VPI Scout "tweaks"

Rocket323,

I assume you're using the threaded feet? What size did you get, and are you using the Heavyfeet or Megafoot?

They bolt into the table in place of the stock feet. I believe the thread size is 1/4 x 20. Since I did this a while ago, you can double check that thread size by taking a stock foot to your local hardware store and checking it with a bolt and nut with that thread size. They should mesh perfectly. The Mapleshade web page is www.mapleshaderecords.com. I have the threaded Heavyfoot v.3. Warning, the points are very sharp and will nick your rack. They do make a version with a radiused end, but they don't sound as good since they don't lock into the stand. Cost is $40 a piece plus shipping. Pure brass is expensive! My turntable is on one of their Samson v.2 racks. BIG improvement over my old Sanus rack, at least to my ears. Very expensive though. I use their maple platforms under all my equipment. Their speaker stands really make my Snell D floorstanders come alive. Again, not cheap, but the difference in the sound of my system amazes me. My listening room is in the basement with a concrete floor under thick carpet. So, I need all the help I can get. The company president (an engineer) has helped me improve my room sound both by email and over the phone, no charge.

HEAVYFEET FOLLOW UP. I forgot to mention that the motor pulley and the platter will not quite match up with the Mapleshade feet installed. I got a set of Mapleshade's Isoblocks and carefully separated them, leaving one layer of cork and one of rubber. I unscrewed the stock motor rubber feet and placed the motor on top of the Isoblocks, one on each corner. The front screw heads on top of the motor won't clear the platter anymore, so you need to back the motor out a bit. The belt found the proper platter groove after I ran it for a while. Belt tension seems OK and I have run this for about two years with no belt failure. I used a small machinist's ruler/square marked in 64ths to get the motor lined up properly. This is a fussy procedure and will take some patience. This is for the Scoutmaster motor. The stock Scout uses a different motor
so your height requirements may vary.

With the improvement you've made via the new feet, (by the way, I'm considering doing the same), if you install the $95 Mapleshade NanoMount tweak that uses miniature directional cones between cartridge/headshell, and tonearm/pinth flange, you will fully realize the advantage the new feet have given you. This product drains vibration away from the cartridge, into the arm, and then to the plinth. I proved this to myself when first I installed the NanoMounts, and was surprised at how little effect they had. Then I remembered I had sorbothane dampers under the VPI feet, and after I removed them, the difference was startling. Can't recommend it strongly enough.

Regards,
Dan

Another thing to try is to remove the rubber feet from the turntable motor and replace them with the smallest Audio Points [Star Sound]. I have just done this with my Aries and the difference was considerable. I took the rubber feet off the Scout motor and replaced it with some sorbothane discs which helped but did not make the same difference. Going to change it next.