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Advice needed on upgrading tonearm for VPI SCOUTMASTER

Greetings all!

I have an older early 90's Scoutmaster turntable with a JMW 9 unipivot tonearm. Not wanting to spend a bundle on a new turntable, I figured that a less expensive upgrade would be to replace the tonearm.  The platter and plinth are both sturdy and built like tanks.  And the table is in "as new" shape (see virtual system).  I contacted VPI to see if an upgrade would be available and if it would be sonically worth considering.  They said that "current technology and engineering have improved, with much lower incidence of resonance."  I have an older Sonic Frontiers phono preamp that was upgraded by Parts Conexion in Canada.  I also have a Benz Micro Glider MC cart with very few hours.  

The upgraded JMR 9 unipivot arm with standard wire would cost around $1,300. It would cost a few hundred more for reference wire. 

Is upgrading a crazy idea, or should I consider a new table, which I really did not want to consider ($$$).  AND, is spending a few more dollars on reference tonearm wire worth it?  

Any input would be appreciated.  Cheers!

judsauce

Showing 1 response by mijostyn

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,223 posts
 

Most arm/cartridge combinations have two resonance frequencies, vertical and horizontal. Unipivot arms have three adding torsional. This is a seriously bad deal if you are a cartridge. The makers of the two best quasi unipivot arms, Graham and Basi, go to elaborate means to stop any torsional movement. 

If you want to seriously upgrade your arm substitute VPI's Gimbal arm or install another manufacturers arm. You can mount any 9 - 10" arm on a Scout if you are clever. If it were my table I would mount a Kuzma 4 Point 9 on it. It is better than any VPI arm and a real value price wise. Other possibilities would be the Reed 2G, the Schroder CB and the TriPlanar.  

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