VPI Scout Setup questions

[wkohler]

I received my brand new VPI Scout two weeks ago and am just now getting around to setting it up. I've run into a couple of issues. I have it hooked up to an NAD 7240PE and am getting a constant hum - with the RCA brand RCA interconnects. When I touch the tonearm with a finger, the hum intensifies. I had no problem with either of my other tables on this receiver, but they both had ground wires. I ran a ground to it, but it did little if anything to solve the issue. How can I eliminate this?

Second, I guess my cartridge is too light (it's an NOS Grado XF3+ MM cartridge that was given to me), so the counterweight is all the way forward on the tonearm. It tracks fine, but I fear it might be tracking too lightly. I really don't want to add any weight to the cartridge side, but I guess I might have to until I get another cartridge (I don't know what to get, and I don't want to spend money until I know what's good.

Lastly, where is the best place to get a Shure tracking force gauge?

[johnborzatti]

I think you need a proper tone arm cable. The Scout should have a ground connection on the back of the interface box where the RCA output jacks are. This needs to be grounded to the gound point on your receiver. If this fails I beleive there is a section in the manual where is states to try cheap video cables as they are heavily shielded. If this corrects the problem replace them with high quality shielded interconnects.

Not sure about your cartridge but check what the weight of it is and match it against the range of recommended cartridge weights in the manual. You should not have to have the counterweight that far forward.

On the Shure tracking guage you can get one at :

The Needle Doctor
Music Direct
The Elusive Disc
Acoustic Sounds

I went on e-bay and got a digital jeweler's gem scale, it's cheap and more accurate but placing it for measurement may be trickey as it was not designed for this but works well.

[mcow1]

There should also be a screw underneath the table where the base of the arm connects. You can run a ground wire from that to the ground connect at the junction box also.

[wkohler]

It has a cable running from the base of the tonearm to the box. The cables are the cheap ones. The manual is really useless. It didn't say anything about running a ground to the receiver. I did that, and it had no effect.

[wkohler]

So, no one can help me? No one has had this problem? The ground from the tonearm base to the junction box is solid. However, the hum is always there (not rectified by grounding the junction box to the receiver), and it gets pretty bad if I touch any metal piece connected to the tonearm - including the junction box. I am using a cheap set of RCA "interconnects," and I don't plan on upgrading any time soon. They aren't the source, since I ran the set between the CD player and the receiver with no issues.

This turntable is turning out to be one expensive PITA.

[crooner]

I'd say its the cartridge. Some Grados are known to hum in certain tables.

Also, make sure the power cable going to the motor is not touching the base where the turntable sits. I use a dab of blue tack for isolation and a snap-in ferrite core for good luck. And don't forget the mouse pad!

I'm using VPI's interconnects on my Scout with absolutely no hum.

They do take some time to properly setup but well worth it, IMO.

[crooner]

Forgot to mention: the signal coming from the phono cartridge is of very low level and prone to picking up RF and hum. Therefore, a set of cables might work perfectly with a high level source such as a CD player and still pickup noise or hum when used in phono.

It is critical to use well shielded cables. Experimentation might be in order...

[Jamie Tate]

When I touch the tonearm with a finger, the hum intensifies.

I had this same issue with my Scout. I had a ground wire hooked to the phono amp but was still getting hum, especially when I touched the tonearm. I switched the ground cable for a larger gauge wire and it solved the problem.

[wkohler]

Well, the power cable wasn't touching - first thing I checked. I did run a piece of speaker wire from the junction box to the receiver (just for the hell of it) again and guess what? The hum is gone. Later, I'll make a nice ground cable, but this will work for now.

I imagine I'll have to purchase a nice cartridge for this, after all, using an old $66 cartridge probably doesn't do this turntable justice. So, what cartridges should I look at?

[Steve w]

I don't ground my Scout and it works fine

[crooner]

Dynavectors are what VPI usually recommends for this table.

I'm partial to the Benz line myself. The Glider is a great match in my experience.

[wkohler]

What do you folks do for isolation?

[crooner]

Here's a shot of the cabling in my setup. The VPI interconnects have a built in ground connection. But before this I had success running a short piece of wire to the phono preamp's ground connection.

When I first got the table six months ago, I tried running unshielded Nordost Blue Heaven between the cartridge and phono preamp. I picked up some hum, so shielded cables are definitely recommended.

For isolation I'm using a Boos solid maple butcher block with four superballs (cut in half) as feet. Works like a charm and very cost effective!

[FLEMKE]

Use foam under the scout. You will be amazed at the amount of isolation the tables gets from this very cheap tweek.

Tim

[TommyTunes]

The problem is the Grado. Been there, done that. Try loosing one of the back cone feet and wrapping a wire around it and then tightening it back up. Connect the other end of the wire to the center screw of an outlet wall plate.

[DaveN]

Connect the other end of the wire to the center screw of an outlet wall plate.

This is a sure-fire cure for ground loops as you are now grounding to the house's grounding point. Just be careful. When you are working with that center screw, you are only a centimeter or two away from the conductors. Be certain to shut off the breaker first and then test the outlet to be sure that it is dead!

[efhjr]

Use foam under the scout. You will be amazed at the amount of isolation the tables gets from this very cheap tweek.

Foam? I'd like to hear more about this. Please tell me what kind of foam you're using.

Thanks!

[marcb]

I'm lucky, I guess. Since I went to a new cart, I don't even need a ground wire from the junction box to the phono stage. No hum.

[TommyTunes]

Foam? I'd like to hear more about this. Please tell me what kind of foam you're using.

Thanks!

I got a second MDF shelf and inserted four AQ Sorborthane disc's between it and the top shelf on which the table sits.
Provides great isolation to the table.

[FLEMKE]

I think they call it open foam. This works very well. The problem is that it costs next to nothing and it's hard to sell it! Just try it. What do you have to lose?

Tim

[FLEMKE]

Pic

[nelamvr6]

No offense intended, but that is butt ugly! :p

[TommyTunes]

No offense intended, but that is butt ugly! :p

and unstable, given that foam rubber is not dense enough to handle the uneven weight distribution of VPI table.

[TommyTunes]

a much better isolation would be to have 2 MDF shelves cut and insert a 1/4" layer of sorborthane sheeting which can be purchased from Edmunds Scientific. 3M makes an acoustical bonding agent to adhere the sorborthane which also has complimentry dampening properties. Total cost would be $100 or less.

[FLEMKE]

The foam holds the table quite stable. It does not tilt to one side or the other. I cannot remember the name of the company right now,but they make some very nice amps and they simply put purple velvet over the wood on top of the foam.

Tim