Need help deciding

M2wason

M2wason

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May 4, 2013
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Cerritos, CA
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I can't decide between VPI Scout or the Transrotor ZET3.1
any suggestion? Pic below is the Transrotor ZET 3.1 Thank you.
 

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The VPI Scout is a fine value, but given the choice between those two I'd go for the Transrotor with a better tonearm than the Jelco based arm in the photo.
 
M2wason.......You can't decide between a $2600 entry level VPI versus the $6500 (without tonearm) Transrotor ZET3.1? Is it a matter of cost or are you joking? Add another $2400 for a decent tonearm like the SME 309 and another $2800 to $3200 for a fine moving col cartridge to the Transrotor ZET3.1 and you are quickly looking at approximately $12,000. Guess that makes the VPI Scout look good if your budget doesn't support your alternate choice. If you can swing it, go with the Transrotor. That will save you from having to sell the Scout later on down the line.
 
M2wason said:
Dan, my apology I meant to say VPI Prime
Click to expand...

M2wason.......Oh! Well there is still a huge gap between the VPI Prime and the Transrotor. Can't say I'm much of a fan of the VPI 3D printed tonearm either. Their first version had a drooping counter weight issue. They say version 2 is better but I am not a fan. The VPI Prime with the 3D printed tonearm will run you $4000.00. That is still substantially less than the Transrotor with an SME 309 for $8900.00. The two turntables are not in the same league.
 
VPI Avenger, only because I want to beat Mark saying it!
 
The old adage, "Buy once, buy right" just doesn't ever seem to work with audio enthusiasts. Speaking from my personal experience it seems that I will buy once, twice, three times, sometimes four or five times before I get near where I wanted to be in the first place. To be truthful those are conservative numbers. The incremental baby steps get expensive fast. When I finally arrived at the system I originally dreamed of owning I ended up spending two or more times the cost of the dream system just getting there. If I could have only convinced myself to ante up from the get go, I would have been considerably better situated from a financial standpoint. Thankfully I have settled down but for years my audio budget flowed like sand through an hour glass. Half of the expense could have been saved if I had just gone for the gusto right from the start.
 
I tried the Transrotor ZET1, Avid Diva II SP and the VPI Prime and went for the Prime, due to the best PRAT and superior mods potential. Have it now on FE footers and with ext. motor control + regenerator and gyroscope and must say I am very happy. The ext. motor control is a must. The JWT 3D unipivot tonearm is not everyone's cup of tea but it works very well for me.

But when I read someone just comparing prices and drawing conclusions based on that, I can always only tear my hear out. Usually those people have never actually tested the gear personally. In hi-end audio it is very easy to spend quadruple the necessary budget for a mediocre end result if you do not know what you are doing. The VPI is way superior to the Transrotor, which basically is a chrome-polished truck.

Double-D is right about the benefit of rather going for a bit higher aspiration level from the get go. I don't think you can completely leap frog the learning curve, but you can try to reduce the number of stops on the way.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Double-D said:
The old adage, "Buy once, buy right" just doesn't ever seem to work with audio enthusiasts. Speaking from my personal experience it seems that I will buy once, twice, three times, sometimes four or five times before I get near where I wanted to be in the first place. To be truthful those are conservative numbers. The incremental baby steps get expensive fast. When I finally arrived at the system I originally dreamed of owning I ended up spending two or more times the cost of the dream system just getting there. If I could have only convinced myself to ante up from the get go, I would have been considerably better situated from a financial standpoint. Thankfully I have settled down but for years my audio budget flowed like sand through an hour glass. Half of the expense could have been saved if I had just gone for the gusto right from the start.
Click to expand...

Kuoppis said:
I tried the Transrotor ZET1, Avid Diva II SP and the VPI Prime and went for the Prime, due to the best PRAT and superior mods potential. Have it now on FE footers and with ext. motor control + regenerator and gyroscope and must say I am very happy. The ext. motor control is a must. The JWT 3D unipivot tonearm is not everyone's cup of tea but it works very well for me.

But when I read someone just comparing prices and drawing conclusions based on that, I can always only tear my hear out. Usually those people have never actually tested the gear personally. In hi-end audio it is very easy to spend quadruple the necessary budget for a mediocre end result if you do not know what you are doing. The VPI is way superior to the Transrotor, which basically is a chrome-polished truck.

Double-D is right about the benefit of rather going for a bit higher aspiration level from the get go. I don't think you can completely leap frog the learning curve, but you can try to reduce the number of stops on the way.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
i realise that not everyone has the discretionary budget but my entry level vinyl rig was an AMG Viella 12 with a Benz LPs, it really has saved me a shitload of money.
 
bzr said:
i realise that not everyone has the discretionary budget but my entry level vinyl rig was an AMG Viella 12 with a Benz LPs, it really has saved me a shitload of money.
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Kev.......That is some kind of entry level turntable. The AMG Viella 12 is quite the starting point and supports the gist of my comment about going for the gusto from the get go.


IMG_2087-amg-turntable-small.jpg
 
I agree, spend more from the beginning and get what you really want from the outset. Then just enjoy it. If you compromise your preferred choice, there is a likelihood of festering doubt which will develop into a compulsion to trade and upgrade at a substantially more aggregated future cost of ownership.

Unless you are a gear swapper or in the trade, then just by once and buy well. Enjoy..
 
Steve said:
I agree, spend more from the beginning and get what you really want from the outset. Then just enjoy it. If you compromise your preferred choice, there is a likelihood of festering doubt which will develop into a compulsion to trade and upgrade at a substantially more aggregated future cost of ownership.

Unless you are a gear swapper or in the trade, then just by once and buy well. Enjoy..
Click to expand...
This is exactly what I'm going through now.
 
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