aluminum platter vs Acrylic not what I thought


I recently got to hear a VPI scout with an aluminum platter and various platter mats.  I am having a hard time trying to understand where the fascination with aluminum is coming from.  The acrylic sounds far better.  Its not even close to my ears.  Is it that some people just never heard the scout with the acrylic platter?  I would strongly encourage anyone who is looking for a used scout with an acrylic platter to really take a good look at it.  It sounds much more like real music and for what these used scouts are going for, they are an incredible value.  Maybe its just system/cartridge synergy.  I actually thing the scout with the acrylic platter sounds just as good if not better and quieter than the classic with the aluminum platter.  The scout sounds more like an older Aries than the Classic does.  The advantage of the classic is the longer arm but I mean for many people, I am not sure you can do much better table than the scout with the acrylic platter for anywhere near to what they go for used and I would say they you could look at tables costing much more and still not get the music satisfaction in many ways that the scout accomplishes.  They just seem to portray the musical experience in a way that sounds right.  Aries and scoutmasters with acrylic have to sound killer.  The only platter that is as good that VPI made are there lead and hybrid metal aluminum/acrylic platter tables.  I think VPI is going in the wrong direction with aluminum.  To me the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits.  Others may disagree but if you find scout w/acrylic for a good deal, I would be all over it.  Sometimes you just don't know what ya have so I will probably hang on to mine for a while.
tzh21y
according to my friend, where VPI has made improvements is in their Pivot bearing.  He said it is different than earlier models and is a large improvement.  He lent it to me to listen to with the the newer stainless arm.  he said that the scout with the acrylic platter and the Newer arm and bearing is the scout to have.   
Dear tzh, Did we (the peanut gallery) ever find out whether your various comparisons were made with all other elements of the signal path held constant, or not?  

Dear Thom, My apologies for my error in guessing at the materials used to make your Gavia platter. PVC not Delrin.  PVC is probably better than Delrin for matching the energy transfer to that of vinyl, because it IS vinyl.  Did you ever consider selling platters per se, for use with other brands of turntable? PVC platters could become quite popular as an aftermarket add-on to a VPI or SOTA, for example.  I could foresee legal issues, however. But on the other hand, many aftermarket suppliers sell platter mats intended to replace OEM mats.

Has Walker Audio ceased to use lead for their Proscenium turntables?  That is or was the biggest baddest lead platter in the business.
"The best platters that VPI made were the lead ones. They had to stop making them due to the new environmental laws ( no lead) 20 years ago. VPI claims that these were better than all the others!"

I don't think the disappearance of lead from VPI products was due to any law.  Lead is still used in modern production and can be used safely given proper precautions.  It was a decision of VPI, which they stated at the time to be out of environmental concern.  Given their record of cost cutting, I'm not so sure.

" according to my friend, where VPI has made improvements is in their Pivot bearing.  He said it is different than earlier models and is a large improvement."

Which "improvement" do you mean?  Was it something subsequent to the change to the inverted bearing?  By the way, is that generally regarded as an improvement?
Yes all signal path connections and so were the same.  cartridge was a dynavector
I am looking at it right now.  It is different.  looks like it is machined different.  also the bottom of the base is thicker.  I do not have time to listen right now and set up.  I will listen later and comment.