vpi scoutmaster versus technics unbiased

07-23-08: Lwerner
Is not the entire platter part of "the direct drive" motor?, Hence, an awful lot of EMI (electro magnetic interference) swimming around that platter, Oh so close to that expensive magnetic cartridge? You decide.
One belt, motor on seperate plinth, free at last! free at last!

Typical audiophile-approved dogma with speculated theory but no substantiation. You have to pay between $3-5K to get a belt drive TT with as low an S/N, weighted or unweighted, as a $500 Technics SL12x0.

Every drive system has its strengths and weaknesses. What about the hysteresis inherent in a flexible belt drive system, or the side pull on the rotor bearing? You can sit in an armchair and point out design disadvantages in anything, but it is the implementation, not the design theory, that ultimately determines if something works well or not.

The EMI thing didn't put off Goldmund, Grand Prix, Teres, and some other direct drive entries in the high end.

Barring the expensive DD models mentioned by Johnnyb53, the cognescenti of direct-coupled(i.e. idler) & DD TTs generally favor vintage Lencos, Technics SP-10 & early Denons. They can be purchased for under $500 on ebay and restored/replinthed to great effect. The advantage of superior speed stability in these TTs, may or may not be offset by the advantage of low vibration inherent in belt drive with an isolated motor. Having myself tweaked a VPI belt-drive TT in areas that separately address speed stability and resonance control, my vote goes to speed stability as making the greatest improvement. It will forever be debated whether any belt drive TT can approach the speed stability of DD, and whether DD can be as quiet as belt drive.

I just sold a fully modded M5G for a Scoutmaster. For some reason, in my setup, my M5G had a high pitched noise (was not a ground issue). The noise was coming from the pitch control. My previous TT MK2 did not have that problem. Anyway, in my system, the VPI has a much larger soundstage and deeper bass. However, I was using a Dynavector 10x5 on the Technics and now using CLEARAUDIO MAESTRO WOOD Cart so not really fair comparsion. Technics imaging was dead center but VPI is more of a spread center. Both very good but different. Technics was much easier to setup vs. VPI. Speed control much better on Technics than VPI. Speed and noise seem to be the most common issues between these two TT's from what I've heard from the online forums.

I've had the VPI for just under two months and have replayed several of my most favorite LP's and most have shown a signifgant improvement in LP surface noise. Again, I don't think it's 100% fair comparision due to a different cart and arm. Maybe the MC cart was just to harsh for the Technics on my system and picked up every little thing. My phono preamp is a jolida 9d.
Sorry it my first post was off the OP. Hopefully this on gets closer to the info your after.