Moving Iron Carts or stick with LOMC

Glen, I mentioned this to you before. 
Replace your 750L with the 850L. Way better. Can you move the 750 to position 2 or do you have to use a 9"?
You are missing an opportunity to make a large improvement to your table by not replacing the idler with the $110 Audiosilente wheel.

Hi Glenn, you can't go wrong with either cartridge. I am more familiar with the Grado. To call it midrange centric is a mistake. It is one of the best balanced cartridges on the market and tracks like a bandit. In being so balanced nothing hangs out. It is neither bass heavy or bright which some people use to some MC cartridges may be expecting. 
A lot of people here like the Soundsmith cartridges. Unfortunately I can not speak with experience about them. I love the cactus spine gig though and I'm sure I will try one eventually. 

Mike

If you’re going to own more than one or two cartridges, you really ought to sample an MI type. All the foregoing suggestions are good ones. If you’re going vintage also  think about Acutex, Astatic, Glanz, and B&O. Most of these are high in  compliance. I’d suggest a brand new Soundsmith.

noromance.

I cannot move it the other position, that position will only accept up to a 10" arm (actually 11" close but no cigar unfortunately) . I cannot do an out board arm mount either I don’t have the room and I don’t want to butcher my plinth if I can help it. I’d have to remove quite a bit of the plinth to make that work so a major rebuild-refit if you would.

I also just cannot afford right now a 850L or 950L as much as I would like to its $2k-$3k New here in Canada. I’d rather spend that money on a Cart to be honest. Even if I got the 850L I’d still need a cart for it as my VDH is high compliance. maybe a used 950L in the future.

I have a line (audio friend) on a SME 3009 series 3 that has updated with new knife edge bearings, new Cardas thru wiring and new viscous damping trough. all for $700 Canadian so about $500usd (unused since updating). So I may pick it up, drop that in the rear and stick my VDH cart on it and use the Jelco in the normal position. with the thru wiring kit from Cardas I wont need to bore a hole completely through the plinth only cut out the required depth for the arm base as the wire goes out through the top now. That would save me a ton of work on machining. Bamboo Ply is not fun to work with.

My Cart I have now is VDH MC 10 silver bodied: ($1500 years ago like 20 years but has been retiped-rebuilt by VDH).

Mass. 7.3 g
output, 0.3mv
TF, 1.5g
compliance Vert, 20cu
compliance lat, 35cu
recommended arm mass 6-12g

so its just not a candidate for the Jeloc arms, I tried it for about 5 mins and nope. Not even with a light weight head shell sadly.

So my plan is to leave the Jelco where it is, now that I’ve finally got the arm board manufactured and installed, put a new Cart on it MI i’m thinking. Install the SME on the back with the VDH. total cost under the new 850L price.

sure down the road a better arm and who know what but right now I want the detail and musicality of that little VDH cart and I want something more romantic for easier listening when I just want to relax.

oh I have a very good Garrard 301 grease bearing, white. I’m the second owner I’ve had it 2 years first owner was a local gentleman who bought it new and used it only in his home. its like new and has been serviced religiously. It was a lucky find, but that said I have ordered a new thrust pad, spark arrestor, break pads, and motor springs etc from the UK.

I’ll look into the idler though thanks for the tip. one day I’ll get the full bearing upgrade and power supply but yet again money.

Oh if money fell from the sky. or at least into my account.

your humble career military man, not rich investment banker.

Glen

sorry for the book reply