I am pretty much done with VPI after hearing all the feedback on here and the design aspects of the arm. I am going REGA. A stereo store local to me has a demo Rega RP10 for 3 grand, I will put a 2 thousand dollar cartridge on it but a used phono stage for 2 grand and I will be doing just fine. As far as the DAC goes, I am looking at a Berkeley Dac or an AURELIC VEGA G2. State of the art is out of my budget but achieving a musical good sounding 2 channell system is in reach.
Should I buy a VPI SCOUTMASTER. I OWN 25 RECORDS.
Should I pursue analog? Invest maybe 3 or 4 grand in a table and start buying records? Some stuff sounds really good on Vinyl but it's an expensive endeavor and NEW records aren't cheap. Plus thos pops and noise and a lot of setup required. Love the vintage aspect of it. Some records sound truly amazing on a really good table and cartridge. Take the plunge? Or buy a better DAC and dont look back!!! Lol.
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I’m sorry that you were turned off the VPI. You can take solace in knowing that the Rega is a S’Phile Class A. Then too, 3 VPI tables are in the Class A., all w/ unipivot arms. Both tables/arm have their adherents and their detractors. Another item you will need (or really want) is a Pete Riggle VTAF which when used with the Rega arm will allow easier VTA adjustment. The stock Rega requires shims to adjust VTA which is a PITA. This is for SME but I'm pretty sure he makes them for Regas also. Good luck and enjoy. https://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca/listing/Tone-Arms/Pete-Riggle-Engineering-and-Audio/VTAF/For-All-SME-Tonearm-Models/10675 |
As far as the DAC goes, I am looking at a Berkeley Dac or an AURELIC VEGA G2. State of the art is out of my budget but achieving a musical good sounding 2 channell system is in reachState-of-the-art in digital can be had for a mere $700: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-d90-balanced-usb-dac-review.10519/ |
I own a VPI 19-4 and a VPI TNT 6, both tricked out. The 19-4 has an Ultracraft unipivot and the TNT has a tricked out SME IV and Benz Ruby 3. The unipivot was not my favorite for LPs (bought the SME 7 years later) but it does sound great with a Grado 78e cartridge. Also, the 19-4 has a sprung chassis and rubber feet. Very quiet table. The TNT 6 on the other hand, I was thinking of dumping it when I first bought it in 2005. A month later, the dealer sold me the Townsend Seismic Sink. The TNT 6 became an award winner table for the price with the Sink. I would have to spend at least $10K+ to get a better table now. Plus the VPIs share an SDS speed controller as well. Great 78 and LP sound. I've heard half a dozen other TTs that I would like but they are much more expensive (and usually have superior isolation-what's with VPI back in the 2000s)? |
I would recommend a VPI 19-4 first for the price, then a Scoutmaster or Aries on the used market. I do not like the Project tables at the same price as used VPIs and read that Rega tables under $2,000 have speed problems (too fast). One problem mentioned is clicks and pops. A non-hyperesolution or tipped up sounding analog frontend/pre-amp will have surface noise diminish with better quality equipment. The SugarCube is one way to ameliorate the problem (I’d like to buy one for my 78s though the same thing-higher quality TT resulted in reduced surface noise). The remaining problem for my 25,000 LP and 7,000 78 record are record wear. Buying used records is a crapshoot more often when the records are worn. Worn record sound is a problem and can be aggravating. Different stylus tips can help to reduce the problem by seeking less worn groove areas. Luckily, more of my LPs have seen nominal play, often just a few times prior to my purchasing them. Once purchased, I may play them 100+ times with no deleterious effect (keep the stylus clean and correctly installed and keep the record clean). Once played, the vinyl, snaps back to it's original groove form within 24 hours-it is a durable medium. |
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