Oracle Delphi vs Linn Sondek vs VPI Scout

I auditioned the Delphi MkII against the Linn back around 1980, both well tuned at a good audio store, and the Delphi won to my ears and everybody's at the store, which happened to be a major Linn distributor, and I still own it.

I own a Linn and an Oracle and love them both. That being said, for a set and forget table, I recommend the Scout.

Don't limit yourself to just these three tables. I would seriously consider the advice of Art Salvatore (www.high-endaudio.com). For the price point you are in, you can get a VPI Hw 19 Mk. IV used for a good price. There's a Mk. III on sale now for $585. You could call VPI and get another armboard for $100.

With the rest of the money, you could get a good tonearm/cartridge combination. I would look at the Denon 103 (requires 61 db gain in phonostage), Shelter 501 Mk. IV (also requires about 57 db gain), Clearaudio Wood Beta, or a Dynavector 10x5 (if you can and have over 62 db gain, go for a used 17D).

There was even a Aries on here for $1400 with a RB arm board. You could have done that and went to www.britaudio.com and got an Moth Oem Arm 2 (OEM RB 300) for $275. That, minus cart, would be the range of the Scout and the Aries would CREAM the Scout.

My point is to look around in the used market. The Absolute Sound, Audioasylum.com, Audiogon.com, SoundStage (vinyl column), Stereophile (Recommended Compontents) can help you in your decisions. For me, Arthur Salvatore's web blog (www.high-endaudio.com) is the definitive voice for good used audio.

thoughts anyone?

Marty Nickison

I have a VPI MK3 with a Morch UP-4 Arm,and with the money saved bought a Grado Reference The Refererence Phono Cartridge.I'm spinning vinyl like mad and enjoy the sound of the rig.Next year I can buy the Aries 2 platter for the table and get the SDS and eventually the outer ring clamp.
As you can tell with a little research you can get big bangs for your buck.I paid a little high for my table with arm,But at $1,100.00 with the Morch arm included I couldn't pass it up.

Has anyone compared the Oracle or Sondek directly with any of the tables from VPI? What I am hearing so far is that VPIs are easier to set up. I don't mind tinkering a little bit with the setup if it results in better sound. However, if the VPI is easy to setup and there is no noticeable difference in sound, the decision seems easy - VPI all the way.

Any comments?