FWIW, my recent experience also suggests buying the best table you can afford now and upgrading the cartridge later if need be. I just got a whole new analog rig and by chance the cartridge came in first. Naturally I couldn't wait, so I mounted it on my very inferior old TT/arm. It certainly was a nice improvement, but the new TT/arm took it to an unimaginably higher level.
I'm also wondering why you're restricted to the two alternatives you listed. I believe you can do much better for the money. Assuming list prices, you'd pay about $3,800 for a Scout/JMW-9/Helikon SL setup. For similar money you could get a Teres 245/Origin Live Silver/Shelter 501. Many ears-on reports confirm what's pretty obvious on paper: a Teres 245 will just destroy a Scout, or an Aries or even a TNT for that matter. The OL Silver equals or betters the JMW-9, and a Shelter 501 is far more musical than the Helikon.
Another option would be to get a Teres 255/Origin Live Silver and keep your current cartridge. That would give you a near world-class base, a table and arm for life. You could upgrade the cartridge later if and when you felt the need.
Somebody shoot me if I'm steering him wrong.
I'm also wondering why you're restricted to the two alternatives you listed. I believe you can do much better for the money. Assuming list prices, you'd pay about $3,800 for a Scout/JMW-9/Helikon SL setup. For similar money you could get a Teres 245/Origin Live Silver/Shelter 501. Many ears-on reports confirm what's pretty obvious on paper: a Teres 245 will just destroy a Scout, or an Aries or even a TNT for that matter. The OL Silver equals or betters the JMW-9, and a Shelter 501 is far more musical than the Helikon.
Another option would be to get a Teres 255/Origin Live Silver and keep your current cartridge. That would give you a near world-class base, a table and arm for life. You could upgrade the cartridge later if and when you felt the need.
Somebody shoot me if I'm steering him wrong.