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Technics 1210 and VPI Scout.... interesting difference

Posted by Supercool! (A) on April 18, 2008 at 01:54:32

I was just reading some comments from user510 in a recent post concerning cartridges in use by inmates here. user510 touched upon an experience (with different TTs but similar results) that I keep having upon comparing the sound of my 1210/881 combo to my VPI Scout/Blackbird set up which it resides next to.

Specifically and briefly, my Scout sounds great on audiophile LPs and very well recorded LPs but on the majority of my rock collection (and many other various genres), the 1210 simply seems more enjoyable and musical. I find that on anything but the best recordings the VPI can be a touch irritating and uninvolving. It also simply does not track as well. It was set up by Mike at VPI so I know the set up is right (and I've checked all parameters myself as well). I'm having a hard time connecting to the idea that the Scout combo is so much more expensive and at its best can be transcendental, but rarely is.

How can such a revered and critically acclained tt made by folks who I KNOW like a wide range of music (I've met Harry at two record shows and know from discussion he is a diverse listener) be so limited?

This is a characteristic that I've kept noticing for four years now even when I had a 1200 w/ same cart. It seems the Scout can get to deep bass that is not on many LPs BUT that does seem to be present on newer and audiophile pressings. The 12xx/881 gets a warmth and fullness from bass that seems to be in the next half octave up from the VPI and this is the quality that seems to be a differentiating factor. This, along with a hyper-detail fron the top end on the Scout that seems to be the upper range counterpart of the low end characteristics I'm hearing. They almost seem "Voiced" for different recordings.

I find this disconcerting though, as it seems a great TT should play all records musically otherwise what is the point?

I've been thinking of upgrading the Scout to try to get some of the 1200 magic but WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO? Essentially I'd be more than doubling the already disproportionate price relationship between these two TTs!

Although I am working on a full blown review, I should add that I just swapped out my original 1200 for a rewired 1210 (from KAB..THANKS KEVIN!) and the re-wiring pushed the 1210 to the point that I can no longer ignore the issues between the two set-ups. Also notable, although the two TT have different pres and cables, I've done alot of swapping around and the primary differences I've described seem to remain consistent.

I'm curious about this and wondering what others think. I'm also looking for advice on whether or not I should bother upgrading the VPI. I'd love to get BOTH qualities out of the VPI...am I kidding myself?

I'm not trying to denegrade the VPI, but this is an issue based on studied performance and I'm wondering if others have had similar experiences or ideas on this.

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Schiit Audio

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