REVIEW SHOP SHARE LEARN
VPI Aries Scout with 9 JMW Tonearm
VPI Aries Scout with 9 JMW Tonearm
MSRP: $ 1849.00

More TurnTables from VPI >>
Search AudioReview forums for the VPI Aries Scout with 9 JMW Tonearm >>
   
Popular TurnTables
more...
Top Ranked Products from VPI.
SDS Synchronous Drive System and Power Line Upgrade
Rated:
TNT MK V
Rated:
16.5
Rated:
more...
 |  Sorted by Latest Review |  Sort by Best Rating >> |  Sort by Worst Rating >> |  View All >>
Rating
Reviewed by:

dragonknee

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
October 29, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2.00 votes

Rate this review?

Review 1 of 9

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have no idea what the previous two reviewers are talking about. This turntable is silly good for the money. I've tried music hall, rega, and clearaudio without anywhere near this performance. I will admit, the design of the tonearm is disturbing at first (the arm has a tapered cup that mates with a needle like point to allow for its movement), but once you hear the music; all is forgiven. Great imaging, dynamic contrasts, and texture to the music. The sound stage is huge. The most admirable quality of this set-up is the ability to extract subtle nuances of the music (low noise floor) without drawing attention to the fact that it is extracting all the info. In my experience there are 3 different types of equipment design styles. Those engineered to show off the details (I call this hi-fi type). Every little detail is too precisely displayed with the unfortunate effect of drawing attention to this ability. Type #2 is the nothing but the truth type that doesn't offend in any way. This type doesn't add warmth and doesn't add show, but does a good job of passing along a signal to the listener. Type #3 is the warm and textured type. This type looks to engage rather than impress (type 1). I classify the scout as a type #3. The highs are all there, the bass is properly weighted, and the music flows. This turntable is not for hi-fi people. It has a beautiful blend of musicality and detail. Something that isn't often found in any audio equipment. If this is something you look for in a piece of equipment, then this one is a keeper for sure. Find your own....mine's not going anywhere!


Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

sembor

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
October 18, 2008

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.67 of 5, 9.00 votes

Rate this review?

Review 2 of 9

Price Paid:  $1600.00 from VPI dealer sale

Summary:
Money for nothing! !!!!
Miserable sibilant sound from any type of cartridges with
absolutely unstable unbalanced tonearm.
Six months tormental with plenty cartridges - no result...
It is astonishing how a Stereophile guys put this TT to Recommended components "Class B" ???!!!! or they just have no concsience...
Technics SL-1200 mk 2 MUST BE in stead of Scout!!!
Around $2000 list price and they can't even drop to the TT box cheap Shure scale.
Happy huntinf to VPI for next goof!

Strengths:
Looks attraction..

Weaknesses:
Awful TT in every way + overpriced!

Similar Products Used:
A lot from 1974


Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

kabo

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
August 20, 2008

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.44 of 5, 9.00 votes

Rate this review?

Review 3 of 9

Price Paid:  $1800.00 from netherlands

Summary:
Tried various cartridges with this turntable but in the end none of them was satisfying. Why? because this turntable is not making music at all due to its construction.Very dissapointing

Strengths:
Good marketing from VPI

Weaknesses:
Everything


Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

whitese

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
September 10, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.17 of 5, 6.00 votes

Rate this review?

Review 4 of 9

Price Paid:  $1800.00 from Audio Revelations

Summary:
Easy setup, materials and build quality is great.

Strengths:
I dont have that much experience..my previous TT was a Thorens TD-165 with a Grado Prestige Blue, but I have heard many tables in shops and friends. This table just sounds natural..It seems to give me all the info there is to be had...The cart I ordered it with is the Dynavector DV-20X which is a great match. Cables to Berning TF-10 tube pre is Final Labs Speed 0202.

Weaknesses:
none


Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:
kevin66
(AudioPhile)

Review Date
April 22, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.11 of 5, 9.00 votes

Rate this review?

Review 5 of 9

Price Paid:  $1600.00 from acoustic sounds

Summary:
I'm surprised there aren't more reviews of this turntable because this thing is the real deal. At this price level there is nothing better. I've been trying to put together a good analog front end for and I've been pretty unhappy until now. This thing gives me everything I was getting before, bass,depth,slam and energy without all the headeaches I had in the past. Unless you plan on spending $5000 or more this is as good as it gets.

Strengths:
The VPI scout has a massive platter and to put it simply there is no getting past that, it is a necessity. It's mad of solid steel and aluminum ( not in inch of plastic). The feet are adjustable. Why this isn't an option in all turntables is beyond me. It's heavy, again very important. It's beautiful. It's reliable, once you set something it stays set. It's affordable (for now). And it rocks!

Weaknesses:
The tonearm is great but it's not for the faint of heart ( it literally balances on the head of a pin!) You may have heard that VPI has no anti-skate. Well I'm hear to tell you that you don't need it my Scout can track anything that isn't blantly damaged.

Similar Products Used:
Iv'e used Sota. They suck. Stay away. I've used Music Hall. Yhis is not a high end turtable. It's cheap as hell but don't expect a lot. And lastly I've used Rega 25. This is not an opinion it's a fact


Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Next 4 Reviews >>

Company Pages

Audio & Video company review pages. Browse product user reviews, compare prices, top ranked products, and compare specs by manufacturer.

Bowers Wilkins Reviews
Bowers & Wilkins
NAD Reviews
NAD
Marantz Reviews Marantz
Denon Reviews
Denon
Klipsch Reviews
Klipsch
Sony Reviews
Sony
Yamaha Reviews
Yamaha
Rotel Reviews
ROTEL
McIntosh Reviews
McIntosh
Bose Reviews
Bose
Polk Reviews
Polk Audio
Paradigm Reviews
Paradigm
Onkyo Reviews
Onkyo
JBL Reviews
JBL
KEF Reviews
KEF
Pioneer Lens Reviews
Pioneer
Harman Kardon Lens Reviews
Harman-Kardon
Panasonic Reviews
Panasonic
Press and News
Submit News & Press...
Audio and Video News & Press Releases.

Latest and Greatest

WIN Magnepan MMG Planar Speakers

Enter to win Magnepan MMG Planar Speakers. MMG's have a 4.71 of 5 rating on AudioReview. 271 People love these speakers. Enter to win, you may find bliss.

WIN Magnepan MMG Planar Speakers

Enter to win Magnepan MMG Planar Speakers. MMG's have a 4.71 of 5 rating on AudioReview. 271 People love these speakers. Enter to win, you may find bliss.

Best Floorstanding Speakers Under $1000

So many to choose from! Lets us boil it down. How to Choose a Floorstanding Speaker that fits you:

Aural Symphonics Chrono b2 balanced interconnects Review

The Aural Symphonics Chrono b2 is more a study in contrasts than most cables. Chrono b2 refers to balanced version 2.

Marantz MA-9S2 Reference Series Power Amplifiers Review

Marantz MA-9S2 Power AmplifierThe list above has one tenet that I continue to hold true: high powered amplifiers are necessary to reproduce the full dynamic range of music with most speakers. This became apparent when I changed from the 100 Watt per channel Bella Extreme 100 to the 250 Watt.....

Three Koetsu cartridges

The Koetsu line consists of 18 different cartridges divided into four sub categories. The aluminum body Black Goldline at $1800, the Rosewood series starting at $2600 and up to $5900, the Urushi line starting at $4300 to $4900, the Stone Body Platinum series starting at $8000...

Cambridge Azur 840E and 840W Review

If this combo would surmount the challenges and rise to the same level of performance, Cambridge would have a trinity of tasty components worthy of consideration by anyone...

Audio Tekne TFM-9412 integrated 300B amplifier Review

A Dagogo featured article: In the negotiation of his wish to become the U.S. Importer of Audio Tekne, Yujean was given a set of “rules” by Mr. Kiyaoki Imai, owner of Audio Tekne.....

Reviews and Featured Articles
Expert hi-fi audio reviews, blogs, and audio articles.