Hi I live in New York City also and have the Scout Master as well and my turn table / cartridge are way better then my CD player. By that I mean there is way more dynamics and the treble is on another level, just more open, more detail I guest my question to you is what phono pre-amp are you using and what the rest if your system consist of? And also why go to a dealer when you can get on the Garden State parkway and drive to VPI within 30 minutes from Brooklyn, Or just give Mike or Harry a call, they can put you in the right direction.