As good as the Scout is, the Scoutmaster is a very large leap ahead, and at 900.00/upgrade is like getting a whole new, vastly improved turntable.
I will second Rushton's comments. I would do the upgrade first if for no other reason than the fact that the 300 rpm Scoutmaster motor is more suited to giving you a wider range of choices in Motor Controllers. I use the Walker motor controller in my setup, having auditioned it along with the SDS. The SDS is a fine unit to be sure, but in my system I prefered the Walker. That being said, I had the Walker on my Scout BEFORE doing the upgrade to Scoutmaster. But if you are currently in a position to do one or the other, do the Scoutmaster upgrade first. Everything the Scout does so well is done quieter, blacker, and more well defined on the Scoutmaster. And, who can argue with with the drop dead gorgeous looks of that double thick plinth and thick acrylic platter?
I will second Rushton's comments. I would do the upgrade first if for no other reason than the fact that the 300 rpm Scoutmaster motor is more suited to giving you a wider range of choices in Motor Controllers. I use the Walker motor controller in my setup, having auditioned it along with the SDS. The SDS is a fine unit to be sure, but in my system I prefered the Walker. That being said, I had the Walker on my Scout BEFORE doing the upgrade to Scoutmaster. But if you are currently in a position to do one or the other, do the Scoutmaster upgrade first. Everything the Scout does so well is done quieter, blacker, and more well defined on the Scoutmaster. And, who can argue with with the drop dead gorgeous looks of that double thick plinth and thick acrylic platter?