Gentlemen: RB-303 or Jelco 750D for SL1200Mk2?

[Stateside]

Forgive me if this has been beaten to death before, but I failed to find the pertinent prior posts. I just purchased each of these arms, and the Techie. I'm going to be mounting the following carts:

Stanton 881S
Stanton 980LZS
Stanton 681 (SE or EL) w/Pickering D625 elliptical stylus
Pickering XV-15 with D625, D400 and/or D750 stylus
Stanton 6800SL stylus on either the XV-15 or the 681
Pickering DTL-2S on the 681 or XV-15

Which of these arms on the Technics seem like the best and most synergistic match to you?

Regards,

Mike

[walpurgis]

The Jelco. I don't like Regas on Techies, it's a bit awkward ergonomically as the arm lift lever sits rather low in this situation. The Jelco will be better made and probably sound better. If find Regas a bit bland.

If you wanted to try something a bit different. What about an original Mission 774 on the Techie. I tried it and it works very well. It would suit your cartridges too and sound far better than the Jelco or Rega. Just use an SME mount.

[Ali Tait]

+1 for the Mission. Great arm.

[Spectral Morn]

The Jelco 750 D and a Denon 103 cart works well together, but you need to factor in a interconnect cable and the Jelco one in my view is poor. There are issues with the supplied Jelco mounting collar so an Ammonite Acoustics collar is needed http://ammonite-acoustics.co.uk/product-category/jelco_accessories/ They sell Jelco's too. About £550 ish.

However as an alternative and I know DSJR will be along to bad mouth Origin Live - bodged Rega (OL arms are no longer based on Rega) comments, badly made bull shit etc - but Origin Live tonearms work very well on the Technics 1200/1210. I have lived with an OL Silver (old version based on a Rega) and Illustrious on a Technics 1200/1210 and they worked very well.

The Alliance Tonearm costs £295 and offers very good value for money, but I would go a bit further up the run and go for a Onyx Tonearm at £450 + for the arm board £58. http://www.originlive.com/budget-tonearm-onyx.html armboard http://www.originlive.com/turntable-armboards-vta-adjusters-adaptors/accessories/vinyl-accessories/connections/technics-armboard.html

Another option is the Wand about £360 + VAT, Duty and postage for the 9in arm. You will also need an armboard £40 + VAT and Duty. http://designbuildlisten.com/collections/the-wand-classic-tonearm.
These look like a nice idea for the above too http://designbuildlisten.com/collections/the-wand-classic-tonearm/products/technics-sl1200-family-tapped-boss

[PaulStewart]

The Jelco 750 D and a Denon 103 cart works well together, but you need to factor in a interconnect cable and the Jelco one in my view is poor. There are issues with the supplied Jelco mounting collar so an Ammonite Acoustics collar is needed http://ammonite-acoustics.co.uk/product-category/jelco_accessories/ They sell Jelco's too. About £550 ish.

However as an alternative and I know DSJR will be along to bad mouth Origin Live - bodged Rega (OL arms are no longer based on Rega) comments, badly made bull shit etc - but Origin Live tonearms work very well on the Technics 1200/1210. I have lived with an OL Silver (old version based on a Rega) and Illustrious on a Technics 1200/1210 and they worked very well.

The Alliance Tonearm costs £295 and offers very good value for money, but I would go a bit further up the run and go for a Onyx Tonearm at £450 + for the arm board £58. http://www.originlive.com/budget-tonearm-onyx.html armboard http://www.originlive.com/turntable-armboards-vta-adjusters-adaptors/accessories/vinyl-accessories/connections/technics-armboard.html

Another option is the Wand about £360 + VAT, Duty and postage for the 9in arm. You will also need an armboard £40 + VAT and Duty. http://designbuildlisten.com/collections/the-wand-classic-tonearm.
These look like a nice idea for the above too http://designbuildlisten.com/collections/the-wand-classic-tonearm/products/technics-sl1200-family-tapped-boss

I run an OL silver Mk3 on a Technics SL150 with at the moment a Stanton 681 as my second deck. It's a stonking combination end of, well worth trying out. Unlike the Rega arms the new non Rega based OL arms are not in my opinion, grey and lifeless like Rega products. failing that go for the Jelco with an Ammonite mounting.

[Spectral Morn]

I run an OL silver Mk3 on a Technics SL150 with at the moment a Stanton 681 as my second deck. It's a stonking combination end of, well worth trying out. Unlike the Rega arms the new non Rega based OL arms are not in my opinion, grey and lifeless like Rega products. failing that go for the Jelco with an Ammonite mounting.

I felt it worth saying what I did Paul - as I have seen the same hobby horse re OL arms brought out time and time again on threads like this and others - as a pre warning.

[Stateside]

Thanks much, all.

I appreciate the suggestion to go vintage, but I specifically wanted to avoid that. I'd rather not have to deal with bearings (or other well-used mechanicals) that need adjustment or replacement

The RB303 is the newest version (circa the last 6 months) with the stainless steel stub and counterweight, and the better sounding inner wire and phono cable. I thought I'd give this newest version of the venerable RB300 a try. I wouldn't have given it a try absent the Incognito rewire and a different counterweight, but for what a reputable dealer over here tells me are the most recent factory improvements to the Rega-badged 303. I have learned that the Moth 303's don't use the new anti-skating mechanism, nor do they come with the stainless steel counterweight or the new wire or external cable. So, nix on that.

I have purchased and am awaiting delivery of a like-new vdH D-501 Silver Hybrid phono cable for the Jelco, as well as a KAB 'Spiral Air" phono cable with Cardas conectors that Kevin is fabricating for me. Maybe I'll try the Jelco on my 1200 with one of those cables and mount the ebony body DL-103 SoundSmith ruby re-tip I just received, and give the RB303 a whirl instead on the TD-125 MkII with a Pete Riggle VTAF adapter.

Best wishes for a Happy Christmas, and a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

Mike

[PaulStewart]

I felt it worth saying what I did Paul - as I have seen the same hobby horse re OL arms brought out time and time again on threads like this and others - as a pre warning.

yes i get the point Neil. I think that Rega make a lot of product that is voiced and I don't feel that voicing kit is the correct approach for high fidelity reproduction. I feel a lotofRega kit is grey and lifeless in terms of LP reproduction. I feel that some Rega kit is good, but in my opinion, none of it is great. i feel the same about Audiolab for what it's worth.

[WOStantonCS100]

I'd have to vote for the Jelco for a "practical" reason. Like you, I have a number of Stantons I enjoy. However, azimuth is slightly different on all of them due to both the mounting points and removable styli. Even without an azimuth adjustable headshell, there is usually just enough wiggle room to get it right. I'm assuming, like it's predecessor, the Rega arm does not have adjustable azimuth. I hate looking at, and knowing, that azimuth is off when using a cart. Therefore, for me anyway, the Rega(s) were a no go the last time I considered and purchased an upgrade arm for 1200MK2.

[CageyH]

With multiple cartridges you intend using, it would be the Jelco for me as well.
Much easier with a removable headshell, rather than the Rega.

I had an Audio Origami RB251, and the arm lift was a pain as already mentioned. Changing cartridges was a pain, as the set up had to be done on the arm. It sounded good though.

[Yomanze]

Jelco anyday. It is like an upgraded Techie arm...

[Stateside]

The Jelco 750 D and a Denon 103 cart works well together, but you need to factor in a interconnect cable and the Jelco one in my view is poor. There are issues with the supplied Jelco mounting collar so an Ammonite Acoustics collar is needed http://ammonite-acoustics.co.uk/product-category/jelco_accessories/ They sell Jelco's too. About £550 ish.

However as an alternative and I know DSJR will be along to bad mouth Origin Live - bodged Rega (OL arms are no longer based on Rega) comments, badly made bull shit etc - but Origin Live tonearms work very well on the Technics 1200/1210. I have lived with an OL Silver (old version based on a Rega) and Illustrious on a Technics 1200/1210 and they worked very well.

The Alliance Tonearm costs £295 and offers very good value for money, but I would go a bit further up the run and go for a Onyx Tonearm at £450 + for the arm board £58. http://www.originlive.com/budget-tonearm-onyx.html armboard http://www.originlive.com/turntable-armboards-vta-adjusters-adaptors/accessories/vinyl-accessories/connections/technics-armboard.html

Another option is the Wand about £360 + VAT, Duty and postage for the 9in arm. You will also need an armboard £40 + VAT and Duty. http://designbuildlisten.com/collections/the-wand-classic-tonearm.
These look like a nice idea for the above too http://designbuildlisten.com/collections/the-wand-classic-tonearm/products/technics-sl1200-family-tapped-boss

Neil,

Thanks for the tip about Ammonite Acoustic's Jelco collars; I clicked on the link on their site to Magna Audio (Speedy Steve); it appears that Steve's ebony armboards and the Ammonite Jelco collars are a very good match for mating the Jelco 750D to the SL1200.

Mike