They're a fantastic company, with absolutely wonderful service. Second-generation owner Mat Weisfeld is a regular presence on the "I love my VPI turntable" group on Facebook. I've owned an original Aries Scout for about 16 or 17 years and I love it. I believe the Player is essentially their entry-level Cliffwood, but with an onboard phono preamp and a slightly different motor (I think it's different - it specs out at a different RPM). If you don't already have a phono preamp, it could be a good fit, but if you do, you might be able to save a little by going with the Cliffwood.