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VPI Scoutmaster vs. Pro-ject RM10

I had a chance to listen to a VPI Scout friday and was sorely disappointed. I had the salesman play a Rega P3 and it was no contest. I finally convinced him that the VTA must be off. I placed the rega felt mat on the VPI and it cleared up considerably. But was it VTA or the felt mat or both?? I like the way the VPI is built is seems like it would provide years of service. But I would like to hear a Pro-ject RM10 and don't have a dealer locally that has one set up for demo. Has anyone ever compared these two? The scout sounded muffled and uncontrolled in the bass. Again the mat helped but is that a characteristic of VPI? Do they traditionally sound hard or conjested? I understand that the Pro-Ject arm is a real nice arm and the magnetic bearing is appealing but before I plop down 3K I would like some input on what to expect.
128x128theo
theo's avatar
theo OP
2,684 posts
 
I am glad to see some votes on the Clearaudio Performance as I am considering this as well. I heard one last week but the dealer didn't have a phone stage to match the Glider cart. I owned a Glider years ago and came to realize it was a little forward for me on a P25. I am also curious about the Avis Diva and Michell Technodec and in the same price range maybe go back to Rega in a P7. I am trading my LP12 and want a simpler TT but want to enjoy the sound. Any input on these tables would be greatly appreciated.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
The pro ject 10 was tested recently by HIFICRITIC in England. They found it well built but the sound quality was not up to the standard they expected. They found " what let down this turntables performance was an unmistakeable shortfall in dynamic expression and rather slow, downbeat rhythms." They gave it a score of 33 on a scale where their reference is 100. The Rega P7 was in the same test and scored 47 with MM and 55 with MC. I would expect the VPI to be considerably higher than these. I want to add my warning about siteing to the ones above. I have used turntables since 1962 and have spent a good part of my life as an audio dealer setting up tables. I was a VPI dealer for over 10 years before taking a long break starting in 1994. I came back as a VPI dealer this fall with the Scout and Scoutmaster, which are quite different from their older models. It has taken me 3 months to get them sounding the way they should, One very cheap tweak was to place Star Sound discs under the VPI feet, they are under $9 each. There is a lot of performance in the Scout, don't give up on it. I have a good DYI support design given to me by a stand manufacturer if anyone is interested. Stan
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
The VPI should beat the pants off of the Project. Something is very wrong.
headsnappin's avatar
headsnappin
295 posts
 
Stringreen and Stanwal are very correct.
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
I don't much like the Michel!!l, it sounds veiled to me, but I do love the Scoutmaster, I have never heard the Pro-ject 10, but thought the 9.1 was very nice, it was on an isolation platform, so I am sure that helped.

Once again though, get the Clearaudio Performance!!

I am listening to it right now, man, it is dead quiet.
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