VPI Scout

Jsangelo,
I stand corrected. After reading your reply I looked at the instruction manual for the Scout. While the speed accuracy is within 1%, the manual says:

"There are multiple grooves on a very slightly tapered shaft so you can adjust the speed as your belt ages or temperature changes. The higher the groove, the slower the speed."

My apologies. Beyond this statement from the manual, though, I can't give you the detail you're asking for. Perhaps someone else knows and will reply.

That's ok Rushton. I appreciate the details you provided.

However, I'm curious as to how many grooves + and/or - there are for EACH speed, and how much of a speed change occurs when these grooves are utilized.

Slipknot1 may be able to provide those details. He has a Scout. Let's see if he returns to this thread...

Here goes: there are 7 grooves on the platter. At 33 rpm the belt seems to seek it's own level on the platter grooves. Each of the two pulleys have four grooves each. With my Walker Motor Controller engaged, the belt rides on the lowest groove on the 33 pulley. Without the motor controller engaged it rides there as well. I have not noticed any changes in speed in moving the belt up or down the pulley shaft that are discernable without the use of a strobe and mat such as that from KAB. I am confident that the Walker is providing me with a stable 60 cycle sine wave at 33.33 rpm. So, in my limited experience with the Scout there MAY be tiny adjustments possible via relocating the belt on the pulley shaft, but the belt on my table seems to want to ride on the same place on the platter regardless of where it is on the pulley. I have not conducted measurements with a stobe to verify whether or not these changes result in speed differences. Without the motor controller, my ears really can't tell a difference. I will say however, with the motor controller in the chain, the audible differences in the music is a profound change for the better. I think the same can be said for the SDS as well. A worthwhile investment in my estimation if you are concerned with being able to make small changes in the speed your platter is running at. The SDS is very accomodating in this regard.

Although I dont have a lot of expereance here goes.Ive had my scout,arum beta s,acoustech ph1p, for almost a year,its sounded better as my set up skills have improved,in my set up a paving stone with mouse pad under moter and cones worked better than a maple butcher block which worked well under my preamp,the block under Scout seemed to soften things up to much,the paving stone worked better for me,I wonder if one of the isolation devices on the market might work even better yet,,also has enyone tryed the Scoutmaster upgrade? Ive learned a lot from Audiogon members .thanks