upgrade VPI HW19 Mk IV or get a new table?

Again Hukk, not to discredit you, as I'm sure you made the very best choice for yourself.

But, there's just too many variables. I once heard an $8400 Linn Turntable that didn't impress me one bit. And neither did its looks, looking very nice, but nowhere near being worth the $8400 asking price. BTW, this was at the old Linn Store on Clark Street in Chicago. Within the same day, I heard a crap $3400 pair of Linn Speakers Demoed at Doctor's office levels, and was expected to fall head over heels in love with them.
In thruth, I think some of the Linn boys at the dealers are full of cow plop.

I've heard Gyodecs, I've herad a couple of Sotas, I've heard many of the VPI, I did very much like the original Aries.

But I'll confide, I haven't heard Tables like the Rockport, the Galibier, the top line Clearaudios, the Teres, the Avid. I'm sure many of these Tables are almost as good as sex, within the right system, and the right components to make them shine.

It's tough to say, that any of the VPI Tables are this, or that. I might be able to magically transform an entry level prehistoric HW-19Jr with a Graham Arm, and a Dyna XV-1 Cartridge, with a killer Phono Stage Downline. Really, it's like who's to say that this "meager" Turntable cannot showcase such world class "extras"? Set-up certainly accounts for quite a bit.

Most of the gurus will agree, a mid-fi Table-Arm-Cartridge set up correctly can sound better than $50K worth of the same gear, set up poorly.

Agin Mr. Hukk, alsolutely no disrespect to your findings, or comments. Thank you for posting your personal findings, I deeply enjoy threads such as this.
Mark

Having had the II, III, IV, Aries original, Scout, Scoutmaster at different times, these are all great tables, and on a very level, heavy stand and good cartridge, set up fanatically perfect, will deliver very musical reproduction from all of these. The SME IV is a great arm. A bigger factor will be the matching of your amp and speakers. Having the right dammping factor is far more critical than the choice of these tables which are all very good. The improvement from the II to the Scoutmaster is audible, but not as dramatic as ammp/speaker differences. Focus on big difference opportunities.

I have an HW19, though not sure which version. I upgraded it from the original model I bought in the 80's. It has the SAMA, thick arm board, acrylic plinth, and thick black platter (not the acrylic/aluminum one that I think would make it a iv). About 15 years ago I replaced the springs with sorbothane pucks (remove the metal rings) and got a slight improvement, the music being a little less laid back. The change required no shimming of any kind as the height of of the plinth was perfect. I have about 8 pair of these pucks and use them on everything. Walker uses sorbothane to isolate his turntable platform so the stuff is still available in some form, if not the pucks.

Good isolation is really important perhaps use a wall shelf if you can or have it mounted on Buthers Maple board
I am waiting for VPI to send me the super scoutmaster plinth to replace my old HW19 Chassis and will also get the rim drive and SDS in the process I am keeping my super platter I have the lead version which is just as good as the super platter. The main reason VPI no longer makes this is because of laws around using lead not because of sonics
Its possible to do this in stages if you have the SAMA motor the Super scoutmaster chassis is actually quite reasonable $350 and in theory should be better than the HW19
I have a friend who is making his own chassis out of slate and using the Verus motor by Teres, its also possible to get a plinth arcylic sandwich made
I think the HW19 is a really good turntable and no need to go down the same extremes as me but once everything is put together and bedded in I will compare the rim drive with the Verus and report back and also let you know my thoughts around difference between the HW19 mk4 and Super scoutmaster

I look forward to hearing your thought on the rim drive vs the Verus motor.