1. Home
  2. analog
  3. 167964-1502

Help! New TT skipping badly....

Recently bought a used VPI Scout with JMW arm  9 in.  Set up on shelf om my SolidSteel rack where I have always had a TT. Could barely breathe without arm skipping. If I walk anywhere near rack, skips. Floor is carpeted over hardwood, quite solid, never had issue with Clear Audio or Rega table. Took to Audio Connection and had completely gone over and adjusted. Better but still bad. Put cork /sorbathane blocks on shelf and put 3 inch solid maple slab on top of that. No change. removed top shelf and put the cork/ sorb. blocks directly on frame, then maple slab. still skips. everything is dead nuts level, and as stated, floor is firm. Went in basement and put a brace between floor joists, nada. Tomorrow I was thinking of taking rack down and removing spiked feet. Odds this helps? I know some will suggest wall mount, but I don't want to spend anymore money if I can avoid it.As I said, Ive had other TTs in exact spot and you could dance with never a problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated.As I said TT was recently gone over and is set up correctly. Thanks
winoguy17
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Clearthink, I owned two LP 12s and they are anything but stable. Let me see if I can explain this to you so you can understand it. The Linn and the AR sub chassis to which the platter and the tonearm are mounted sit ON TOP of three springs. If you put a mass on top of a spring and give it a push what happens. Now what happens if I increase the size of the mass? Eventually the spring will not recover at all and will remain bent over. The Sota, SME and early Basis turntables hang the sub chassis from the springs. Increasing the mass will lower the resonance frequency of the suspension and stretch the springs a little more but the springs will never bend over. They will always come to rest in the same position. They are laterally stable. The suspensions on the Linn and AR are not laterally stable. They are easy to upset. Sota started with three springs but found that four springs worked better as did SME and Basis. 
winoguy17 OP
1,330 posts
 
 Thanks MC, that is how I have it set up, springs under maple block.According to Nobsound 4 springs should handle 70 lbs. and Im at about 58-60. Probably going to bail on this and go back to my other table, don't think this Scout is a good match for my room.  Again, thanks for all that offered help.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Any time. VPI must be frustrating after the way it worked with CA and Rega. Would be curious to know if Pods would take care of it. I know the sound will improve, a lot, but would it eliminate this devil of a problem? So bad it almost makes me wonder if there is something wrong with that table. It is used you know?
winoguy17 OP
1,330 posts
 
 table was thoroughly gone over and set up by very respected analog guy. Pretty sure the table is ok. Arm not meant for my domicile....
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Arm not meant for any domicile. If it is one thing I want to get across to people is unipivot arms are hopelessly inferior without aggressive stabilization measures as used by Graham and Basis, two very expensive arms that IMHO are not worth the money. The Kuzma 4 point, Reed and Schroder arms are superior in every way and cost less. 
winoguy, look for a used Sota Sapphire. You will be able to jump up and down all you want. They will pop up on occasion from people moving up the line. The only table that is distinctly superior is the Dohmann Helix and that starts at $50,000. 
More to discover