Getting The Most Out Of My Scout

It's very scientific, it just sounds better. Deeper, fuller, more extended. I don't know what the technical reasons are, but it's a better sounding rig. I have never heard anyone who had both say any different.

SDS

Ringclamp

Isolation platform (Gingko)

Trans-fi Terminator Tonearm (better option than the VPI arm)

I think the Classic blows the Scout away, and I have had both, and the Aries. It does not need all of the upgrades to get to the next level. I got rid of my SDS and arm on the Classic is better, IMHO, than the 10.5 that comes on the Aries, and blows away the JMW 9 signature.

I would buy a Classic again in a heartbeat. The only upgrade that I have, and it is great, is the periphery ring, but I would suggest that for any non-vacuum hold down table anyway.

It's very scientific, it just sounds better. Deeper, fuller, more extended. I don't know what the technical reasons are, but it's a better sounding rig. I have never heard anyone who had both say any different.

Cmalak, thanks great article.

You have not heard the table, by reading your comments. Your analysis of the engineering behind the tables is spot on, which is why everyone, myself included, is shocked when they hear the table.

The reason every review is outstanding, is becuse the table is really that good. Also, there is a reason production is so far behind demand. I think VPI is shocked at the demand response, I think they thought it would be a cool, retro, niche deck for the modified AR, Thorens, Garrard, Technics crew. In fact, I assume it has actually hurt sales of their much higher priced decks, and I bet they never counted on that.

Cmalak, you are exactly right I am sure. After having a couple of great Clearaudio tables, I bought a Scout, and did some of the upgrades, then switched to an Aries I (the one everyone raves about being incredible with the original platter). I used the SDS and ring clamp on both, and really didn't like either of them anywhere near as well as my Clearaudio Solution or Performance, and I was planning on trying out a much more expensive Sota (hey, I found out they are made about 2 miles from where I grew up) rig, but after hearing a Classic in someone else's setup that I knew very well, I decided to try a VPI one last time.

I have never been sorry in any way that I bought this table. I don't know why it does, but it just absolutely rocks. The Whole seems much better than the sum of it's parts in the this instance, to quote a well warn cliche. I got rid of the SDS too, I don't know why, but it made no difference in the set up. I do still use the periphery ring, well a new one anyway.

I am skeptical of most of what I read on audio, and that skeptisism is usually justified, but in this instance, I was dead wrong. I really think this table could be a seminal piece of gear in the same manner the still excellent Linn LP12 is.

I'm a big fan if you can't yet tell. I'm sad that I am running out of pieces of my system to replace. It sucks getting content.