, trying to cash in on vinyl resurgence. Perhaps they are nice tables in their price range? But the Scout 2 has their unipivot arm they are famous for. When I bought my Scout I was shopping for a Classic. They got great reviews upon their initial release, and come in several levels, depending on the arm and platter. If I were shopping again, I would still consider the Classic. It would seem the new Prime has taken the position of the old Super Scout Master, they no longer make. Shaped like their older HRX table I believe it was? But that table had a piano lacquer finish on it, with a super high end motor, even a hub drive upgrade was available for it. Once you get into that kind of money, VPI has much competition out there. Clearaudio, Basic, Avid, just too many to name here.
But my entire system was purchased used, except my Project SV-C, record cleaner. Better than the VPI 16.5, IMHO. If you are patient and keep your eyes on EBay and Audiogon, and a few other places, a VPI table will pop up at a reasonable used price.
The tonearm is definitely one of the nicer features of the Scout, the unipivot has a jeweled bearing and the fairly heavy mass arm moves freely, and VTF stays very stable across the record surface. The VTA adjustment is super easy to use and if you are careful you can adjust while a record is playing. The Scoutmaster had their more expensive arm with the VTA tower off to the side that makes it a breeze to adjust, but it's not something I fiddle with a lot, so as long as I can adjust it with ease, I'm happy. And I do like that I can use any interconnects, from the box that the tone arm wires terminate in. The 5 pin Din is not necessary, so I have a much greater choice of wires. And the overall performance of the 'table/motor/tonearm is such that I feel it can handle a fairly expensive cartridge. I would not hesitate to mount a Cadenza Black or a Lyra or Benz cartridge on this platform, some may think that is excessive but it really is that good.
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Haselsh1
09-05-2017, 04:13
IMO there is no way to max out everything on a deck retailing for £1000 even if you sell thousands of them a year. £1000 retail is a budget deck, heavily cost cut compared to a no-compromise deck. Unpalatable truth, I know. But it doesn't mean the £1K deck will be poor sounding. It just won't be anything like the best possible.
Very very true but then with that in mind is there actually any such thing as a genuine no compromise design...? Everything that is is a compromise. I guess if money were truly no limit on things then one would get a no compromise turntable within the limits of engineering which again would compromise the design. I honestly think that everything that is mainstream is a compromise. One thing of course though is that the higher up the ladder you go, the higher the margin for the dealer involved so what is the true value of the very high end...? A very high end turntable involves a very high end margin for the dealer which seriously restricts the true value of what you are buying and in that comes another compromise, the compromise of how much do I actually spend. The best way to avoid this is to buy secondhand.
The VPI Scoutmaster was to me a very good turntable and I think that VPI have let the side down with the Junior. Just looking at it shows that the engineering falls way short of the Scoutmaster. That turntable was a thing of engineering beauty. I cannot say the same for the tonearm but the deck looked bloody sweet.
If you have decided upon a VPI deck then good for you. I do not think you will be disappointed at all.
3 pals of mine bought the Prime at the last KLIAV - good job they did becos of the shrinking ringgit (shringgit!) the price in our local currency has since rocketed.
Its a beautiful tt externalised motor . 3D printed arm.
i ve not had extended listening to any of them but I am quite familiar w the older VPI Classic
Quite interesting comparing it to my td124 with the same cartridge (DL103R) albeit w different arms.
Well the VPI sound is very polished. Cant fault it really
I was pleased the 124 could hold its own with its slightly more forward pacey character.
I d buy one if i didnt have my 2 124s :)
Very very true but then with that in mind is there actually any such thing as a genuine no compromise design...? Everything that is is a compromise. I guess if money were truly no limit on things then one would get a no compromise turntable within the limits of engineering which again would compromise the design. I honestly think that everything that is mainstream is a compromise. One thing of course though is that the higher up the ladder you go, the higher the margin for the dealer involved so what is the true value of the very high end...? A very high end turntable involves a very high end margin for the dealer which seriously restricts the true value of what you are buying and in that comes another compromise, the compromise of how much do I actually spend. The best way to avoid this is to buy secondhand.
The VPI Scoutmaster was to me a very good turntable and I think that VPI have let the side down with the Junior. Just looking at it shows that the engineering falls way short of the Scoutmaster. That turntable was a thing of engineering beauty. I cannot say the same for the tonearm but the deck looked bloody sweet.
If you have decided upon a VPI deck then good for you. I do not think you will be disappointed at all.
The Scout junior, Traveler and nomad etc are all "budget" turntables as VPI try to offer something for entry level. I have heard the Traveler and it sounded wonderful although now discontinued I think. The Scoutmaster was a higher specified turntable and in a different league, however I would say if you actually touch and see any VPI turntable in the flesh they are all beautifully built. VPI don't make crap, it is not in their DNA.
The Scout 1.1 which I have is a very substantial turntable and sounds fabulous, build quality is also up there with the very best however even this turntable is only entry level at£1800 in the VPI world. After this they move to the Prime which is massive and probably all you would ever need. I listen to this regularly and it is as good as I could ever want as an analogue front end but £4000. After this VPI take off into all sorts of specials ending up with the Avenger and finally the Titan which is their statement turntable. Build quality and sound from the Avenger series and Titan must be utterly awesome. Sadly they do not import these tables to the UK.
VPI do change and constantly move the specifications of their turntables as they try and adapt to a market which is huge in America, we only get a tiny fraction of their models here but as I said the Scout 1.1 or Scout 2 and Prime are all amazing tables and compete with all the very best belters out there on the market.
We've
My old deck from some 10 year's back,think fitted with a Lyra Helikon.
Floyddroid
09-05-2017, 08:00
In the past i have owned far too many turntables including Nottingham Analogue Spacedeck and Hyperspace. I presently use a VPI and enjoy not only the looks that you mention but the better fettled mids and peppy sound. Arm is a little fiddley to set up but once sorted it's fit and forget. I think the comments from Paul H are unjustified and as Marco correctly pointed out relative. Some people like BMW cars others may like Audi it's that simple. The VPI are well engineered, simple and speaking as i find, reliable. If you like a vibrant musical sound that is natural without being over exuberant then the VPI is well worth considering. If you like a smother more relaxed sound the the Notts lean that way. Hope this is helpful.
Any love for VPI here?
I'm smitten with the looks of the new Prime which is currently out of my price range for at least a couple of years until their 2nd hand value drops.
The Scouts also look really nice but I know better than to buy audio gear based on looks alone.
Can anyone comment how they sound, against for example the Notts Analogue Hyperspace TT?
I just can't get beyond how muscular they look! Like the Pit Bull of the TT world...
Cheers
OK, thanks all
And especially thanks to Jimbo for pointing me in the right direction of a lovely mint Scout 1.1 :)
It occurred to me that I will need at least another cable to put between the deck and phono stage.
Any suggestions?
Jimbo your inbox is full mate.
I had radio breakthrough using an unscreened cable,so IME would recommend a screened cable.
It occurred to me that I will need at least another cable to put between the deck and phono stage.
Any suggestions?
Jimbo your inbox is full mate.
Cleared now. I use a Chord Chameleon VEE 3 between TT and Phono stage.
My old deck from some 10 year's back,think fitted with a Lyra Helikon.
Very nice rig, how was the AR preamp? Hard to top that Super Scoutmaster!
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I've always liked the look of the 'Classic' models .... http://www.vpiindustries.com/collection
the little audio company
13-05-2017, 12:50
Always liked the look of VPI turntables, and since hearing the Prime at Bristol in the KEF room a few years ago, have always wanted one as it seemed extremely well priced for the sound quality on offer. Now there's the Prime Signature! Hopefully I'll be representing them in Birmingham one day...
Very nice rig, how was the AR preamp? Hard to top that Super Scoutmaster!
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The AR was a phono stage,Mrs O hated the deck for it's looks,but she loves the Basis.
The AR was a phono stage,Mrs O hated the deck for it's looks,but she loves the Basis.
Basis was high on my list when I was shopping, nice looking 'tables that exude quality and solidly.
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julesd68
15-05-2017, 17:53
A friend of mine has VPI Scout with a Dyna 10x5 cart - it's an impressive combination.
I like the build quality of the deck - all very nicely finished indeed and has a solidity about it ...
A friend of mine has VPI Scout with a Dyna 10x5 cart - it's an impressive combination.
I like the build quality of the deck - all very nicely finished indeed and has a solidity about it ...
Sounds great with the Dyna 10x5 cartridge, even better with their higher quality MC cartridges.
Yes they are built like a tank with very high quality engineered parts especially the main bearing and tonearm.
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