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VPI Scout Plinth Redux

99.139.201.54

Posted on October 12, 2014 at 14:28:55

Lakeshore Larry
Audiophile

Posts: 215
Joined: July 30, 2014

I redid the plinth on my VPI Scout for 2 reasons:

1. The black finish MDF was boring.

2. I was always curious if a hardwood base would provide a more "lively" sound vs MDF.

Bought a couple slabs of American Walnut at Woodworkers warehouse and joined them with dowels after cutting and matching the grain as best I could. Did a spray lacquer finish and put all the metal work back on.

Listening tests have been quite interesting. The midrange definitely seems brighter with vocals (both male and female) moving forward a bit with added clarity. Not sure, but the bass seems a little subdued, but only on certain tracks. This may be due to the fact that I couldn't get the steel plate off the original plinth, it appears to be glued on. This easily accounts for half the weight of the original platter and no doubt stiffens it quite a bit. I'll either pry it off or fab a new one to do a proper comparison.

In the mean time, I had the local granite house start on making one out of rock. Weight and rigidity should be better than the original by many times. Hope to have that one for listening tests by next week.

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RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

Lakeshore Larry

18:02:39 10/29/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

Bones13

04:00:29 10/30/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

Lakeshore Larry

04:55:17 10/30/14

...

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RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

Lakeshore Larry

18:02:39 10/29/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

Bones13

04:00:29 10/30/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

Lakeshore Larry

04:55:17 10/30/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

Waxxy

10:36:21 10/13/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

Cygnus X1

11:01:06 06/29/16

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

Lakeshore Larry

10:40:45 10/13/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

Waxxy

17:42:28 10/14/14

Try Corian next

BobM

10:23:41 10/13/14

Countertop Corian

Penguin

05:42:05 10/14/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

middleground

03:34:12 10/13/14

Don't mar the original plinth just yet...

genungo

22:04:04 10/12/14

BPoletti

19:52:51 10/12/14

Penguin

19:55:10 10/12/14

BPoletti

20:10:44 10/12/14

Penguin

20:19:48 10/12/14

bjh

21:55:45 10/12/14

glad to keep things in perspective :)

Penguin

07:02:01 10/13/14

J. S. Bach

07:54:12 10/13/14

RE: Dresden suffered less violence than what you propose! nt

amioutaline?

19:59:19 10/12/14

Penguin

20:21:17 10/12/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

dirtyvinyl

17:20:30 10/12/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

shallow pockets

16:49:18 10/12/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

painter27

16:26:34 10/12/14

You're nuts. That's better.

MannyE

19:43:07 10/12/14

Penguin

19:52:11 10/12/14

MannyE

20:02:00 10/12/14

RE: A Classic! nt

amioutaline?

19:55:31 10/12/14

let me get this straight :)

Penguin

17:41:55 10/12/14

RE: let me get this straight :)

painter27

18:39:36 10/12/14

Penguin

19:30:48 10/12/14

painter27

18:46:42 10/13/14

How thick is the steel plate?

Penguin

16:05:12 10/12/14

unclestu

15:43:11 10/12/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

amioutaline?

15:26:08 10/12/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux

BPoletti

14:41:45 10/12/14

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 12, 2014 at 14:41:45
BPoletti Audiophile Posts: 931 Location: Midwest Joined: October 3, 2010	Have you thought about laminating MDF to the bottom of the granite to help dampen it? Granite does tend to ring a bit.

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 12, 2014 at 15:26:08

amioutaline?

That's just excellent! The matching, the execution and what you accomplished with a rattle-can.

I'd call VPI and find out whether the adhesive they used will weaken with heat or acetone or....

My experience with MDF rack shelves tells me it will compound the tendency toward lean-ness.
The granite should be interesting and may benefit from a layer of EAR SD-40 damping. I'd really like to know how a thicker, solid maple plinth would sound.

Hmmm, my Traveler would be a candidate, wouldn't it?

Ain't walnut great?

go to the, posted on October 12, 2014 at 15:43:11
unclestu Dealer Posts: 5851 Joined: April 13, 2010	Taylor guitar website and read what they say aout various woods used for their solid body guitars. very enlightening

How thick is the steel plate?, posted on October 12, 2014 at 16:05:12

Penguin
Audiophile

Posts: 7116
Location: Delaware
Joined: August 5, 2001

if you do not mind destroying the MDF plinth you can cut the MDF on you table saw into "cubes" and beat it off then just sand whatever is left after you broke most of it off.

dee
;-D

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

quote by Kurt Vonnegut

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 12, 2014 at 16:26:34
painter27 Audiophile Posts: 5057 Location: wi. Joined: January 7, 2003	That is freaking ugly. Sorry. But, if sounds good to you that's all that counts. You did do some very nice woodworking building it.

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 12, 2014 at 16:49:18
shallow pockets Audiophile Posts: 765 Location: Michigan Joined: June 27, 2009	Some good woodworking going on there Larry, well done.

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 12, 2014 at 17:20:30
dirtyvinyl	Excellent work. Since you're going for aesthetic along with performance, have you thought about the dull looking feet? Some huge brass or even the black anodized Mapleshade or equivalent would complete the fine woodwork. While you're at it, a matched stained slab of maple below table?

let me get this straight :), posted on October 12, 2014 at 17:41:55
Penguin Audiophile Posts: 7116 Location: Delaware Joined: August 5, 2001	Black MDF beats polished walnut in pretty? That is the first time i heard this. dee ;-D True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. quote by Kurt Vonnegut

RE: let me get this straight :), posted on October 12, 2014 at 18:39:36
painter27 Audiophile Posts: 5057 Location: wi. Joined: January 7, 2003	Well, Like I said. Nice woodwork. Design ? Na. But if it sounds good that's all that matters.

hmmm, posted on October 12, 2014 at 19:30:48
Penguin Audiophile Posts: 7116 Location: Delaware Joined: August 5, 2001	that means you do not like the original one either :) dee ;-D True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. quote by Kurt Vonnegut

You're nuts. That's better., posted on October 12, 2014 at 19:43:07
MannyE Audiophile Posts: 2088 Location: Miami Beach Joined: March 4, 2001	You're entitled to your opinion, of course, and I would have liked it better if he had left the edges sharp, but it's not ugly. Unless, like Penguin says, you hate the original design as well. Then I'll give it to you...as crazy as it is. :) You crazy :)

NVTS ????, posted on October 12, 2014 at 19:52:11
Penguin Audiophile Posts: 7116 Location: Delaware Joined: August 5, 2001	:) dee ;-D True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. quote by Kurt Vonnegut

Metal plate, posted on October 12, 2014 at 19:52:51

BPoletti
Audiophile

Posts: 931
Location: Midwest
Joined: October 3, 2010

Have you looked here for a metal plate?

Pretty much any kind of metal you want (non-radioactive) in most thicknesses. Plenty of selection for plates. Even copper and stainless are available.

Speedy Metals

OK OK OK , posted on October 12, 2014 at 19:55:10
Penguin Audiophile Posts: 7116 Location: Delaware Joined: August 5, 2001	he already has a good one. except it is stuck to that stupid piece of MDF :).... dee ;-D True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. quote by Kurt Vonnegut

RE: A Classic! nt, posted on October 12, 2014 at 19:55:31
amioutaline?

RE: Dresden suffered less violence than what you propose! nt, posted on October 12, 2014 at 19:59:19
amioutaline?

RE: NVTS ????, posted on October 12, 2014 at 20:02:00
MannyE Audiophile Posts: 2088 Location: Miami Beach Joined: March 4, 2001	HAHAHAHAHAHAHA The MAIN ROOM!!!! Too funny.

RE: OK OK OK , posted on October 12, 2014 at 20:10:44
BPoletti Audiophile Posts: 931 Location: Midwest Joined: October 3, 2010	It's always nice to have options. Besides, what works on MDF might not on other material. Maybe an aluminum or copper plate would work better. Or maybe something thicker.

hmmm, posted on October 12, 2014 at 20:19:48

Penguin
Audiophile

Posts: 7116
Location: Delaware
Joined: August 5, 2001

proposing further experimentation. But it also means that he has to cut the metal plate to exactly what he needs, a bit more work than the walnut was :). Not saying it is impossible, but just making the MDF vacate the steel plate may not be the worse thing. Once you scored it nice and deep a you can just pop it off with a screwdriver in chunks and sand the remainder off. MDF is pretty brittle. If i were to make a new one i would just go to my local scrap yard and find some steel plate. you would be surprised what you can find there :). That alone keeps people from steeling those steel plates that cover the big construction holes on the road :)

dee
;-D

True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.

quote by Kurt Vonnegut

Yeah :), posted on October 12, 2014 at 20:21:17
Penguin Audiophile Posts: 7116 Location: Delaware Joined: August 5, 2001	but it wont be too bad except for the dust :) dee ;-D True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. quote by Kurt Vonnegut

RE: hmmm, posted on October 12, 2014 at 21:55:45
bjh Audiophile Posts: 18614 Location: Ontario Joined: November 22, 2003	"If i were to make a new one i would just go to my local scrap yard and find some steel plate. you would be surprised what you can find there :). That alone keeps people from steeling those steel plates that cover the big construction holes on the road :)" That's an interesting bit of social commentary. ;)

Don't mar the original plinth just yet..., posted on October 12, 2014 at 22:04:04
genungo	You may want to use it again sometime in the future, depending on how the new plinth sounds once your done with it.

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 13, 2014 at 03:34:12
middleground	How does that Gorilla Glue sound? Couldn't resist!

glad to keep things in perspective :), posted on October 13, 2014 at 07:02:01
Penguin Audiophile Posts: 7116 Location: Delaware Joined: August 5, 2001	I always wondered about that bit. How come they always stay where they put them :)?.... dee ;-D True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. quote by Kurt Vonnegut

Weight!!! )MT(, posted on October 13, 2014 at 07:54:12
J. S. Bach Audiophile Posts: 9578 Location: Chester, SC Joined: November 28, 2001 Contributor Since: June 29, 2004	Later Gator, Dave

Try Corian next, posted on October 13, 2014 at 10:23:41
BobM Audiophile Posts: 1400 Location: Long Island, NY Joined: September 24, 1999	Try making one out of 1" thick corian next. far less resonant than eiahter wood or stone, and you can get it in almost any stone-like look or color that you want. No need for a metal plate on it either. You may be able to find a kitchen cabinet/counter guy who has some sink cutouts cheap. A gentleman is best defined as someone who knows how to play the accordion ... and doesn't.

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 13, 2014 at 10:36:21
Waxxy Audiophile Posts: 2648 Joined: July 19, 2011 Contributor Since: November 22, 2011	I think it looks great. I had considered something similar a while back. There was a fella offering to make VPI plinths out of Panzerholz plywood. Unfortunately after getting a quote the price was far too high. Panzerholz is still an interesting idea for plinths though. Thanks for posting and for the pics!

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 13, 2014 at 10:40:45
Lakeshore Larry Audiophile Posts: 215 Joined: July 30, 2014	Not that hard to do in any material, really. The walnut cost me ~$100. This is a dimensional drawing I used for the granite guys.

RE: hmmm, posted on October 13, 2014 at 18:46:42
painter27 Audiophile Posts: 5057 Location: wi. Joined: January 7, 2003	If you talking about the origanl Scout, no. In its price class its a great table.

Countertop Corian, posted on October 14, 2014 at 05:42:05
Penguin Audiophile Posts: 7116 Location: Delaware Joined: August 5, 2001	is usually 3/4"or 5/8" thick. You would need to build a constrained layer plinth ala well tempered. dee ;-D True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. quote by Kurt Vonnegut

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 14, 2014 at 17:42:28
Waxxy Audiophile Posts: 2648 Joined: July 19, 2011 Contributor Since: November 22, 2011	Very cool. Thanks for the drawing! Along with the Panzerholz, I think an interesting material would be foamed metal. A sandwich of stainless steel sheets and foamed aluminum seems like an ideal combination for a light-ish and rigid plinth. And maybe a foamed brass platter?

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 29, 2014 at 18:02:39

Lakeshore Larry
Audiophile

Posts: 215
Joined: July 30, 2014

Finally received the granite version of the VPI Scout plinth today. It weighs in at 32 lbs, the original MDF is 13 lbs.

The walnut base wasn't as appealing cosmetically as I would have hoped, and it changed the sonic signature of the table. While the mids seemed brighter and the vocals stepped forward, the bass seemed subdued and mushy, especially on bass heavy tracks.

The sound with the granite plinth is amazing. The bass is back in spades as well as tighter & more dynamic than ever. Interestingly, the mids are still sharper and both male and female vocals are more focused and forward in the sound stage. The entire presentation is articulate and the separation between instruments is very noticeably better.

Not too bad looking either and nearly impossible to scratch...

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 30, 2014 at 04:00:29
Bones13 Audiophile Posts: 296 Location: L.A. (Lower Alabama) Joined: July 4, 2009	Very nice. Your granite company could probably sell those to those of us who agree with you on the aesthetics of black MDF. How did you handle the screws on your granite table? Wood screws don't bite in granite last time I checked.

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on October 30, 2014 at 04:55:17

Lakeshore Larry
Audiophile

Posts: 215
Joined: July 30, 2014

The granite shop did a great job on the cuts and polishing. The holes were another story. 1 5/16" is not a standard size so they used 1.25" and enlarged the holes, but not enough; I had to use a drum sander bit in a drill to get the feet to fit.

They also didn't do the holes for the tone arm mount or the anchor screw on the main bearing. I bought a .25" diamond bit at Home Depot and did the tone arm mount myself; use .25" plastic concrete anchors for the screws (same for the RCA connector box). I didn't drill the anchor screw on the main bearing as it was too close to the 1" hole; turned out I didn't need it.

RE: VPI Scout Plinth Redux, posted on June 29, 2016 at 11:01:06
Cygnus X1 Audiophile Posts: 26 Location: MI Joined: February 20, 2002	I realize this is an old post, but I was interested in the plinth dimensions, as not all of them are clear. I one most important to me is from the right side to the bearing hole...10 8/32? The rest I can figure out.

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