You're close to where I was a year or so ago. I had a Shelter 901 and a DIY'd shop vac. Using the latter was a chore and it was painfully loud. I actually had to wear earplugs while using it. I upgraded to the Loricraft first and I'm glad I did.
However, you do have a functioning RCM, not a DIY. If it works okay and the records you've cleaned sound reasonably quiet I think I'd go for the Airy 3 first.
The 901 emphasizes certain surface noises. A ZYX does not, so your records will actually sound somewhat quieter.
IME the Airy 3 is much better than a 901 for every aspect of musical and sonic reproduction. You should hear a huge improvement. A Loricraft, as good as it is, would not make such a dramatic improvement unless you had no RCM at all.
P.S. If you go for any ZYX get the SB option. You'll want the extra weight with that tonearm and there's another advantage. Having the extra shim on top of the cartridge will require raising your arm to maintain proper VTA/SRA. This is a good thing. Raising your arm will give your tapered armtube more clearance above the record than it would have with an unweighted ZYX.
However, you do have a functioning RCM, not a DIY. If it works okay and the records you've cleaned sound reasonably quiet I think I'd go for the Airy 3 first.
The 901 emphasizes certain surface noises. A ZYX does not, so your records will actually sound somewhat quieter.
IME the Airy 3 is much better than a 901 for every aspect of musical and sonic reproduction. You should hear a huge improvement. A Loricraft, as good as it is, would not make such a dramatic improvement unless you had no RCM at all.
P.S. If you go for any ZYX get the SB option. You'll want the extra weight with that tonearm and there's another advantage. Having the extra shim on top of the cartridge will require raising your arm to maintain proper VTA/SRA. This is a good thing. Raising your arm will give your tapered armtube more clearance above the record than it would have with an unweighted ZYX.