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LOOKING TO MAKE A TURNTABLE CHANGE, HOPEFULLY AN IMPROVEMENT

 I started with a VPI Scout, and then upgraded to a VPI Scoutmaster. I find the sound of my CD collection to be superior. Vinyl advocates insist that I am missing the boat and claim vinyl delivers the sonic goods.
 I was advised that the acrylic platter that came with my Scoutmaster was the reason the sound was not up to par.
 The cost to upgrade the Scoutmasster with  a steel platter and bearing is $1000.00.  Not looking
 to spend any more money with VPI. Not knocking their products, just have spent much money with them with
 less than expected results. Assuming I wish to listen to my 180-200 gram vinyl recordings I am looking for
 alternatives. I wish to stay loyal to my audio dealer who is always there to help me. He sells Project, VPI and
 Thorens. I would sell my Scoutmaster which should net me about $1000.00, and I would put $1500.00 of my own
money toward a new turntable.  Any thoughts?  Thank you in advance.  Note: I am sure VPI makes a wonderful
product, but I have not perfsonally had a great audio experience. 
kjl1065
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Cartridge, phono stage (and settings) and arm set up (azimuth, VTA, VTF, cantilever alignment, overhang) all matter greatly with VPI table and arms. I have an Aries 2 with JMW 10.5 arm and run a Lyra Delos into a Manley Steelhead. I was using the VPI alignment gauge until I got a Mint Protractor, which improved separation and clarity considerably.

My hunch is that you can squeeze quite a bit more performance from your VPI rig with regard to some of these variables. Please let us know what cartridge(s) and phono pre you are using along with the settings and alignment protractor used. Maybe we can help there.

My second table is a Technics SL1200GR and I use it for MM and MI carts. I enjoy it as much as the VPI, even more in some cases for dynamic rock albums from the 70s and 80s with vintage Shure, Stanton and Pickering carts from that era.
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wcfeil
464 posts
 
VPI makes nice tables. 
Their tonearms are the weak link. 
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chayro
3,022 posts
 
IMO, there's one way to do this - Have your dealer give you a real demo and then you will know whether upgrading your table will make a difference to what you hear.  You will or you won't.  You are approaching this as if something is wrong because you think your digital sounds better than vinyl, which is an incorrect premise, IMO.  There may well be something wrong with your turntable that is causing a sonic issue, but if not, a VPI, decently set up should be sounding very, very good at minimum.  I used to have a Music Hall MMF5 turntable that cost me about $700 that sounded very good even compared to my 10k digital player.  So set up a demo and let your dealer show you why you should or shouldn't upgrade your turntable.  
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