VPI ARIES SCOUT

Name: VPI ARIES SCOUT
Brand: VPI
SKU: 58294496
Availability: InStock

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Code: 58294496

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Second-hand. In excellent conditions. No visible signs of wear. Comes with JMW-9 tonearm, original packaging, manual, and accessories.

The VPI Aries Scout turntable, paired with the JMW-9 tonearm, represents a remarkably harmonious and accomplished expression of analog playback. Every aspect of its design reflects coherence and balance, resulting in a natural and engaging listening experience. This is not a collection of fleeting technical trends, but a project that emphasizes substance and refinement. The whole setup feels solid, functional, and surprisingly elegant.

The turntable’s plinth is made from a thick MDF panel finished in semi-gloss black, with a steel plate and a silicone layer underneath to ensure rigidity and vibration damping. Four aluminum cones, each featuring a steel ball tip and isolated from the plinth with Poron washers, provide height adjustability and stability. Everything is engineered to minimize external interference.

The thick, precisely machined acrylic platter is supported by an inverted bearing with a sintered bronze bushing and a Teflon thrust plate, mated to a hardened steel spindle with a chrome-hardened steel ball, rated at 60 Rockwell hardness. The motor is decoupled from the main chassis to avoid unwanted vibration transfer. It’s a 5.5W Hurst AC synchronous motor with a two-speed Delrin pulley designed for fine speed adjustments. A thin drive belt — the only mechanical contact point between platter and motor — transmits power.

The record sits directly on the platter, optionally secured with a threaded Reflex clamp. This approach reflects the designer’s philosophy: rather than dampening the vinyl’s vibrations, the goal is to keep it perfectly flat — the ideal condition for optimal tracking by the unipivot JMW-9 tonearm. The tonearm, a tribute to Harry Weisfeld’s late son, is compact, solid, and constructed with carefully selected materials. The cast-aluminum armtube matches the finish of the turntable feet and is filled with high-density polyurethane foam to optimize resonance control.

The arm’s pivot uses a hardened tungsten carbide point with a machined steel support. A counterweight ring, mounted underneath the upper assembly, aids stability and allows precise azimuth adjustment via slight rotation. The lack of a conventional anti-skating system is intentional: according to Weisfeld, slightly increased tracking force and proper routing of the output cable are sufficient to counter lateral forces, avoiding unnecessary mechanical complexity.

The arm is equipped with high-quality Swiss-made signal connectors and a 32-strand copper wire specifically developed by Discovery Cable. The interface allows for easy cartridge swaps and system connections. Despite its impressive stability, the vertical effective mass is tightly controlled at 8.1 grams, ensuring wide cartridge compatibility.

The tonearm height is smoothly and precisely adjustable without compromising structural rigidity. Every component of the Scout and JMW-9 system is designed to resonate coherently with the others, avoiding internal interference and contributing to a cohesive, natural sound reproduction.

The result is a rich, present, and emotionally engaging sound that captivates even the most demanding listener from the first moment. Compared to other renowned — and often significantly more expensive — turntables, the VPI Aries Scout delivers surprisingly musical performance, even surpassing some higher-end models from VPI itself. Anyone looking for a serious entry into the world of analog or wishing to upgrade their system should definitely give this machine a listen.

Technical Specifications – VPI Aries Scout Turntable