currently own a vpi scout, looking to upgrade


I have had a scout for about 5 years and I am looking to upgrade. I have heard the vpi classic and although it sounds decent, I am not sure it necessarily sounds better or better enough to my ears. How much do,I have to spend to see a,significant difference? I have not heard many tables because there are not many available locally. Any suggestions would,be appreciated.
tzh21y
You've got a nice system and you'll hear the benefits of an upgraded turntable/analog chain. However, the Scout is a high value product ( I had one for several years) and it sits in a sweet spot on the price/performance curve. IMO, going up the performance ladder from where you are now is going to be a case of the proverbial diminishing returns for exponentially greater dollars spent. That said, it's more complex than "how much do I need to spend." More than any other aspect of audio, analog done well is a synergistic amalgam of components that takes some experimentation and guidance to get right.

As to specific advice, I know people have a natural tendency to self-validate and recommend what they own and I'm going to guardedly do the the same. I was able to purchase a used German Acoustic Signature table for a very decent price, far lower than the price of new ones. There have been a number of Acoustic Signatures for sale on this site over the last year going for around 50% of new cost. There have been some reports of A.S. having quality control issues with their electronic motor control units in the past, not sure if this is a widespread problem or not. Mine has been rock solid reliable FWIW. VPI is a better known brand and service is more readily available and that plays into the brands better value retention I imagine. So, how much do you have to spend to improve over where you are now. Depends. Are you join to buy used or new? Buy a well known brand like VPI or a lesser known brand? There's not a simple answer.
Near the end of my post I meant to say "are you going to buy used or new"? I really wish the owners of this site would restore the ability to edit your posts!
I would look into a better cartridge, prepreamp, ....also, I never had good luck at all with Cardas interconnects.....they were all grainy and dead sounding.
Since you have a well thought out system to begin with, I would highly recommend a motor controller for your VPI. I implemented a Walker motor controller on my Scout and the positive attributes are undeniable, well worth the asking price.