Should I buy a VPI SCOUTMASTER. I OWN 25 RECORDS.

@jeffvegas,  i had only bad experience with VPI unipivots and had to switch to other brand.

Be careful even VPI is promoting the gimbal version. In whats best forum a user seems to have suffered from the 3d tonearm.

If you are truly serious on going the vinyl route then yes avoid the VPI, there are tons of very serious competitors at 2k or less especially if you are prepared to consider used.
Just take a look at the listings right here on Audiogon today and say USAM and you will have quite a choice at 2k or less.

Just a quick look has this at $1200( sure they would go down even)
Well Tempered Labs has a lot of advocates here.
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa06ic-well-tempered-labs-amadeus-mark-1-turntables

Or this, no experience with the TT but the arm is a killer!
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9jjj3-ariston-audio-rd40-turntable-micro-seiki-ma-707-tonearm-o...

Hi.

As a teen, I loved listening to records.

Then, CD's arrived and I stopped listening to vinyl.

Late 90's I bought a new TT, phono stage and started collecting vinyl again.

Mid 2000's, sold everything I had collected in the 90's (married with children).

Fall of 2016 (As a result of some life changes) pulled my first TT out of storage along with the dozen or so records I had left.

Was a very frustrating transition getting back into vinyl. Was very discouraged by the sound quality from my TT/cartridge, noise on records etc.

There was a point where I was going to walk away from vinyl before I got too deeply committed. Then I made a choice and moved forward with vinyl. 

Bought a modest TT, and a moderately good cart (Clearaudio Concept/Ortofon Black)

Digital is now a portable medium for me. I have two systems I listen to. One is for radio, which I have on all day, the other is for vinyl.

I love the whole "thing" about vinyl. The "language" of the sound, the process of putting on a record, rooting through used bins and the way I listen to music when I play a record - the whole thing, and not just the hits...

3 years in and I'm not turning back. No real rhyme or reason to how I buy records  (new vs used)  and the collection is now over 600 Lps - never counted but going by linear feet of stacked records I figure its around that number.

Its not just the sound, its change how I listen to music.

Good luck!

With exception of Soundsmith carts, the typical replacement stylus for an MM/MI cart is 80% the cost of the cartridge.

@helomech just check Peter's interview and he said at 17:00 here SoundSmith cartridges will be rebuild ONLY for 20% of the cost (not 80% as you said). 

I would not waste your money on a vpi scout if all you own is 25 records! I would shoot for a lower tier pro-ject such as the debut carbon with ortofon 2m red @ $399. Read Michael Fremers review of that table as he found it to be a very nice sounding product for the money.