VPI periphery record ring for VPI Scoutmaster


How much of an improvement does the VPI steel periphery record ring make? Do you think it's worth the $500 US retail price? Or would it be advisable to first look for the SDS, then afterwards purchase the ring? I'll be using it on a Scoutmaster turntable.
lornoah
I'm also considering getting the outer clamp. I read a review and the reviewer said the opposite of Narrod. He said to get the clamp first, and then get the SDS, if you want. His logic was that the additional mass (something like 7 lbs. if I remember correctly) goes a long way toward stabilizing the speed. The next question, now that you have much more stable speed, is whether you are spinning at a stable 33 1/3. You may be able to get there, with belt adjustments and some form of power regulation that you may already have (Monster, PS Audio, etc.). If not, then the SDS becomes more important.
It looks,in the only picture I've seen, to be possibly attached to the junction box. Seems more likely to be a different tonearm base altogether and attached there.
Also wondering about the damping. Is there a trough in the base for the fluid? Pardon my questions if they seem retarded. and sorry to hijack the thread. You're one of the very few that have that tonearm. When you got it, was it an upgrade of just the arm? or did you step up from Scout to Scoutmaster?
How is the anti skate mechanism attached? It looks,in the only picture I've seen, to be possibly attached to the junction box. Seems more likely to be a different tonearm base altogether and attached there.
Also wondering about the damping. Is there a trough in the base for the fluid? Pardon my questions if they seem retarded. and sorry to hijack the thread. You're one of the very few that have that tonearm. When you got it, was it an upgrade of just the arm? or did you step up from Scout to Scoutmaster?
Jamnperry, there is a trough around the arm bearing for the damping fluid. The full signature upgrade replaces the tonearm, bearing and support assembly as well as the junction box. The wiring is now by Nordost and the anti-skating mechanism is a mechanical one and no longer accomplished via a twist of the tonearm cable.

As far as the outer ring clamp, center weight combination and new motor flywheel, dialing the speed at a stable 33 rpm is a breeze via the KAB SpeedStrobe and the SDS. I have no idea how one can achieve speed stability without the SDS and KAB Speedstrobe because of the additional flywheel and platter mass.

I went from the Scoutmaster to the SuperScoutmaster Plus (ie nordost signature arm) with a new Shelter 901 cart. Still breaking it all in.

Every dealer I have spoken to has said that the SDS is the biggest bang for the buck upgrade for this TT. I just ordered mine today.