VPI Classic vs Clear Audio Wood

I may have inadvertently created an erroneous descriptor by using this word.
No, it’s not a brightness caused by odd order harmonic distortion or tilted frequency response, it is a palpable sense of being present at an event using playback cues like space, immediacy, transparancy, color, timbre and timing. If these qualities are not there in good proportion, the sparkle is absent.

I want to try clarify what I meany by my lack of sparkle comment.
Maybe it is because I run a Decca London and Garrard combination and I like the music to really come at me as if I am there. When that doesn’t happen, it’s got no sparkle!
I have heard the Scout with an Ortofon 2M Red and it was, to my ears, somewhat grey sounding with essential detail pushed back.
I’ve heard a Classic 3 and it was good but, again, had a slight dulling that veiled the ’live in the room’ quality.
I have heard the Prime (anniversary 30?) with a Soundsmith Strain Gauge and it was good. However, while it had plenty of detail, the performer did not come to life for me.
I have heard the new 40th Anniversary and it too is a fine machine. Maybe a little polite.
On reflection, you have to hear what you buy for yourself. 

I find VPI tables to be somewhat lacking in sparkle so I'd get the ClearAudio Concept Wood. There is an ex-show demo one for $1650 on eBay from a dealer.