I would think that the "better" table would be the Aries 2. Apparently the recent changes to this table make it more like a Scout on steroids (per HW).
The Helikon is a STEAL at it's price IMHO. Having said that, I would suggest you consider the new Lyra Argo priced at $1200. Match this with the Aries 2 and you should be very pleased.
I am a HUGE fan of Lyra. They are nice guys and they make a great product at a great price. I have both a Helikon and a Helikon Mono. I haven't heard the Argo, but I would suspect that it would also be a STEAL.
I am also a HUGE fan of VPI. They are great as well. I imagine that I will be a customer of both VPI and Lyra for life.
I use an Aries 1 (soon to be upgraded to 2) with a JMW-10.5. The phono stage is an Pass Xono. The combo works out very well IMHO. No way that it puts me to sleep -- although I wish it would some time. There is definitely no lack of excitement and energy. (Adding an SDS really helped improve pace and timing. The Xono really helped here as well.)
With the Xono, be sure to investigate the proper cartridge loading. I believe that my Helikon is loaded at somewhere around 850 ohms.
Ken
P.S. I just re-read your note. I actually think that choice 2 will produce the better sound providing that you have placed the table on a good support. I think that cartridges play a much more significant role than most people suggest. Lesser cartridges impart a grainy, metallic edge that really gets in the way of the music. The Helikon sounds completely grain free to me -- and this is one of the many things that make this cartridge very special.
The Helikon is a STEAL at it's price IMHO. Having said that, I would suggest you consider the new Lyra Argo priced at $1200. Match this with the Aries 2 and you should be very pleased.
I am a HUGE fan of Lyra. They are nice guys and they make a great product at a great price. I have both a Helikon and a Helikon Mono. I haven't heard the Argo, but I would suspect that it would also be a STEAL.
I am also a HUGE fan of VPI. They are great as well. I imagine that I will be a customer of both VPI and Lyra for life.
I use an Aries 1 (soon to be upgraded to 2) with a JMW-10.5. The phono stage is an Pass Xono. The combo works out very well IMHO. No way that it puts me to sleep -- although I wish it would some time. There is definitely no lack of excitement and energy. (Adding an SDS really helped improve pace and timing. The Xono really helped here as well.)
With the Xono, be sure to investigate the proper cartridge loading. I believe that my Helikon is loaded at somewhere around 850 ohms.
Ken
P.S. I just re-read your note. I actually think that choice 2 will produce the better sound providing that you have placed the table on a good support. I think that cartridges play a much more significant role than most people suggest. Lesser cartridges impart a grainy, metallic edge that really gets in the way of the music. The Helikon sounds completely grain free to me -- and this is one of the many things that make this cartridge very special.