What tonearms are compatible with a Scoutmaster?

@kbell 

Where could one get such an adapter to raise an Origin Live tonearm on a Scout 2 TT? 

 

@panzrwagn I couldn't agree more. I recently upgraded my arm to the Fatboy Unipivot on my original Aries table and couldn't be happier. That arm brought it to another level. VPI does have a "Dual Pivot Assembly" accessory available for those that are concerned about azimuth issues. I never installed it as it appears the arm is rock steady while in play. 

The more exotic the stylus, the less forgiving it will be from errors in geometry. The 10.5" arm is a balance between the lowest tracing error of a 12" transcription arm, and the lower mass and tosionaly stiicer, but higher tracing error 9" arms. 50 years ago when the Shibata stylus was first introduced to decode CD-4 quad(!) records it was immediately noticed that alignment was critical and longer length tone arms were more successful at quad and sounded better on stereo. This wasn't considered heretical, it was just high-schools geometry and physics. Nothing since has changed either the math or the laws of physics. Those who argue you must go 'up' in the VPI line clearly do not understand VPI's design philosophy of near infinite upgradeability. VPIs are a system that enables owners to enter affordably and upgrade as your requirements change. Exactly the point at which you are today. There are those that rail against unipivot arms supposed azimuth issues. In cueing, I would agree, but while playing an album, simply not so. I would further counter it is far more beneficial to enjoy the inherent lack of rotational issues and zero chatter of a unipivot arm's ultimate single bearing simplicity than the complexity of four sets of ball bearings in most gimballed arms. As for resonance, few would argue that in structural integrity - stiffness and low resonance - that the VPI 3d printed arm tube is less than state of the art. There are many successful vinyl playback solutions. Few, if any offer better results and better value than VPI. Go for the 10.5 arm. And get back to enjoying the music.

It is not that much of a problem to adjust the VTA on a VPI 9. You can adjust it while the record is being played if you're careful. You do know about that large knurled thumbscrew that the arm is sitting on....Sure the 10.5 is easier and has a gage which permits repeatability, however, if you use your ears, you can do a good job.

Madfloyd,
Slow down,

If you have the coin to consider purchasing a suitable arm for a Dynavector XV-1,
I would strongly suggest NOT to put that kind of money into your ScoutMaster.

If you want to stay with VPI, move up the line.

Or give serious consideration to a completely different brand , new or slightly used.

The 312, of course, is basically one of SME's entry level products (the entire 3 series) and should not be mentioned in the same breath as the tonearms alluded to in my earlier post.

Unless of course one has very little experience which seems to be the case here.

As such it is a bad example and not relevant to this discussion.

Experienced vinylphiles know this; others as you read here simply have no clue.

Told you Harry wants you in a 10! As he notes on his site and in person, the other mfgrs are getting on the bus with longer arms. SME thinks so much of the 312 they built a new deck around it. Again, your "platform" will serve as budget and ears allow, far into the future. Please disregard the old fashioned/uninformed advice regarding losing your investment.

Well, admittedly I would like to stay with my table since I've invested in pretty much every upgrade apart from the arm. I'm attracted to the 10.5i since it allows VTA on the fly (something I've never attempted to adjust with my 9" since it's a bit of a hassle).

It also looks like VPI will allow me to trade in my 9 sig for the 10.5i.

Thanks, all, it seems like this will be a good step for now.

Origin Live makes several tonearms that can be mounted on the Scoutmaster. They will need an adapter to raise the arm high enough to work with the Scoutmaster platters. I have an Origin Live Conqueror mounted on a Scout with the Super Platter. I also am using the Teres Verus Motor drive on the Scout.

In theory longer tonearms offer an advantage.

Unfortunately, they present problems including rigidity and resonance issues in some, but not all, cases.

It's interesting to note that most of today's, what many consider, "reference" tonearms such as Tri-Planar, Basis Vector, Dynavector 507, Origin Conqueror, Graham Phantom, Schroders, SME V, Kuzma Stogi Reference etc. have an effective length of 10" or less.

Just an observation; not an endorsement.

Mad, While I share your interest in the mechanical advantages longer arms offer, the Scout is an excellent platform. Infinitely upgradeable, and with tons of untapped potential. Any part you replace will be snapped up. Harry likes the Dyna stuff and would be happy to get you into a 10.5. Tweak what you have, is my recommendation.

AudioFeil is quite right, the table and arm are critical. I have just become a VPI dealer again after a long lapse so I don't know the new line as well as I did the old. On the Scoutmaster you are limited to VPI arms to the best of my knowledge as they do not have the removable arm board of the Aries. I believe that the 10.5 will fit but not the 12.7 which requires much more room. I cannot agree with Jaiello about the Scoutmaster being slow, it is the fastest table I have used. Being used to the older VPIs , HW 19s and earlier TNTs, I was amazed at how different the Scoutmaster sounds. I suspect that the Aries sounds more like the earlier models. The 9 on the Scoutmaster definitely sounds faster than my SME iv or 309 did on the TNT or my Basis Ovation. I think the Scoutmaster is capable of a very high standard of performance but like all turntables takes considerable effort to get their best sound. I have just become a dealer for the Star Sound platforms and points and have been amazed at the improvement in this area made during my sabbatical from audio. I am sure that there are other devices that give good results, I mention Star because I have used them. If you are not using a good isolation device I would start there.

Check out the tables from Avid. I switched a few years ago from the VPI Aries to the Avid Volvere and have never regretted it. The VPI tables seem to sound a bit slow kind of like quicksand compared to a lively table like the Avid. The Avid goes well with the SME arms as well.

Any table suggestions? I'm not familiar with anything but VPI (only been into analog for about 6 months or so).

Why not simply upgrade the table and tonearm together?

An excellent tonearm and average cartridge will outperform an average tonearm and excellent cartridge all day long.

VPI sells an armboard for an SME arm. I have an SME IV.Vi on my Aries 3 with a Lyra Skala mounted, very easy to set up and work with. I don't think the 12.7 VPI arm will fit on the Scoutmaster.

Mike