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Scout Owners: How Much Cartridge?

Just curious how much you would invest in a cartridge for this table. At what price point does the table become a limiting factor in terms of what you can get out of a cartridge. I'm currently using a Dynavector 20XM but am thinking of an upgrade. Should I be considering a new table (perhaps further up the VPI line) or can the Scout (mine has the 300rpm motor upgrade) handle a much better cartridge and still get the most out of it? Thanks.
128x128dodgealum
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Nottingham, among a dozen others, would be a great choice.

Dynavectors match very well with VPI arms as you indicate Dan. The Scout I owned was equipped with a 20X(H) and it performed reasonably well but from a value standpoint below average IMO.

The Scoutmasters I took in on trade came with Benz and Clearaudio cartridges respectively. The Clearaudio was ok but the Benz Glider/JMW-9 combo was much too austere for my taste. I'm not a big Benz fan to begin with so that was no surprise. Much like VPI, I think there are much better values at every price point.

YMMV
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
your cartridge /arm/and table should sound just fine. you can always spend more.....its easy. getting more for that money is where things get tricky.
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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
Thanks, Bill for the info, I wish I was in a position to hear more front ends than I am able to, living 100 miles away from an analog dealer makes it difficult. I've had to live and learn.

Jaybo, I'm with you, my front end sounds quite good to my ears, and is soon to get better, as I have sent my Simaudio LP 5.3 in for some custom mods that will really make it shine. When that is done, my system will have reached an equalibrium in all formats, I feel, and that's not bad, considering how shallow are the pockets funding this endeavor.

Regards to all, enjoy,

Dan
stickman451
553 posts
 
Dodgealum,

I think Stringreen has it correct above...most of the VPI turntables offer a lot of bang for the buck and are definitely "overachievers"...

As to your question (I currently have a Scout with a Dynavectror 20xl myself)I'd say that what you have is already a decent rig but I'm not sure that I would invest a great deal into a new cartridge for the Scout. Instead, I'd opt to trade-up in the VPI line to a Aries 3 or a SuperScoutmaster. Sell (or trade-in) the Scout and keep your current cartridge. Once you wear-out your 20, move up to an even better Dynavector cartridge.

An advantage with the Aries 3 is the fact that you can add a different arm (like the killer Dynavector DV 507 MKII)and move way up the scale to a really top line tt...
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