VPI Scout to Michell Orbe SE

A few over at vinyl asylum prefers the thinner platter Gyrodec to the Orbe, but yes, majority do prefer Orbe. I had a Gyro SE and have gone through the process of upgrading it up to Orbe level and just giving you my honest opinion. It's not aways a higher model component will outperform a lower priced model, it all depends on taste (and type of music) of the individual with the two model sounding so different.
Nolitan, I agree...the Raven One is an excellent table.

I went from a Scoutmaster with the Jmw9sig to the Orbe w/ Tecnoarm.

I am very happy with the change. I never really got off on the right foot with the VPI as I had sibilance problems with it, but I am really happy with the Orbe. The VPIs make a solid table, but I'm not a fan of their arms. I'd say go for it, the Orbe is a real nice table that you won't need to mess with it all once it's setup.

I have a Aries I. I owned it for 5 years and upgraded the platter to the HRX acrylic platter. I switched bearings and platters a couple of times finding that the acrylic platter was better at higher volume with better detail and fuller bass. I found the black original platter to be darker.

JMO

I own the VPI Scoutmaster with JMW-9 Signature, SDS, Periphery Ring and Center Weight. My dealer who sells VPI and Mitchell (among others) told me that in order to improve on a fully equipped Scoutmaster like mine, I would have to move up to a Rega P9 or SME 10.

So my advice would be to look at possibly adding upgrades to your Scout before upgrading to a whole new TT. I would say that the SDS, Periphery Ring and Center Weight are "must haves" for all VPI TT owners.

I have an Orbe SE + SME V arm. I am using a Shelter 901 and another small outfit hand-built cartridge from Taiwan as my carts. Two of my closest friends are currently using the Scoutmasters, one with a Shelter 901, and the other with a Lyra Skyla. The third person sold his, similar to Agiaccio's setup, and went with a Clearaudio Anniversary.

As my house is currently going through a major renovation, and my system are stored in a storage, I've been listening to the VPIs through and through pretty much every week or two.

It's funny how the magazines from each respective countries think of these two tables. The VPI appears in Stereophile/TAS recommended list all the time. But Michell is never mentioned. If you look at Hi-Fi+ and other British magazines, and for that matter, other European magazines, Michell is always listed in them as one of the top class A analog components.

I never directly compare the two as my friend's systems and rooms are all very different from each other. I think both are solid performers. But both tables face different set up challenges to dial them in correctly. Michell could be difficult to set up trying to get the right "bounce", but using an SME arm gives you ability to fine tune your cartridge. VPI is not that tough to set up the table itself. But my friends all had some rumbling problems using that new big flying wheel outboard motor. The biggest complaint they have is with the arm. The VPI arm is just terrible. There are no finite adjustment available. And there are no scales on the dials to reference, so if you try a new setting and you can never go back to the original setting precisely. And I think some adjustment is missing completely from the VPI arm, but I cannot remember what it is.

In terms of aesthetics, I think Michell Orbe SE scores a much, much higher points for me than the VPI. But that's just me.

To end the note, I would only say that so far none of us is convinced that the other table is better than our own, or able to convince the other. Their systems sound great with classical music (their predominate choice of music), but not so good with more intimate Jazz music (my predominate choice). My system just happens to be the opposite. I have no plan to change mine, but another VPI owner is ready to ditch his and upgrade to something else like a Raven AC-1 or Brinkman.

FrankC