What tonearm will better mine?


I have been running a 12" Jelco SA750L with an upgraded Decca Super Gold on a Garrard 401 for a few years. I'm happy with the sound and happy with my pre, power and speakers. (Croft 25R, EICO HF35s, -good tubes, Quad 57).
I keep hearing that my tonearm is a weak link even though it sounds pretty awesome to me. What would it take to replace the Jelco and make a significant improvement? What should I expect to hear better? Would I have to drill the massive plinth? Thanks.
128x128noromance

Showing 1 response by andrei_nz

One tweak that I have found to be very worthwhile with my 750D has been the Ammonite Acoustics mounting collar, which eliminates the slight slop in the OEM collar and ensures correct positioning of the arm as it relates to azimuth. Very important with more exotic stylus profiles. 

I also recently changed out the stock Jelco headshell to a Yamamoto HS4 Carbon Fiber headshell. This was a real eye (or ear) opener: pretty substantial improvements across the board in information retreival, overall presentation and dynamics. A no brainer for about $100 U.S. on ebay.
I have to second the Ammonite Accoustics mounting collar.  The brilliant thing about these is that he makes them from ebony!  Expensive? maybe, but not in "Hi-Fi" terms.  The great thing about ebony is that it is used to make musical instruments, oboes, clarinets for example.  All materials have a resonance, but the resonance of ebony is benign.  Match that with a Yamamoto Ebony (or Mpingo) headshell and you will get a real benefit.  Also there is the 'Shuggie Collar' as a tweak to the Jelco.  They are sold by ammonite accoustics.  The only downside to the Jelco is that the grub screw on the mounting collar is not centered.  A bit like rolling a log but pushing it with your foot at one end instead of the centre - it might go off course.  So great care is required in set up.  The aftermarket collar is is essential in mounting the arm to a Technics and I guess the same can be said for a Garrard.  The last tweak is silver rewiring.  I am not really a 'cable guy' but I do believe the smaller the signal the more important it is to have good a good cable.

As you may have guessed I am a Jelco owner.  If I was building another TT I would not go for a VPI or 'modern' tonearm.  I might even plonk another Jelco on it.  My other thought would be an SME M2-12.