Advice needed on upgrading tonearm for VPI SCOUTMASTER
Greetings all!
I have an older early 90's Scoutmaster turntable with a JMW 9 unipivot tonearm. Not wanting to spend a bundle on a new turntable, I figured that a less expensive upgrade would be to replace the tonearm. The platter and plinth are both sturdy and built like tanks. And the table is in "as new" shape (see virtual system). I contacted VPI to see if an upgrade would be available and if it would be sonically worth considering. They said that "current technology and engineering have improved, with much lower incidence of resonance." I have an older Sonic Frontiers phono preamp that was upgraded by Parts Conexion in Canada. I also have a Benz Micro Glider MC cart with very few hours.
The upgraded JMR 9 unipivot arm with standard wire would cost around $1,300. It would cost a few hundred more for reference wire.
Is upgrading a crazy idea, or should I consider a new table, which I really did not want to consider ($$$). AND, is spending a few more dollars on reference tonearm wire worth it?
Any input would be appreciated. Cheers!
@ije , I am buoyed by your support of the Scoutmaster being a great table. I'm glad you are still happy. I have noted all of your suggestions and will follow up with more research. @pinwa I get it about the preamp and going the route of a different cart. I am also going to research the Audiomods Series 6 arm that you mentioned. THANK YOU BOTH!!! |
Function, flexibility. Steve at VAS used to work with VPI, and is a big fan of Uni-Pivot arms. He has more respect for the father than current production, true? In any case, he has multiple arm wands adjacent to his table, with multiple cartridges, including MONO of course, and if you are close enough to pick up a cartridge from him, he demo’s it on his VPI. Metal/3D/newer anti-resonance ... If you do not hear anything wrong, why chase ’improved’?, I would not buy a new tonearm, but would add an arm wand or two, and a few cartridges, one Mono of course! Steve built my mono cartridge for me, I use removable headshells on one arm, fixed stereo on one arm, fixed mono on one arm. You will certainly hear the differences of cartridges, I cannot hear tonearm wire differences. I doubt you will hear any 'anti-resonance improvements UNLESS you have an existing problem, I'm certain I couldn't. |
@elliottbnewcombjr Thanks for your advise. Spoken from experience. Makes sense, if nothing is wrong, which there isn't, why the pursuit? |
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