I had a Scoutmaster(very nice table for the money) & I did not realize the speed was spot on until I purchased the SDS. I should have purchased a strobe first and saved my money. I am now using a rim drive HRX and the turntable would be useless without the SDS. If I remember correctly the SDS also does some power conditioning but I plug everything into a couple big Equi=Techs so the bottom line is on my Scoutmaster the SDS was not needed.
SDS or phono stage
I have a VPI Scoutmaster with Soundsmith Zephyr Mk II cartridge, jmw memorial arm, a stainless steel vpi record clamp, playing through a Musial Fidelity KW500 integrated amp with on board phono stage. Sounds quite good, but my question is this: would I be better off at this point adding an SDS or an outboard phono stage? Or both? In what order? Thanks!