Time for a "massive" turntable: Spacedeck vs Scheu

The SOTA Cosmos V, OL Illustrious arm and Shelter 901 (I have this trio) make an outstanding combination. Also, SOTA give outstanding service. I agree with Sit.

Analog11, let's say I want to keep the table for 10 years or more. The wood concerns me. Should I be concerned?

I think acrylic is a preference issue. I personally found on both Clear Audio and VPI deck's that it was not quite as quiet, and perhaps added a slight euphony. Anyway, it wasn't for me. Some people think the Space sounds too dead. I don't, I just think it sounds like ...nothing. I do think the Space is slightly more prone to placement issues than some decks I've seen in the price range, but I haven't gotten a good cart yet, and the one I have is fairly microphonic - a Grado red. Still it's actually not a bad combo, if a bit syrupy and definitely too colored. So you know if I'm saying the Grado's less so than the acrylics I've heard, you may find the acrylics that way. I know some people think acrylic and vinyl is a good marriage of materials, but somehow the difference in density or having a motor torquing it or something just made it wrong to me. It was very sexy, and then the more I listened the more everything started to sound the same. It seems possible to me the mass damped platter from Nott and others allows different types of recordings to show their nature rather than homogenizing them via sympathetic vibration (a theory). That's interesting about the updates. Seems like a hard set of updates to beat at the price level - it's already great. I like Sota, but I hear unipivots are problematic on them although I have nothing to back it up. Other than that, you would in fact be completely free to experiment with tonearms otherwise. Plus I personally couldn't audition a Sota or Teres, and I just wasn't going to pay that kind of money for something unheard. I have nothing against Teres, although all the owners seem like some militant splinter cell of vinyl-philes which always kind of makes me wonder: when will they all jump ship for the next thing? The Sota crew are true die hards as well, and many people who like VPI like them and say there is a similarity in their sound. I'm curious why you haven't mentioned VPI's Aries (you might be able to find one used) as a candidate?

Biomimetic, sorry for the long delayed response. So far I have not been very impressed with the VPIs (Scoutmaster, TNT), I listened to. I compared the Spacedeck (Benz Ace) directly to the Scoutmaster (Dynavector 17D2) and found the Scoutmaster to be slow and lifeless compared to the Space. The Space had blacker backgrounds, more details and texture, despite its much warmer sound.

Also, I noticed the motor on the Scoutmaster vibrating quite strongly (same on a Scout). And then there is the neverending upgrading policy with improvements every month for VPI that makes me a little suspicious.

Otherwise I might have just for the Scout. I even have an offer for a TNT Junior locally, that seems ok, but VPI has so far not convinced me. Just my short impressions though...

Rene

Have you checked with dealer(s) for possible deals for a Simon Yorke (rare, but still; cancelled orders, upgrades)? I just mention it because s/one I know got such a deal s/where in the US (had to wait for it).
It's mass TT & an outstanding performer.