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!

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

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

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

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

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