Upgrade from Scoutmaster?


Hello. I started with a VPI Scout as my first table back into vinyl and have since upgraded to a Scoutmaster with the periphery ring and weight as well as the signature arm. I'm using a Xono phono stage and a Ortofon Jubilee cart at the moment. All of this is sitting on the top of an Arcici Suspense rack.

I've had this for a couple of years and am thinking about upgrading. I like my table but am wondering if there's just more of everything to be had or if I'm at the point of diminishing returns? If I were to upgrade I'd like to keep it to no more than the 5 or 6K range for table and arm.

My full system is posted.

If anyone has had a scoutmaster and done an upgrade in that range and had a WOW! experience I'd love to hear about it. If you tell me that any improvements are going to be incremental I might just resist the upgrade bug, (but it'll be tough). Thanks in advance.

Bryan
bhoage
Not sure if I quite reached "WOW" factor. But got to a serious "OH YEAH" when I went from my Scoutmaster/17D2 MKII(non-sig) combo to the Superscoutmaster/XX-2(signature) combo.
Drool Drool ... I want an XX-2 cart... I really want to hear the bottom of the grove (untouched by other styli).... Some day after recovering from my speaker upgrade I'll get there..
Do you think that the XX-2 is going to be substantially better, (if at all), than the Ortofon Jubilee? I've not heard the XX-2 so I have no basis for comparison. Thanks.
Bryan - I took a look at your photos... and I would say it would be in your best interest to make addressing room acoustic problems your top audio priority. If you are looking for a "WOW" improvement, this is it.
You're premature in swapping out the Scout before resolving the problems of the sprung floors & the tall multishelf rack by putting the TT on a proper footing. A few $ spent to improve the platform will take the Scout to a much higher level & position you for any future TT upgrade.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1181971670&openmine&zzDgarretson&4&5#Dgarretson

Love those Merlins & ARS amp.