What tonearm will better mine?

Dear @noromance: As you said and confirm the Jelco you own is very good tonearm and IMHO the 997 is no better, maybe different but not better.

What you can do is try your cartridge or cartridges with different headshells: different build material, different overall shape, different weigth, etc. Trying the one that could matchs in better way the cartridge needs and you will know which one because with it the cartridge quality performance been improved.

Other important subject are the headshell wires where you can make an up-grade with better headshell wires and obviously a better tonearm/phono IC cable.

Other subject not less important is that your cartridge/tonearm set up been as accurate as you can. The MINT LP protractor ( inexpensive. ) makes a " difference " for the better if you don't own it. This protractor is made it in specific for the: TT/tonearm/cartridge of each one customer. Unbeatable at any price.

That's what I will do in your place before to think in a tonearm change.


Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

Thanks both. So I can spend $4000 on an EMT or tweak what I have!
Would there be no decernable difference between the Jelco and say a Schick or a Phanthom2? 

No real comments on the Jelco vs. other arms. I’m happy with my 750D and have read a few reports from users who went upmarket and, in the end, still felt the Jelco was great value so I stick with it.

Raul’s suggestion is a good one though if you don’t want to spend big money. 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've had the Mint LP protractor for a number of years and it is indeed very good, and important with respect to getting the best out of one's arm and cartridge. 

Another option is the Ortofon RS 309D. I have heard the Jelco, Ortofon and EMT all on the same table with the same cartridge. I would rank the Ortofon better than the Jelco and the EMT better than the Ortofon

Thanks again. What improvements did you experience?
I imagine improved tonal color and bass definition with an increase in dimensionality...