VPI "Aries" Scout

Note: The VPI Scout is still in production in the current production format.

"Rather, this is a flat-out, unconditional, "Holy Mother of Crap, I can't believe how good this thing is" recommendation. It's hard to imagine another way of spending $****.** that will add this much to your system." - Art Dudley - Sterophile

The SCOUT has become the worlds best-reviewed turntable! The SCOUT is the lowest priced turntable in STEREOPHILE'S Class "B" and has attained high performance records worldwide.

For improved stability and damping, the Scout's chassis is made from 1 1/8" thick MDF bonded to a 12 gauge steel plate. The massive platter is composed of 1 3/8" acrylic and is mounted to an inverted bearing of Teflon and brass on a 60 Rockwell case hardened shaft. The 600 RPM AC synchronous motor is contained in a separate steel housing and drives the platter with smooth, quiet operation.

The JMW-9 tonearm is the perfect complement to the Scout, offering all the advantages of a unipivot tonearm at a bargain price. The arm has a low friction bearing mounted onto a solid stainless steel rod with a knurled ring to set VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle). As with the more expensive JMW-10.5i” and JMW-12.7” arms, the tonearm wand assembly of the JMW-9 can be removed and replaced in seconds. This allows instant cartridge changes with multiple armwands. An RCA junction box allows any RCA-terminated interconnects to be used.

The JMW-9 uses the same geometry and mounting as the Rega RB300 tonearm and can be dropped right into the Rega armhole with no modifications.

VPI Scout Features:
• 1 3/8" thick acrylic platter
• 1 1/8" thick MDF/Steel chassis
• AC Synchronous 600 RPM motor in isolated steel housing in black satin finish

Scout 2

Original Description:

The result of mating a great platter to a simple good looking design!

The VPI Scout has become the industry standard as the best-reviewed turntable on the planet! For 2009, we saw fit to bring some big improvements to its best-selling turntable. You may recognize the outboard motor and the plinth, but you will do a double take at the exquisite platter and tonearm.

Every VPI Scout II comes standard with the JMW 9T! This incredible tonearm features a redesigned armtube that is tapered and filled with a proprietary damping material. This revolutionary design greatly reduces internal resonance, yielding a full and rich sound, with a vast soundstage and increased resolution and detail. The added mass also produces deeper bass response and fantastic compatibility with moving coil cartridges.

For maximum stability and speed accuracy the platter is made from 1 7/8" thick machined 6061 aluminum and is attached to a nonmagnetic 303 stainless steel damping plate. The entire piece weighs in at an impressive 18 pounds! Because the aluminum is grounded to the steel, there is virtually no static buildup or sonic degradation. What's in the grooves is what comes out of your speakers.

The VPI Scout II's plinth is made from 1 1/8" thick MDF bonded to a 12 gauge steel plate giving a rigid, non-resonant plinth. The massive platter sits on chrome-hardened ball bearing held by a 60 Rockwell-hardened shaft, below which is a black delrin nut. The VPI Scout II generates absolutely no additional noise for a pristinely quiet spin.

The AC synchronous motor is contained in a separate steel housing and drives the platter via an Aries belt. This combination produces quiet yet stable running with extremely accurate speed. Speeds are 33 and 45 standard, while 78 is optional.

Features:
• JMW 9T tapered tonearm
• 2" thick aluminum platter
• 1 1/8" thick MDF/steel plinth
• 600 RPM AC synchronous drive motor in isolated steel housing
• Aluminum cone feet with stainless steel ball bearings
• Anti-skate
• Solid Delrin Deluxe One-Piece Record Clamp
• Beautiful black satin finish

Specifications:
Dimensions: 19" x 14" x 8"
Foot Print: 16 1/2" x 11 1/2"
Platter Height: 1 7/8"
Platter Weight: 20 pounds
Total Weight: 40lbs

Product Reviews:
"The thing that impressed me most about the Scout was its effervescent character. Perhaps its low mass and acrylic platter are responsible for the sense that it just wants to boogie. While the less expensive 'table doesn't convey a feeling of grandeur like the HR-X, which does a magnificent job of conveying hall space, I couldn't help feeling that the Scout might be nimbler than it big brother. The notes just popped out of it with no sense of delay." - Jacob Heillbrunn, The Absolute Sound, June/July 2007, Issue 172

"What the Scout does show, however, it that, yes, more costly innovations are indeed filtering down to budget 'tables. The result is that audiophiles have more options than ever before. And without a doubt, the Scout is a fabulous one." - Jacob Heillbrunn, The Absolute Sound, June/July 2007, Issue 172

Existing in Production Upgrades:

HR-X Mini Feet
VPI ADS
2" Aluminum Platter (Prime Platter)
Deluxe Delrin/Stainless Stain record clamp.
300 RPM aluminum motor house (Prime Motor Housing)
300 RPM stainless-steel motor house (Prime Signature Motor Housing)
JMW 10 3D + VTA Base

Scout 2

VPI Scout Series Turntables

An Integrated Guide with Historical Timeline

Why the Scout Series Matters

The VPI Scout Series represents one of the most important product families in modern American analog playback. Introduced in the early 2000s, the Scout line bridged the gap between entry-level audiophile turntables and true high-end reference designs, while always maintaining VPI’s core philosophy:

Precision belt-drive engineering
Mechanical simplicity over gimmicks
Long-term serviceability and upgrade paths
Made-in-USA manufacturing

What makes the Scout family unique is that it didn’t evolve as a single straight line — it branched. Some models refined accessibility, others pushed performance upward, and several overlapped in production.

This guide presents the Scout Series chronologically, while also explaining where each model fits sonically and philosophically.

📈 Scout Series Timeline (High-Level View)

Early 2000s Mid 2000s 2010s 2020s
│ │ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
Scout → Scout 1.1 → Scout 2 → Scoutmaster → Super Scoutmaster
│ │
└──────────────┐ │
▼ │
Scout Jr. │
▼
Prime Scout → Scout 21

🕰️ Chronological Model Breakdown

1️⃣ Original Scout (Early 2000s)

The foundation of the family

The original VPI Scout was conceived as a way to deliver true VPI performance at a more attainable price than the Aries and TNT lines.

Defining traits: - Belt-drive with external AC synchronous motor
- MDF plinth bonded with steel for damping
- Acrylic platter
- JMW unipivot tonearm (9-inch) with tapered arm and silver junction box

Why it mattered:
This table established the Scout reputation: authoritative bass, excellent timing, and a sound that scaled dramatically with better cartridges and isolation. High performance with a table with a reasonable sized foot print and inspired by the Aries.

2️⃣ Scout 1.1 (Mid 2000s)

Refinement, not reinvention

The Scout 1.1 was an evolutionary upgrade rather than a new model.

Key improvements: - Thicker aluminum platter
- Improved main bearing
- Better motor stability and quieter backgrounds

Positioning:
Same footprint and philosophy as the original Scout, but with greater refinement and consistency.

3️⃣ Scout 2 (Mid–Late 2000s)

Mass and momentum

The Scout 2 pushed platter mass further, borrowing ideas from higher VPI models.

What changed: - Significantly thicker platter (2-inch style)
- Improved speed stability through inertia
- Deeper bass authority and smoother highs

Who it was for:
Listeners who wanted more weight and scale without jumping to a new chassis design.

4️⃣ Scoutmaster (Mid 2000s)

The performance fork in the road

The Scoutmaster marked the first major step away from the standard Scout platform.

Notable upgrades: - Heavier, more complex plinth
- Larger motor assembly
- Improved isolation and lower noise floor

Sonic shift:
More dynamic headroom, better imaging, and a noticeably quieter presentation.

5️⃣ Super Scoutmaster (Mid–Late 2000s)

Reference-class Scout

The Super Scoutmaster is the most extreme expression of the Scout concept.

Defining features: - Dual-motor drive system
- HR-X flywheel for rotational stability
- SDS motor controller compatibility
- Periphery ring clamp for warp control

What it represents:
A table capable of reference-level performance while still carrying the Scout DNA.

6️⃣ Scout Jr. (Early–Mid 2010s)

A parallel branch: accessibility

The Scout Jr. did not replace the Scout — it expanded the audience.

What made it different: - Gimbal-bearing tonearm (not unipivot)
- Pre-mounted cartridge from the factory
- Simplified setup and ownership experience

Purpose:
To bring listeners into the VPI ecosystem with minimal friction, while still offering upgrade paths.

7️⃣ Prime Scout (Late 2010s)

Modern reinterpretation

The Prime Scout rethought the Scout platform using lessons learned from the Prime and Avenger lines.

Key changes: - Larger, more rigid plinth design
- Improved motor housing and isolation
- Latest-generation JMW-9 unipivot tonearm

Why it’s important:
This model became a new benchmark for value in high-end analog playback.

8️⃣ Scout 21 (2020s–Present)

Current Scout expression

The Scout 21 is the most recent evolution and the current bearer of the Scout name.

Defining traits: - Heavy 11.5-inch machined aluminum platter
- Updated feet and isolation system
- JMW-9 tonearm standard
- Refined fit, finish, and ergonomics

Where it fits today:
A modern, no-nonsense audiophile turntable that balances performance, longevity, and ease of ownership.

🧭 How the Scout Family Branches

Original Scout → Scout 1.1 → Scout 2
Incremental refinement of the same platform
Scoutmaster → Super Scoutmaster
Performance escalation toward reference playback
Scout Jr.
Accessibility and ease-of-use branch
Prime Scout → Scout 21
Modernized reinterpretation using current VPI engineering