Should I buy a VPI SCOUTMASTER. I OWN 25 RECORDS.

I would say that if you have to ask this question then you should probably spend your money the DAC

Or get a nice Jelco or used SME IV or V arm. You will have bass with it and a VPI table like you wouldn’t believe. I never had a bass issue even with the SME IV and VPI 19-4 until 2005. It smokes Project and Rega tables and with the SDS, is truly running at the correct speed.

I like that newer MOFI table.  It looks like a great value for the money.

You can buy thousands of NM vinyl records at discogs.com/seller/jazzhotnj

Dear @fleschler  : The LP analog bass range is way different to that same bass range with the digital alternative where the quality levels are higher through digital than LP. 

R.

I've heard one of Donald Fagen's solo albums on LP on an $850,000 system which included Avante Garde Trios, 3 pairs of Basshorns and 2 Rel Subwoofers.  The deep bass was phenomenal (about the only thing I appreciated in that system).  Sure it was summed mono below 50 Hz but wow was it deep below that.  Yes, digital can have superior deep bass in stereo.  My own system has bass down to 25 Hz with 6-12" woofers (room doesn't support the 13 Hz claim of the manufacturer).  This is with either analog or digital.  The OP shouldn't worry about bass quality with a VPI/SME combination.

Clicks and pops! why even bother!

“Clicks and pops! why even bother! “

Not if you do it correctly.

I have 25,000 LPs.  About 15,000 are in mint condition and of adequate pressing quality as to exhibit no clicks or pops.  One cannot determine whether a CD or an LP is playing other than the additional ambiance of the LP over a CD is often present.  As to the other LPs with clicks and pops, my higher end analog system negates the interference of those sounds (minimizes their impact) relative to the dynamic sound of the music.  

So now my 4 thousand dollar analog budget has come to the purchase of  2 turntables for 4500 bucks, 1 cartridge for 1200 a record cleaning machine for 3 thousand. I own 100 records now. 

You can double your collection for $20 at the Record Parlour store in Hollywood, CA.   The Record Parlour@RecordParlour

#FREE #VINYLRECORDS! Take up to 100 #Records w/ any $20 purchase. 40,000+ overstock #LPs #Cassettes and #DJ #Vinyl liquidated at The @RecordParlour Jan 19-21, 2019.  The last time I was there in 2019, I got 155 excellent classical and some pop records for $28 in the store purchase.  The store purchases were four very good condition Ramsey Lewis Jazz ARGO LPs and I forgot what else.  Spend $100 and get 500 free records.  

No way!!! Aren't used records beat up though? That's why I bought a 3 thousand record cleaner. I like my vinyl as quiet as digital. I got it right now pretty close. I have only been buying new records 

Found this thread and started reading with interest as I am on a similar predicament as the OP, just to find out later on pages and pages of childish comments and statements, very disappointing, enjoy your system Jeff, I will start another thread

No record cleaning machine in the world can compensate for what you call “beat up” records. Beat up records are records that have been damaged by worn out styli or incorrect tone arm geometry or too much or too little tracking force. Once LPs are damaged in that way, cleaning them makes no difference. However, a good RCM is useful for cleaning dirty records that you may have purchased second hand. As to the condition of used LPs, if you select carefully and purchase from responsible vendors, you should easily be able to buy very high-quality used LPs that play as if new.

I forgot to mention that any store that sells 100 LPs for $28 cannot rightfully be expected to be a source of mint condition LPs. Or else they are selling polka records.

The $28 were for 4 VG+ condition Ramsey Lewis ARGOs.  The free records are a mix of classical, pop and country.  Virtually no jazz or classic rock.  However, the condition of 75% of the 155 LPs were in excellent or mint condition.  I chose some rare 50s classical and pop in VG+ condition with only 8 clunkers.  That's a fantastic ratio for free LPs.  Hey, don't go there and leave more good LPs for me.  P.S. Some genres of music on LPs have very low market value such as opera.  Difficult to give away.  The store has a very good selection of mostly pop, rock and jazz at very reasonable prices.  I'm not about to wreck a Benz Ruby 3 $3000 cartridge on dreck condition LPs.

@inorganic For me, there's more to playing records than the music. I happen to enjoy the inconvenience of having to store, clean, and cue an LP. Lots of cartridge, tables and tonearm offerings to drool over. I love the plethora of accessories available.

I really enjoy hooking my system up to a digitizer and evaluating table and cartridge response with a scope and RTA. I have an extreme technical background. I enjoy messing with the cartridge alignment to see how the system responds. I replace caps on every piece of used gear I get. I use REW to get my system and room optimized. I use traps for room resonance control. And guess what...I rally have improved my system. Not just the numbers, but the sound.

I listen to digital also, but I am quickly bored. There's nothing to get my hands on!

Doing "analog" keeps my mind engaged. And challenged. And my pocketbook empty!

This is the opinion from way out on the fringe.

VPI has a 2nd pivot addition for the tonearm that stabilizes it and makes it sound better. Very inexpensive and easy to do