MC cartridge for a Jelco SA 250-D on LP12.
Posted by: Gianluigi Mazzorana on 07 April 2016
Hi all Girls and Boys!
The old house maid decided that the armboard on my Linn was dirty and needed a dusting.
Result: arm and cartridge gone. I hope the rest is still ok albeit the armboard moved slitghtly to one side.
Of course i didn't want to humiliate the old, loyal lady with my award winning barracks psalms.
I took the path to the country to make my growlings for this double hammer blow.
I was already thinking of changing the tonearm and, as i wrote here some weeks ago, i was thinking of a Nima but funds languish.
I got a Jelco SA 250-D with a Jelco "L" shape din plug cable that will be fitted with a new collar and on a new armboard for Linn toneamrs.
Now i turn to your experience. Given the tonearm mass at 20 grammes which MC cartridge would you mount on the Jelco? I want to keep the standard head shell for the moment.
I have no chance to get an audition so i was thinking about Dynavector 10X5, the DV 20X2 or the Denon 103/110.
I have MM phono boards in my Nac82 that i could eventually change for the MC.
Any tip very appreciated!
Thank you!
Posted on: 07 April 2016 by Richard Dane
As far as cost-effective MCs are concerned, the AT OC9 MLII or Mk III work very well in the LP12 with the Jelco SA-750, so may well work well in the 250. You would need some MC boards though.
Posted on: 07 April 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
Hi Richard!
Thanks for answer!
Forgot to write i can stretch to about 6/700 pounds.
What do you think about the two high and low DV 20X2 Dynavector? More heavy than the 10X5 btw......
Posted on: 07 April 2016 by Richard Dane
Of the two I'd go with the Low output; my feelings on so-called "high" outputs MCs are well documented here - they fall between two stools. They work well enough with 47k "MC" valve phono stages that don't have enough gain for a proper MC cartridge, but through a regular MM stage they don't have enough output to work completely satisfactorily.
Posted on: 07 April 2016 by hilz
Hi there
i currently run a Jelco 750 with a DV20x2 and to my ears it's a great combination
hilz
Posted on: 07 April 2016 by Christopher_M
Hi-Fi World Feb 2009 also endorsed the AT-OC9MLII, if that means anything to you, albeit in the SA-750D arm.
On the other hand, you may be like one of my brothers (a mechanic for a Ferrari dealership) who will regularly give you the opinion that "[expletive deleted] journalists don't know squat!"
Hope you decision works for you. I would fancy the AT into Naim boards even though I own the same DV as Hilz. The 'Low'.
Best, C.
Posted on: 08 April 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
Posted on: 08 April 2016 by Adam Zielinski
I know it will will sound bizzare, but try Denon DL-103R. Works astonishingly well with a Jelco arm - good solid cartridge, which can sound a bit hard on its own, but Jelco gives it the fluiditiy.
Posted on: 09 April 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
I do apologize with you all for another of my stupid mistakes!
It's SA 750-D and not 250......
Adam i think to understand what you mean and it confirms what i read on pages and pages of reviews.
Thanks a lot again!
Posted on: 09 April 2016 by Christopher_M
SA 750D or SA 250D, no worries. Close enough for government work ;-)
Best,
C.
Posted on: 09 April 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
SA 750D or SA 250D, no worries. Close enough for government work ;-)
Best,
C.
Posted on: 09 April 2016 by Richard Dane
That's good news, the SA-750D is the appreciably better arm and can be even further upgraded with a better mounting collar (search online and you will find out more on this) and better headshell.
Posted on: 09 April 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
Truth is that i got it after reading your old posts Richard! 
I'm buying a new collar made by Ammonite Acoustics to avoid the play of the pillar.
I want to keep the stock headshell for the moment. There're some on the market made in graphite or wood that are much appreciated but i have to "invest" in the phono unit or boards. I've found a Black Cube SE for few money........i'll see.
Thanks a lot again!
Posted on: 09 April 2016 by Richard Dane
G, the Jelco shell that comes with the arm is pretty good - not quite up to the Sumiko headshell that is a good all-rounder and not expensive, but pretty close. I also like the ADC and the Nagaoka Magnesium shells. Do you have the heavy as well as standard counterweight?
Posted on: 09 April 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
The arm comes with both light and heavy counterweight.
Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
Cartridge and boards on the way.
Posted on: 20 April 2016 by George F
Dear Gianluigi,
Do you still have the little Raga P3?
I imagined that you were still using it till I read this thread.
You could hardly imagine what is coming here in the next few days in gramophone terms, but you will have to wait till it is installed and nice to look at for a photo!
Two clues. Mono and Valves!
Best wishes from George
Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Richard Dane
G, looking good. The Jelco arm cable is quite fat (but not too stiff) so be careful with the dressing and the P clip. Which cartridge did you go for in the end?
Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
Dear Gianluigi,
Do you still have the little Raga P3?
I imagined that you were still using it till I read this thread.
You could hardly imagine what is coming here in the next few days in gramophone terms, but you will have to wait till it is installed and nice to look at for a photo!
Two clues. Mono and Valves!
Best wishes from George
Dear George!
Hope it's all ok with you !
The P3 gave up sometimes ago. I told you i wanted to try a VPI Classic but no way.
A full mono high fedelity set up is something i always had on my mind. Please let me and us informed!
Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
G, looking good. The Jelco arm cable is quite fat (but not too stiff) so be careful with the dressing and the P clip. Which cartridge did you go for in the end?
Hey Richard!
The "L" shape plug is such a great thing!
I ordered the Hana S low output. 0,5 mv in 5 grammes. Shibata! They say good quality for money. And less wear for vinyl.
Good Peter will horrify but tools are ready!
Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Massimo Bertola
Cartridge and boards on the way.
Who gives a damn about cartridges? I see a sunburn Telecaster in the background...! That is sexy!
Max
Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Adam Zielinski
I think it's actually a green and a sunburn Teles!
Excellent!
Posted on: 20 April 2016 by hungryhalibut
Posted on: 20 April 2016 by dave marshall
Or even green Stratocaster?
Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Luckily no apostrophe this time
Posted on: 21 April 2016 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
The girls are a John Mayer strat (about 2010) and a Eric Clapton (about 2000) i play (rarely) into a Brunetti valve combo.
I had a telly once that i stripped down to the wood and fitted with Fralin's pick ups and Callaham's hardware.
I gifted it to a colleague who could not afford one
