VPI Scout Placement


I have been tinkering with my newly acquired VPI Scout and could use some advice... I have wood, carpeted floors and the slightest thump or walking across the room will send the stylus skipping. Unfortunately wall mounting is not an option due to space restrictions and room configuration. I have a Sanus rack for my other gear and I am sure that needs to be upgraded but I like the idea of having the TT near my listening position. Presently the TT is on a heavy wood coffee table. Your expertise would be greatly appreciated by this newby.
flyfisher
Get yourself a 2-3" thick maple cutting board, put some cones underneath it, put the Scout on it. If you want to keep the whole shebang near your listening position, place the maple/cone assembly on top of an inexpensive amp stand.
That will raise it up off the floor to a pretty respectable height, and should really help with the footfall issues.
I have an Aries on wood base carpeted floors. Mapleshade Recordings stand and 4" maple platform supported by their isolation gizmo's twixt the platform and top shelf does a nice job for me.
I forget what they call their 2" wafer isolation gizmo but if you call them or pull up their website you will see it.

There are cheaper solutions and if you are a do it yourself person do will find a lot of info out there on rolling your own platform (a wood box varnished to suite your taste, a plastic liner, white sand, a board over the sand & under the table, for example, or a good heavy soft wood board supported by squash balls cut it half, etc.).

Other thing, if it skips really easy it might be a sign that it is time to double check table level & tracking force & etc.

Luck!
Hey there,

I am by no means an isolation expert. However, I am a Scout owner and, like yourself, my listening room is carpeted over wood flooring.

I largely corrected the problem with a post and lintel system. I use two record filled record crates as posts and lay a .75 mdf plank across the top (the plank has to be wide enough to accomodate the Scout).

At the four corners of the plank, a racquet ball is placed (like the Ginko Cloud). A shallow "dish" is placed above and bellow each ball to allow for very slight rolling.

On top of the balls, I place three additional layers of mdf. Finally, I place one additional layer of hardwood (maple) on top of the mdf.
I don't like the sound of mdf, the top layer changes the tonal character of the stack quite a bit. Make sure to select a wood that sounds right to you. Your best bet is a variety of tonewood.

It's much simpler than it sounds, it's inexpensive, it can all be found at Home Depot, and it looks okay. Most importantly, it works pretty well.
Get a nice maple platform and suspend it with adjustable chains or cables from the joists in your ceiling. You can stomp, dance, or do whatever without any problem. I've done this for years with my tables. It will take some time to level everything (critical) but the results are unmatched by any other isolation device.
Get a wall mount shelf,it's the only device that will work. I had the same problem. Something like this.

http://www.amusicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?cat=&sku=ATARVW2

Tim