Jelco 750D

[Stratmangler]

My recent acquisition of a Sumiko Blue Point Special EvoIII has fueled a bit of a vinyl resurgence here.
Today I found out how much my modified RB250 was holding the Sumiko back.

My new (to me) Jelco 750D landed this morning (thanks Richard :cool:), and after a couple of cups of tea I bit the bullet, decomissioned the Sumiko (another scary encounter with a very naked cartridge), and proceeded to swap out the arms and armboards.
A little bit of setting up (nice and easy to do - the Jelco is a well thought out piece of kit), and enlisting the exit lead from a Linn Basik+ (I'm waiting on an email back from Yannis) and I'm up and running.
Hmmmm!!!
Bass is a little bit light, but there's upper and mid detail aplenty, so out with the allen keys and lower the arm pillar a midge's you-know-what and WOW!!!
My jaw just hit the floor with what I was hearing.

Let's just say that I've had an epiphany.
Records I thought I knew well are giving a wealth more detail and information, and above all music.
I've been spinning vinyl all afternoon, and intend to keep on doing so all evening, or at least until Hootenanny (I'll see who's on the bill to see if I'll stop spinning records).

Looks like my digital stuff has been shoved onto the back seat for a good while to come :eyebrows:

Once again, many thanks Richard (Gromit).
The arm has come to a very appreciative home, and it will certainly give me many hours of musical pleasure :cool:

[chris@panteg]

Nice one Chris , what a great start to 2013 you will have , addicted or re-addicted to vinyl :)

[Stratmangler]

I was 11 when I first heard what has become one of my must have albums, Deep Purple, "Who Do We Think We Are", and that was late in the year of that album's release.

I heard it first on vinyl, and I keep on coming back to listening to it on vinyl.

I grew up on vinyl, and for me it's hard to completely break away from.

Don't get me wrong, my streaming setup is great, and I wouldn't swap it for the world - it has more than proved its worth when I was incapacitated during 2009 (I wouldn't have listened to any music during this time, as it was so difficult to move, were it not for my streaming setup), yet the black vinyl disc keeps on drawing me in.

I drift away for a bit, and then I get a better piece of vinyl replay equipment and I'm sucked back into playing records.
I think it will continue for the rest of my days, and long may it continue :cool:

I have a feeling that 2013 will be a great year for rediscovering great music :eyebrows:

[RobbieGong]

Brilliant Chris, really pleased for you. It's a buzz when that vta smidgen does causes the '' WOW!! that sounds amazing !! - It's the sweetspot " thing. :D Said it so many times, how much a little vta fiddling can often make things just 'lock in' - Congrats and a Happy New Year :)

[Stratmangler]

Cheers Rob

Very often it's knowing when to stop that presents the problem.
Find that sweet spot and be content.

Have a good one your good self :cool:

[DSJR]

What's the turntable?

[Stratmangler]

What's the turntable?

One o' dese (http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e320/Gromit011/DSC01381_zps3f8ddb8f.jpg)

[Marco]

Nice one, Chris. I'm pleased for you, mate. The Jelco is a lovely tonearm, and vastly underrated by the ignorant, simply because of its badge. However, if those people actually researched Jelco, as a company, they'd be shocked at the quality of their heritage.

Like you with your streaming set up, I love listening to music on my vintage Sony CDP and DAC, and can do so for many hours on end, with zero listening fatigue, as for digital components, the sound that they produce is very 'analogue'.

However, as soon as I unleash the Techy, begin spinning records, and experiencing REAL analogue music reproduction at its best, that's when the appreciation of just what a truly magical experience it is, hits home!

Enjoy your new tonearm and the gradual realisation of just how special the SL-1210 is, the more you upgrade it with better parts :cool:

Marco.

[DSJR]

No wonder the Rega arm sounded pants - they DON'T like each other although I wonder if anyone has tried a wooden arm-plate for one...

The Jelco's a known good match so glad it's all turned out right :)

[Stratmangler]

No wonder the Rega arm sounded pants - they DON'T like each other although I wonder if anyone has tried a wooden arm-plate for one...

The Jelco's a known good match so glad it's all turned out right :)

Who said the Rega sounded pants?
Not me.
The Rega does a commendable job on the Technics, and I've been more than happy with the results I was getting using it.
The Jelco is just a better arm altogether :cool:

[MikeMusic]

Chris

Can you tell me how to adjust the height on the Jelco please.

Assume it's the hole on the right hand side of the arm mount/pillar.
What size Allen key and roughly what do it do to adjust ?

(Assume slacken Allen key, move arm, tighten Allen key)

[Stratmangler]

Chris

Can you tell me how to adjust the height on the Jelco please.

Assume it's the hole on the right hand side of the arm mount/pillar.
What size Allen key and roughly what do it do to adjust ?

(Assume slacken Allen key, move arm, tighten Allen key)

Hi Mike

Correct position and procedure.
The Jelco collar needs a 2.5mm hex key.

I use a stack of business cards as both support and feeler gauge to perform fine adjustments :)

[MikeMusic]

Hi Mike

Correct position and procedure.
The Jelco collar needs a 2.5mm hex key.

I use a stack of business cards as both support and feeler gauge to perform fine adjustments :)

Brilliant. Thanks Chris.
Assumed that was what it was, but sometimes these things can be convoluted and I want a working everything !
I have mountains of scrap card from print leftovers so that will come in useful to level

[nickbaba]

Hi Chris - happy to hear you are enjoying the music with your 750 - you just can't beat the vinyl IMHO.
Curious to read about your experience dialling in the sonic sweet spot as I have been fiddling about with my new 750 too... At the moment running it dead level but I have read that my cart (DV20X2L) can also benefit from an off-level vta angle ( can't remember which way was recommended now, tho).
So - am I right in thinking that if I drop the tail end (so headshell end is higher) that will give me a bassier sound?

[Stratmangler]

So - am I right in thinking that if I drop the tail end (so headshell end is higher) that will give me a bassier sound?

That's right.
The trick is not overdoing it.

[Audioman]

That's right.
The trick is not overdoing it.

With a DV20X you may end up wth a muddy mid/treble. Better with tail up slightly but you need to experiment.

Paul.

[Marco]

Mmm... In over 25+ years of using turntables, and having owned 100s of cartridges in that time, not ONCE have I ever felt the need to set an arm at anything other than bang-on level with the record surface. Sounds like applying a bandage, to me, to cover up something that's not quite right elsewhere in the system or the set-up of the T/T!

Marco.

[MikeMusic]

Mmm... In over 25+ years of using turntables, and having owned 100s of cartridges in that time, not ONCE have I ever felt the need to set an arm at anything other than bang-on level with the record surface. Sounds like applying a bandage, to me, to cover up something that's not quite right elsewhere in the system or the set-up of the T/T!

Marco.
I'm so glad to hear that
Really did *not* want to fiddle with mine

[AlexM]

I think it is still worth experimenting - optimum VTA and stylus rake angle will differ from cartridge to cartridge and sample to sample.

perfectly level is the baseline - well worth moving it up and down a bit to see what you prefer.. this is quite legitimate. Quite often you will improve one aspect, and make another worse so setup is about juggling trade-offs and picking what you like the best.

Alex

[MikeMusic]

I could try if I feel confident

[worrasf]

With a DV20X you may end up wth a muddy mid/treble. Better with tail up slightly but you need to experiment.

Paul.

:exactly:

I must say there is bass-a-plenty from my DV 20x2 - certainly not looking for any more :eek:

Mine is setup with arm horizontal to platter as per micro spirit level. DV suggest a VTF between 1. & 2.2g but after much listening 2g is the definite sweet-spot. <2g sound is a bit thin and looses focus >2g bass is muddy and lacks control.

Steve

[Stratmangler]

I have been out to the Post Office early doors this morning to pick up a cable likethis http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mogami-28AWG-ultra-slim-twisted-pair-tonearm-cable-Linn-SME-Jelco-etc-/221167836349?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3 D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D4524306884513473117%26pid%3 D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D221167836349% 26 , only in a 1.2m length.

Initial impressions - it's beautifully made, and the sound I'm getting with it connected up is much improved.
I don't think I'm going to be doing much anything else today, other than playing records :D
Thanks Yannis.

Thanks also to Richard (Gromit) for the arm and armboard, and Hugo (Shuggie) for the (last until the next run) collar.
It's been a very rewarding journey :cool:

[Rare Bird]

What are the conductors made from?

[Stratmangler]

What are the conductors made from?

I don't know :doh:
I'd assumed LC-OFC, but I'll have to email Yannis to confirm.

Edit: I've not long since had an email from Yannis, and the conductors are pure copper, very finely stranded, with some synthetic filaments added for strength and flexibility.

[chris@panteg]

I have been out to the Post Office early doors this morning to pick up a cable likethis http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mogami-28AWG-ultra-slim-twisted-pair-tonearm-cable-Linn-SME-Jelco-etc-/221167836349?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3 D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D4524306884513473117%26pid%3 D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D221167836349% 26 , only in a 1.2m length.

Initial impressions - it's beautifully made, and the sound I'm getting with it connected up is much improved.
I don't think I'm going to be doing much anything else today, other than playing records :D
Thanks Yannis.

Thanks also to Richard (Gromit) for the arm and armboard, and Hugo (Shuggie) for the (last until the next run) collar.
It's been a very rewarding journey :cool:

Nice one Chris :)

[adamg]

I have been out to the Post Office early doors this morning to pick up a cable likethis http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mogami-28AWG-ultra-slim-twisted-pair-tonearm-cable-Linn-SME-Jelco-etc-/221167836349?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3 D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D4524306884513473117%26pid%3 D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D221167836349% 26 , only in a 1.2m length.

Initial impressions - it's beautifully made, and the sound I'm getting with it connected up is much improved.


Strat

I'm pleased to here about the success of the Jelco on your 1200. I plan to fit a 750D to my MK5 asap but have a question re: phono cable.

Will any cable fit for this mod? I see the Mogami you chose has a straight DIN but is very thin / flexible. I've seen others use right angle DIN with thicker cable (e.g. Jelco's own). Can you (or anyone else) tell me what I need to watch when choosing a cable.

Thanks Adam

[Stratmangler]

I chose a straight connector because I have plenty of clearance below the deck - I was initially using an angled one.
The weight of the of the cable is of little relevance with the Techie, so the world's your lobster :)