Both of these companies are very different, and both have had various issues/complaints with some of their tonearm designs. VPI seems to finally be going towards gimbal arms (Prime 21 has a gimbal), which I think is good, and seems to be getting good feedback. I kept away from VPI Scoutmaster/Classic as a beginner because I hated the wobble of their undamped (back then) unipivots. Honestly their new gimbals look really nice, and I think they will do better with a wider range of cartridges where the unipivot can struggle (e.g. Koetsu stone bodies).
What is the arm on the Innovation? If it’s that awful magnetic-bearing Clarify, then pass. You must have a concrete slab floor for that arm to work OK. The semi-magnetic Magnify is a lot better, but you’ll still need to be aware of isolation. The linear tracking TT-5 can be (so I hear) be a bear to setup. The Satisfy is perhaps too lowly for a table of this level. You would be better off with a Tracer or Universal. But a Graham Phantom (Musical Surroundings used to bundle these with Innovations) would be fantastic! The Graham is a perfect match to Innovation; the only problem was getting consistent supply & service from Graham.
Get a listen to one or both if at all possible. If you can only hear one, but you love it -- well, get it and don’t worry about the other! Several years ago I heard a Innovation Compact with Magnify and Ortofon Cadenza Red. The Cadenza is a little below this table’s level, but it all impressed me enough that I bought my own Innovation. It sounded wonderful.
One more though to consider -- another area where these companies are polar opposites is the product evolution. I can’t count how many new arms & tables VPI has released (and discontinued) in the last 10 years. It’s hard to call their process an evolution; more akin to throwing everything on the wall to see what sticks - then rinse, repeat. The Clearaudio Innovation line has been the SAME for 10 years now, with minor additions and refinements worked in over time (no Mk # versions, though).
Final thought: if you are a newbie and looking at turntables of THIS excellent level of quality, then I applaud you! You're doing it right. I think I'm a lifelong vinyl junkie because I went for a great table to start with (SOTA Star) and loved it from the 1st groove, rather than trudging though the budget-tiers first. Don't listen to anyone who tells you to try a Pro-Ject first ;)
What is the arm on the Innovation? If it’s that awful magnetic-bearing Clarify, then pass. You must have a concrete slab floor for that arm to work OK. The semi-magnetic Magnify is a lot better, but you’ll still need to be aware of isolation. The linear tracking TT-5 can be (so I hear) be a bear to setup. The Satisfy is perhaps too lowly for a table of this level. You would be better off with a Tracer or Universal. But a Graham Phantom (Musical Surroundings used to bundle these with Innovations) would be fantastic! The Graham is a perfect match to Innovation; the only problem was getting consistent supply & service from Graham.
Get a listen to one or both if at all possible. If you can only hear one, but you love it -- well, get it and don’t worry about the other! Several years ago I heard a Innovation Compact with Magnify and Ortofon Cadenza Red. The Cadenza is a little below this table’s level, but it all impressed me enough that I bought my own Innovation. It sounded wonderful.
One more though to consider -- another area where these companies are polar opposites is the product evolution. I can’t count how many new arms & tables VPI has released (and discontinued) in the last 10 years. It’s hard to call their process an evolution; more akin to throwing everything on the wall to see what sticks - then rinse, repeat. The Clearaudio Innovation line has been the SAME for 10 years now, with minor additions and refinements worked in over time (no Mk # versions, though).
Final thought: if you are a newbie and looking at turntables of THIS excellent level of quality, then I applaud you! You're doing it right. I think I'm a lifelong vinyl junkie because I went for a great table to start with (SOTA Star) and loved it from the 1st groove, rather than trudging though the budget-tiers first. Don't listen to anyone who tells you to try a Pro-Ject first ;)