Help! New TT skipping badly....


Recently bought a used VPI Scout with JMW arm  9 in.  Set up on shelf om my SolidSteel rack where I have always had a TT. Could barely breathe without arm skipping. If I walk anywhere near rack, skips. Floor is carpeted over hardwood, quite solid, never had issue with Clear Audio or Rega table. Took to Audio Connection and had completely gone over and adjusted. Better but still bad. Put cork /sorbathane blocks on shelf and put 3 inch solid maple slab on top of that. No change. removed top shelf and put the cork/ sorb. blocks directly on frame, then maple slab. still skips. everything is dead nuts level, and as stated, floor is firm. Went in basement and put a brace between floor joists, nada. Tomorrow I was thinking of taking rack down and removing spiked feet. Odds this helps? I know some will suggest wall mount, but I don't want to spend anymore money if I can avoid it.As I said, Ive had other TTs in exact spot and you could dance with never a problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated.As I said TT was recently gone over and is set up correctly. Thanks
winoguy17

Showing 1 response by bdp24

The problem is the VP! Scout has no suspension, and the approaches you've taken to solve your problem don't acknowledge that fact. Solid Steel racks are, as the name suggests, pretty solid---stiff, passing the mechanical energy from the floor into the MDF plinth of the VPI. The MDF shelves on the SS rack flex (I know, I own four of them), but not enough to create any isolation between floor/rack and turntable.

VPI's first product was an isolation platform---a wooden box with no bottom, springs installed in the open cavity and facing the shelf upon which it was placed. It was reportedly pretty effective, but finding one may be difficult.

So, as suggested above, try a set of four springs between the top shelf of your SS rack and some sort of platform for the VPI. Symposium Acoustics makes a platform designed expressly for turntables; it is a multi-layer shelf-like plank (aluminum top and bottom, foam rubber between the two) fitted with special springs on the bottom. Worth a look on the SA website.