Interesting thought- Linn &

I have found ime the the arm is difficult to set up for optimum performance.  If a lower end cartridge is used, it may not be as difficult.  I have a glider and a denon 103 that was fairly easy and tracked particularly well with the jmw.  However, I have found that the higher end cartridges are much tougher to set up.  It can be done, but it takes a lot of patience.  I have never had a problem with mm cartridges with this arm.  I am currently using a Benz ref s and it is a bear to set up.  Even hearing it on the ekos arm on the Linn told me that this cartridge is much more demanding and finicky with set up.  It did not sound very good on the Linn.  The dealer had a klyde installed that sounded much better on the Linn than the Benz.  So much so that I could not believe it.  I brought the Benz home and put it back on the VPI and the magic returned after careful setup.  Unless it is set up correctly, the ref s is very siblant and can distort during demanding passages.  When set up correctly,this. Cartridge can sound amazing on the scout.  I do not think there is a better value in turntables that found in the scout.  I have tried the butcher block and did not like it very much.  I had an hrs for audition once and it was amazing what it did.  Incredible actually.  I did not have an SDS.  I am curious of what is possible with the scout.  Overall, as I said, the Linn was better that the scout but I thought the scout was better at making me want to listen to music.  I felt the scout took me to the venue better than the Linn.  The Linn brought the venue to me.  The instruments sounded more realistic on the VPI to my ears but the Linn provided more inner detail, blacker background.  Some of the things I did not like about the Linn may have been system related.  It did have a very solid image of the music.  It makes me wonder if I had the scout on a stable platform and a better motor controller could it outperform the Linn at less than half the cost?

thz21y, I use a Benz SL on my Classic 3. What aspect of the setup did you find most critical to the issues you described?

tzh21y, You have really raised 3 issues about VPI set-up.  First, what is to go under the table.  If you're dealing with a concrete floor there may be one solution.  If you have a soft suspended wood floor there may be another.  Sometimes a sturdy shelf attached to the wall studs solves the problem completely.  Suggest you visit the VPI forum, describe your situation and seek advice.  You shouldn't have to spend a lot of cash to solve the problem.

If I understand it correctly all current Linns have some form of electronics in front of the motor.  Either the SDS (available used) or an Eagle will provide the functionality of a Lingo for about a third of the price.  It will raise your VPI to a new level.  Should you upgrade to a different VPI TT the electronics can go with you.

Cartridge set up should not be very much different on a JMW arm.  Setting azimuth may be the biggest difference.  Some of us use the $50 Soundsmith "Counter Intuitive" to make it a bit easier, for you can change azimuth without changing VTF and vv, and easily make changes in very small increments.

My floor is very unlevel.  2nd floor hardwood.  Old house. Walls are very unlevel.  I actually have 2 shims under one of the legs of my stand.  One under two other legs.  One leg is on the floor itself.  I have found that a level surface is huge, especially when using a very sensitive cartridge.  Everything is magnified considerably,  every fault in the system. When everything is aligned it does sound great though.  I level the stand then turntable chassis.  The Benz ref s just let's you know more than other moving magnets or moving coils I have had that something is not right.  Maybe I am just ultra sensitive.  As far as alignment, I have found that you cannot just go by cantilever alignment and overhang. It helps and sometimes it works perfect.  you have to listen and listen good.  Azimuth is important, its all important.  A level surface to place turntable on is more important than I previously thought.  It really make a big difference ime.  Even if it is off a little, it impacts the sound.

I suspect most listeners who think the Linn lp12 is colored, would change their mind, if they heard it with Radikal(their dc motor upgrade).  For me, besides the price preventing my upgrade, the diminishing of background noise(due to the ac motor affecting the cartridge) is something that interests me.  I could easily live with John's needle drops on Pink Fish Media, so there's still hope for this non-lottery winner.  John had Lingo(I think.) and the ac motor.