VPI Prime Scout w/Soundsmith Carmen MKII Moving Magnet Cart - Extra Analog!

OK Vinyl Freaks - here we go with another superstar VPI package... At first glance, and despite their functional similarities—both Prime & non-Prim Scout models are belt-driven turntables with solid plinths, outboard motors, and Uni-Pivot tonearms however, three things distinguish the Prime Scout from the Scout: a larger more dense & curvier plinth; a platter machined from aluminum rather than acrylic; and a better-executed, better-finished tonearm.

The Prime Scout's plinth measures 19" wide by 14" deep—the same as the Scout's, though the original was closer in shape to a plain rectangle. The Prime Scout's plinth is more fancifully shaped, with a more generous cutaway for its outboard motor pod. As in the original, the plinth is cut from MDF—1.5" thick for the Prime Scout vs 1.375" for the Scout—and its bottom is reinforced with a steel plate about 0.125" thick. The plinth rests on four tapered and compliantly mounted Delrin feet about 2" in diameter at their thickest and standing 2.25" high.

The platter bearing is built on a brass-lined well with a polymer thrust plate and a bore that's approximately 0.65" in diameter. This contains a steel bearing axle that's fitted with a ball bearing on its bottommost surface, and is machined with a Jacobs taper near the uppermost part of its 3.75" overall length. The very top of the axle is 0.25" in diameter, and is threaded to accept a screw-on Delrin record clamp (supplied). The tapered portion of the shaft mates with the bore of the 1.25"-thick aluminum platter.

The Prime Scout's 300rpm, AC synchronous motor is housed in an aluminum pod 4" in diameter. Built into the side of this housing are a pushbutton on/off switch and an IEC socket for the supplied power cord, and it's topped with a Delrin pulley with separate steps for 33¹/₃ and 45rpm playback.

The Prime Scout's tonearm, in this instance, is the latest version of VPI's JMW Memorial Arm, a Uni-Pivot design with an effective length of 9". Supporting the tonearm, and preassembled to the Prime Scout's plinth, is a mounting collet of the usual sort, rigidly fastened to the plinth. Central to the collet is a height-adjustable support pillar topped with a sharp, slender (0.045"), upward-pointing spike that serves as the male portion of the arm's unipivot bearing—the JMW is a reverse-missionary (or, if you prefer, cowgirl) unipivot—along with an aluminum-alloy gantry that supports the arm rest and cueing mechanism.

At the pivot end of the JMW 0.375"-diameter aluminum armtube is a cylindrical bearing housing, made of aluminum alloy, about 1.5" in diameter. This is contained within an aluminum ring, to which two outrigger weights (think: tightrope artist) and a counterweight-support tube are integral. Inside the top of the bearing housing is the small (perhaps 0.2" diameter), conical, steel bearing cup that accepts the aforementioned spike. The steel counterweight is cam-shaped: it rides on its support tube with most of its mass at the bottom, but it can be rotated and locked in place to shift the armtube assembly's weight one way or the other, thus adjusting cartridge azimuth. (Azimuth can also be adjusted by loosening two locking screws and rotating the aluminum ring and outrigger weights that girdle the bearing housing.) The downforce is set by moving the counterweight fore or aft; the counterweight is uncalibrated, but VPI includes an electronic stylus-pressure gauge of quite decent quality.

VPI is well known among hobbyists for its distinctive point of view regarding tonearm setup: They have long believed that most tonearms, including their own, sound best without the use of antiskating mechanisms, be they of the magnetic, spring-actuated, or thread-and-weight variety. The lead wires of VPI's Uni-Pivot arms exit the top of the bearing housing and describe a generous loop before terminating in a push-on Lemo connector, which itself leads to a junction box on which are mounted a pair of RCA jacks. VPI continues to recommend that the user dress these leads so that they exert a slight spring force against the arm, in the direction of the record's lead-in groove. A precision piece to say the least but totally non-intimidating. Simple straight forward design and performance.

Mounted to this bad boy is the Carmen MKII II ES. "With its function-first angular body – which resembles that of an imposing battleship out of a "Star Wars" film – and you'll realize this is no ordinary phono cartridge. Indeed, Soundsmith's giant-killing moving-iron design sparks with levels of warmth, dimensionality, tonality, and musicality uncommon to nearly all other high-end models in its price class. That it comes with a two-year manufacturer's warranty to the original owner as well as the ability to get rebuilt at one-fifth of its original cost only add to the allure.

Fueled by an ultra-low mass occlusion-free nude diamond stylus – cut and polished into a true hyper-elliptical shape – Carmen mk II ES plays with an incredible purity, silky smoothness, and full-bloom midrange." - Soundsmith

Couple this VPI with its ultra-high quality Soundsmith Carmen MKII Moving Iron cart, oh, and a custom cover by AudioShield and you have plug and play high-end analog - your LPs will never have sounded so glorious.

Come demo this fine VPI table here in Andover or buy here on this site.

VPI Prime Series Scout w/JMW Memorial arm and Soundsmith Carmen MKII 2 Moving Iron Cart & Custom AudioShield Cover: $2,299.00 plus shipping and sales tax when applicable