Joined the SC35C club.

[Chas B]

I was looking for a replacement for my DL110 ( which I really liked) but didn't want to buy the wrong cart ie one which I personally couldn't get on with. I have a DL103r on another tt which I like but wanted to try something different. I started looking at SPU's but having been made redundant recently they were a little pricey especially when factoring in a SUT.
After reading Marco's enthusiastic words re. the SC36c cart I decided to try one. A Mexican body and stylus arrived this week, a NOS USA stylus is on its way. I've mounted the cart on my Jelco 750D/Garrard 401. It sounds very nice indeed and will hopefully be even better with the USA stylus fitted.
I want to try a different cart alignment which I think will suit this cart better than the Baerwald which I normally use,hope to try this at the weekend.
What VTF are you guys using on these? I found an old thread which suggested 3.5g was good. More to follow.

[Barry]

I was looking for a replacement for my DL110 ( which I really liked) but didn't want to buy the wrong cart ie one which I personally couldn't get on with. I have a DL103r on another tt which I like but wanted to try something different. I started looking at SPU's but having been made redundant recently they were a little pricey especially when factoring in a SUT.
After reading Marco's enthusiastic words re. the SC36c cart I decided to try one. A Mexican body and stylus arrived this week, a NOS USA stylus is on its way. I've mounted the cart on my Jelco 750D/Garrard 401. It sounds very nice indeed and will hopefully be even better with the USA stylus fitted.
I want to try a different cart alignment which I think will suit this cart better than the Baerwald which I normally use,hope to try this at the weekend.
What VTF are you guys using on these? I found an old thread which suggested 3.5g was good. More to follow.

The cartridge alignment is determined solely by the design of the arm, which is down to the manufacturer. Thus you should use the alignment protractor provided with the arm. If you want to use a different alignment presciption, you will need to alter both the overhang and the offset angle; the latter of which can only be done by skewing the cartridge in the headshell, and can be difficult to do whilst also adjusting for overhang.

I believe Jelco arms are designed to follow the Stevenson alignment geometry, as are most Japanese arms. You can check by looking at the vinylengine forum.

[Marco]

Hi Charlie,

Nice one on the SC35C

If you think it sounds good now, just wait until you hear it with a NOS stylus! Night and day doesn't quite describe it...

Just a few points... Firstly in terms of alignment, try Stevenson, as I think that could work well with the Jelco, as Jap arms tend to prefer that to Baerwald. Secondly, and trust me I know the score here, you *must* use the SC35C with a heavy (high-mass) headshell, yes heavier than the stock Jelco.

The ideal figure I've found is 17/18g! So look for some of the quality aftermarket items from the likes of Audio Technica: https://www.divineaudio.co.uk/produc...ard-headshell/ or fit a 'shim', of the appropriate mass, between the cartridge and headshell of the Jelco, to take it up to that weight. otherwise you will NOT hear the full potential that this cartridge is capable of.

In terms of VTF, the optimal setting, to my ears, is 4.5g, with anti-skate set at around 4.1g. Anything less than that will result in audible distortion with 'difficult', highly modulated material and cause it to mis-track. It will 'work' at 3.5g, but sub-optimally. And anything more than 4.5g, up to the max of 5g, tends to rob the sound of 'life'

But at 4.5g, it tracks like a limpet and sails through the most difficult of material with aplomb, plus with kick-ass bass and lifelike dynamics and 'attack', especially with the NOS Shure stylus! Plus, as discussed elsewhere, adding some extra capacitance, via the us of loading plugs, REALLY makes it sing.

Hope that helps

Marco.

[RobbieGong]

Hi Charlie,

Nice one on the SC35C

If you think it sounds good now, just wait until you hear it with a NOS stylus! Night and day doesn't quite describe it...

Just a few points... Firstly in terms of alignment, try Stevenson, as I think that could work well with the Jelco, as Jap arms tend to prefer that to Baerwald. Secondly, and trust me I know the score here, you *must* use the SC35C with a heavy (high-mass) headshell, yes heavier than the stock Jelco.

The ideal figure I've found is 17/18g! So look for some of the quality aftermarket items from the likes of Audio Technica: https://www.divineaudio.co.uk/produc...ard-headshell/ or fit a 'shim', of the appropriate mass, between the cartridge and headshell of the Jelco, to take it up to that weight. otherwise you will NOT hear the full potential that this cartridge is capable of.

In terms of VTF, the optimal setting, to my ears, is 4.5g, with anti-skate set at around 4.1g. Anything less than that will result in audible distortion with 'difficult', highly modulated material and cause it to mis-track. It will 'work' at 3.5g, but sub-optimally. And anything more than 4.5g, up to the max of 5g, tends to rob the sound of 'life'

But at 4.5g, it tracks like a limpet and sails through the most difficult of material with aplomb, plus with kick-ass bass and lifelike dynamics and 'attack', especially with the NOS Shure stylus! Plus, as discussed elsewhere, adding some extra capacitance, via the us of loading plugs, REALLY makes it sing.

Hope that helps

Marco.

Yep defo, I used to use Baerwald on my japanese arms but using Stevenson on my Technics EPA-A250 - the sound is just more evenly right, right across each side

[Chas B]

Yes, I've been listening to Stevenson 1A which optimises end of side alignment for LP playback with no compromise for 7 inch singles ( which I never play).
Anti-skate above 3g isn't possible with the Jelco arm so I hope it will suffice.

[Marco]

No sure, Charlie, but you can always try. Hopefully it'll be ok, as there are so many variables governing these things

But Stevenson is defo the alignment you want, and as I said use it with a heavy headshell.

Marco.

[Chas B]

The USA stylus arrived today looking v. nice in its mint condition box with brush included - lovely, looks like something I've just purchased new from the local record shop( to use old parlance)! Not much spare time today but had a listen with the Mexican stylus first, then swapped and fitted the USA job. The USA is clearly a better fit with no gaps between it and the cart body. Only had time for 'All Blues' from KOB but I seem to hear a more refined, smoother/more natural sound with the USA stylus fitted. Am using the Stevenson 1A alignment which I will stick with but need to experiment with extra mass at the headshell/counterweight as per Marco's suggestions.
I was stung by customs duty again but even so this has worked out a good buy compared to carts I had been considering, another MC would require a SUT so quite an expensive idea at the end of the day. Even some other MMs were more expensive than the Shure so this has worked out well for me.
More tweaking to follow!

[kininigin]

Welcome to the SC35C club Charlie. I'm sure you will like it no matter what you play but especially anything that has driving basslines

[Chas B]

Welcome to the SC35C club Charlie. I'm sure you will like it no matter what you play but especially anything that has driving basslines

Thanks Darren. It's already sounding very nice in the stock Jelco 750D but will hopefully be even better when I follow Marco's advice and add some mass.

[Marco]

Nice one, Charlie. Glad you're liking it so far! Yes definitely add some mass. You want 17g at the headshell, so weigh your headshell and make up whatever is necessary.

This is an effective thing to use for adding 3g, if you go for the thickest one (and I've used this seller in Italy before and he's excellent): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRAPHITE-...D/251599599502



Marco.