VPI Scout setup after watching Frefmer's video

Stringreen,

The point is that the CI makes all these adjustments a breeze, and allows very small adjustments that, in my experience, fiddling with the counterweight does not.

I used to own a Scout and now own a Classic. On both tables, the counterweight could not be forced "around the axis slightly until the proper azimuth is achieved." It can be only either very tightly fixed/fastened with the screw, or it will be way too loose to make a proper adjustment. There is no in-between, which makes sense as it's a metal screw that exerts a pressure against a metal tube. O-rings might help with smaller adjustments (by restricting excessive counterweight movement), but they will not provide the precision, the CI offers.

Insofar as there is a screw inside the back of the tonearm that perhaps allows small VTF adjustments, it is way more time consuming that simply sliding the CI.

Actjsreus... Why argue with you. You can and I do force the rear coutnerweight with extreme accuracy...in minute increments without any damage at all to the arm. Obviously you are in need of this thing that I still see no use for except for the times that you exchange arm tubes. You are a proud owner and good luck to you. As for others... Be assured that the arm can easily be set up without this added expense.

Stringreen,

I find it very perplexing that you've been criticizing this tool from the very beginning, even without trying it. My sense is you have some sort of a purist attitude block that prevents you from admitting the usefulness and benefit of the CI. From what I've seen, you're just about the only VPI table owner who finds it of no use. The added expense is trivial against the benefit of saved time, added ease and less stress this tool offers.

Btw, I'm not "arguing" with you as to me the benefits of the CI in adjusting the VTF and azimuth are objectively (yes, objectively) verifiable given the nature of the VPI tonearms, and so are beyond a polemic. I was simply trying to understand why you insist on your position even though you have no solid arguments to support it.

You are both right. I like and use the CI and I also agree with Stringreen that the same results can be achieved without the CI. If you have an older VPI arm without the end stub allen key VTF adjustment, the CI becomes more useful.

I kinda like the CI. I think setting azimuth and VTF is frustrating. The CI makes it a lot easier to zero in on where you want to be. Hey Stringreen, you and I share the same views 99.9% of the time. I think the CI costs about 65 or 75 bucks. Why not give it a try. If you already have and still don't think it's that big a deal -- I can respect that.