[johnsonad]

Alright, it's time to enter the world of TT's and I don't want to have to upgrade anything but a needle every now and then. From what I've read getting the right player and arm are the most important aspects with the others filling in the gaps. Both the Scoutmaster and the Aries 3 have been recommended (thanks Aaron, Tod and Ray). I plan on buying used and have time to wait for the right deal. The question is, which one? Of course if a sweet deal comes about I'll jump on it but for those of you out there that own these TT's, what are your experiences, which would you recommend and why?

Thanks,

Aaron

 

[johnsonad]

WOW, no responses???? Vinyl guys, where are you!

 

[infinitesymphony]

Messing around with budget turntables well below your price bracket, that's where.

 

[Yikes]

You can clearly see my thoughts.

 

[nelamvr6]

Beautiful Yikes!

My Scoutmaster finally got delivered, but I'm out of town so I haven't yet got a chance to play with it.

I hope you get some answers too johnsonad, I'm curious to hear comparisons between these two also.

 

[johnsonad]

It's a hard one! There is a dealer down the street and I hope to spend some quality time there. Vinyl is a money dump and I hope to hear the difference as easily as you can with different CD sources. Instead of wasting money upgrading, I'm hoping that either of these will fit the bill and hopefully the cheaper of the two

The Super Scoutmaster is a beauty but above what I am hoping to spend (not saying I won't). I know of three head-fier with Aries 3 but they haven't given any input yet. Al, Bob where are you guys

 

[nelamvr6]

Have you never heard vinyl before?

I hope you've left room in your budget for a good vacuum cleaner. But you don't have to break the bank on that, you can get a manual Nitty Gritty for a couple hundred dollars. They really do make a big difference.

 

[johnsonad]

I've heard vinyl but not on the level of my my current rig (old Fisher TT). This will be an 'into' rig but one I can live with for many years. I've set aside a budget for cleaning, preamp and needle. My goal is not to have to update the deck and arm for the next 10 plus years and thus my decision between the two.

 

[goldenratiophi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yikes /img/forum/go_quote.gif You can clearly see my thoughts.

WOAH! And that phono preamp ain't too cheap either!

*drool* *sniff* *sniff*

 

[tom hankins]

I was using the BAT VK-10SE phonostage when this photo was taken. Since have gone to the Ayre P-5XE and I have Mikhail building me an over the top tube phono as I type. Cartridge at present is the Dynavector XX-2. When it gets a couple hundred more hours on it I am going to move up to the Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua. No complaints at all with the SSM!
Is that Einstein phonostage as nice as they say??

 

[nelamvr6]

I don't have a Super Scoutmaster, but I do have the periphery ring clamp and the TNT center weight.

I'm going to be using a Clearaudio Aurum Beta S cart. My weak link is my phono stage, I'll still be using my NAD PP-2 for a while until I can afford a better one.

 

[catachresis]

Y'all just make me sick.

I used to have an LP12 with a mm cart and a Creek phono pre. And it sounded pretty damn swell to me.

 

[asebastian0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom hankins /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was using the BAT VK-10SE phonostage when this photo was taken. Since have gone to the Ayre P-5XE and I have Mikhail building me an over the top tube phono as I type.

Cough up the beans on the Singlepower phono stage! Tube complement? Specs?

As far as Scoutmaster Aries 3 goes I can only tell the OP that when Sterophile reviewed the Scout they found it to better the (more expensive) Aries 3. Have to go to bed or I'd look up the quote. HA! fooled ya, here it is "Today, I think the less expensive Aries Scout and JMW-9 actually play music better, and I felt that way within a minute of first hearing them." Obviously you are looking at the scoutmaster but they will share the same arm, everything is just a lot bigger on the master.

I have found the acrylic platter sound to be not entirely to my liking and I am moving to something else. Good luck on choosing, perhaps you could ask voltron as well, he's got an aries 3.

 

[Yikes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by asebastian0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have found the acrylic platter sound to be not entirely to my liking and I am moving to something else. Good luck on choosing, perhaps you could ask voltron as well, he's got an aries 3.

Agreed – Which is why I opted for the new VPI Super-Platter. The Super-Platter is a 25 lb. Acrylic-Stainless Steel-Acrylic platter.

The Einstein is very good, although ergonomically it’s awful. Who wants to spend $5500 on a piece of equipment that is designed to sit on the floor behind the rack? It still sounds amazing though.

I’m attempting to determine which phono stage to go with. The Einstein is definitely in the running. I am also going to try the Art Audio “The Vinyl Reference” and I hope to try the soon to be released Exemplar Audio Reference Phono (the name to be determined).

I also have in the house a Sonneteer Sedley USB ($1650). Later in the week I’ll see how the Sedley stacks up against the Einstein. It would be nice to be able to digitize my vinyl.

 

[tom hankins]

I am also using the super platter. I have audditioned the Art Audio, and although good, preferred the BAT over it.