Seeking Opinions on Clearaudio and VPI Turntables

Here's the biased viewpoint from a VPI TNT6-HR owner, who has numerous friends with VPI tables ranging from HW-19s to ScoutMasters.
I agree w/most of Sdcampbell's remarks. To my ear, the VPIs are solid as rock, with a black background, weighty presentation, with good detail, but perhaps a tad more emphasis on mid-bass than reality. To use another analogy, more of an "American sound" vs. "European sound".
I've heard the Champion Level 2 at a dealer with Audio Research electronics and Martin Logan speakers. None of these pieces are close to being favorites of mine, and the sound was bright & thin to my ears. When I heard the top of the line Clearaudio table at CES, there was tons of detail, but balance of the system was also a touch on the polite side. More emphasis on highs vs bottom end and midrange. Many in the room loved the sound, which was dynamic and threw a very wide soundstage, two areas in which both brands seem to excel.
Best thing to me about VPI is the proven upgrade path. Lots of value preservation IMHO. The people at VPI are indeed accesible if you have any questions. Harry is often on audioasylum's vinyl board under moniker, "HW". Cheers,
Spencer

To be specific, anyone here have heard of the Aries 3 or the scoutmasters ? for $3000-$4000 for arm and table, which of the vpi series presents a good bang for buck value?

thanks for inputs.

Can someone help me. I can't decide on the following decks- Pro-Ject Xpression MK11; Goldring GR-2, Rega P3 and the Clearaudio Emotion. I'm not happy with the Sumiko Oyster cart. that comes with the Pro-Ject. With the P3 and the Emotion I would need to select a cart. Lastly, what do you think of the Marantz TT-15S1 that Clearaudio makes for Marantz? Is it essentialy the Emotion with the fancier Virtuoso Wood cart? Emotion=$1k; Marantz 15S1=$1.8K

Many thanks.
Len

Common dealership opinion seems to favor VPI

I've had some conversations with the SoCal dealers who seem to be the big vinyl guys (Brooks Berdan in Monrovia and Audio Revelation in Carlsbad). Both carry VPI and Clearaudio. Both recommend VPI tables enthusiastically (especially Berdan), but both seem to limit Clearaudio endorsement to the cartridges. I've never gotten a specific reason from either, but have heard reservations expressed -by others - about the Clearaudio bearing design, which (I'm told) puts the contact point at the top of the bearing shaft near the platter. FWIW

I'd add that Acoustic Image -a dealer in the San Fernando Valley with its own vinyl following - does like the Clearaudio tables, while LA Audio in LA and Optimal Enchantment in Santa Monica focus on neither brand.