Rega P25 vs VPI Scout

Afro 18 has a good point. If you get a good deal on the HW-19 Mk IV and Dyna 17D cart., you will be at the 95 percentile of the best out there for a very low price, but I would be careful buying used, especially cart. Cuz it could be at the end of it's life, how would you know if it's slightly used.

Anyway, I use the 17D on my Scout, and it works well, but if you can move up to the HW-19 even better.

the HW series is in many ways the best of both worlds, not to mention the prices.

All I can say is you have to pay alot more MONEY, I mean alot more to better the Scout I assure you.

It will rival some of the very best tables at price no object.
And if you went for the latest Memorial arm with the silver wiring and use a top notch cartridge, I mean something that might cost more than the table itself, it will rival the very best out there.

I had GOLDMUND, ORACLE, Well Tempered, Orbe with SME and I know purchased the VPI Scout, Its not as good as the reference stuff I have had before but its pretty darn close and its a fraction of what I had paid for analog before.

I still enjoy listening to LP's as much as before and I have had the Rega units before, very nice units too.
What I am trying to say is if you own the scout and its calibrated correctly with a good cartridge, you could pretty much say that you have a top flying Analog rig!

Won't be able to answer the question exactly since I do not have experience with the VPI Scout. I do however own a P-25 (recently acquired) for around 50% of its original price. I assume that given the two tables being examined, that the originator of the thread while wanting to get the sound that meets his musical criteria, would also be happy in minimizing his dollar output. It is here where the Rega has quite a few advantages. Tarted up P-25s with counterweight upgrades and acrylic platters are not all that hard to find for less than a thousand bucks. There have been at least 3 in the last month listed in this forum. The Rega defines toe tapping and its speed stability is excellent which allows for a a decidedly detailed sound. As already mentioned the Rega is lively and sometimes it might err a little up the spectrum for some listeners. No problem. Just put a Denon 103 (and a Rega spacer) on that RB600 arm (no compliance or compatability issues here) and find a nice tube phono stage--- the Project tube box is now popping up used and it works well with the Rega and the Denon.

I guess all I am trying to say is the Rega is competent, but more importantly its musical, and when tweaked by a thoughful previous owner can be brought up a notch and more than hold its own with most tables in this price category

Think Rega's VTA can be adjusted "on the fly" with some after market products offered (full collar not just a spacer).Unlike 10 and 12" Memorial arms the 9" cannot be adjusted on the fly.New Signature version of 9" VPI arm has anti-skate.Spoke to Wally of Wallytools fame sells his own bolt on version.He said that while he respected Harry their were reasons in physics that in both turntable performance and record preservation dictated that all arms have anit skate beyond the pseudo twisted wire in older VPI products.
Chazzbo