VPI Super Scout Master.
The set up was pretty easy really but getting it level was more problematic as the floor runs front to back and left to right. On top of that the bench itself has a reverse camber front to back that i had to get over. The SSM allows three full rotations of the feet to level it off but that wasn't enough! I had to use some solid coasters with cork bases and putt them under the back of the bench. That sorted the the bench front to back and some how helped it left to right as well. Not sure how but it did and i was able to get the table level after that. The drive unit was a problem as it has no adjustment for levelling. I had to unscrew the rubber feet and place washers i acquired from the local hardware store between the main drive unit and the rubber feet. It worked a treat and i set it up with 1/2 inch between chassis and motor.
Fitting the four drive belts was next and was very simple. Their was two small belts, one for each motor that went on first. I put the belt over motor and rolled it onto the flywheel and used the grooves on the flywheel to to get the positioning. Then put the larger belts around the platter onto the flywheel and levelled them off by turning the flywheel by hand.
Next job was to fit the Dynavector XX2-MK2 cartridge on to the arm. The arm comes ready for use so nothing had to be done their. I laid the arm down on foam that was supplied and fitted the cart using screws supplied and pushed the wires onto the cart. This was quite nerve racking as one slip could of trashed the cantilever!
Fitting the arm was simple as the pivot point comes fitted. I removed the protective cover from the pivot point and placed the arm in it.
To align the arm i used the supplied jig. This was placed on the spindle and adjusted with screws up to the pivot point. On the jig is a box with a dot in the middle were the stylus should be. Adjustments should be made to the cartridge with the protective cover off! This was also a delicate job which i found quite difficult.
Adjusting the Anti-Skating was easy. I connected the tone arm wire to the junction box then adjusted the counter weight so the arm hovered above the mount. By gently tapping the arm it swings out over the platter and returns as the wire acts as the Anti-Skate mechanism. Sweet.
The tracking force was set with digital scales. The optimum setting for the cartridge is 1.8 to 2.2 grams and should be set to the higher side.I managed to get 2.094 as shown.
Finally to complete the arm set up the Azimuth was set by using the supplied rod placed on the headshell and adjusted by turning the ring at the bass of the arm until the headshell is parallel to the record.
Thats it with the arm and ounce set up never needs adjustment, unless you move it!
Now to get power to the table. Plug the motor into the SDS drive. This controls the turntable speeds of 331/3, 45 and 78 rpm's but its not as simple as press the button and off you go. The speeds are set up on the Hertz frequency range (not sure why and someone may be able to answer this) and to do this VPI supply a Stroboscope Disc. This sits on the platter and for optimum speed setting you use a strobe light to set it all up! I haven't done this yet but i done some internet searching and found other users set the frequency at 60.30hz. This seems okay for 331/3 but i will eventually source a strobe and set it up properly!
I'm using the Dynavector P-75 phono stage set in Phono Enhancer mode as suggested and seems to be a good match for the cartridge.
I've had a good 20hrs of listening so the cartridge should be broken in by now. It certainly opened up after 7hrs and bass definition was very good after 9hrs. 20hrs or so was recommended for the break in so more or less there really and it sound very good indeed and much better than CD playback as pointed out by the better half!! "We'll go back to buying records then" she said and were duly off to London today on a record spree.......
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