If you happen to hear someone speaking about vinyl records and high-end turntables, it's very likely that you'll be already thinking about pieces of audio tech that cost more than your car and which you'll never afford. Well, there still is hope, especially since VPI has announced its new turntable, codenamed Scout II. We're dealing with a no-compromise, top-drawer vinyl record player, sporting all the necessary assets to provide you with a first-class listening session, but without leaving a burning hole in your pocket.

Now, we hope that almost anyone knows that audiophile gear is expensive, especially when compared with what you can get at the shop at the corner of your street. Therefore, if you're looking for a classy piece of audio gear for a couple of bucks, you'd better take a trip to a Radio Shack.

One of the first things we simply loved about the VPI Scout II was its clean and smooth shape, with carefully rounded edges and an overall well-aired construction. It boasts a thick acrylic platter resting on an inverted bearings system, granting a smooth rotation and long-lasting durability. The MKII Scout comes with an outboard motor section and is belt-driven, like any other high-end respectable turntable out there.

The VPI Scout II sports a JMW-9 tonearm with a redesigned tapered arm-tube, which has been filled with VPI proprietary dampening materials. The VPI specialists claim that this new tonearm will offer a better soundstage, with enhanced bass response and improved resolution and detail.

This unit is provided with the VPI's classic charcoal gray massive plinth with spiked feet for better decoupling. One interesting shipping policy is that VPI will sell 230V models of the VPI Scout II to distributors in 230V countries, thus making a strong statement that it really cares about what's happening with its gear after it's been sold to the final owner. Finally, the price for the VPI Scout II starts at around $2,000, and can go as high as $2,500 for the Signature series.

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