Littlite-Which one to buy?

Mark, first you get an A+++ for spelling Littlite correctly!!

I like the 18" gooseneck cause it gets all the way across the platter to the cartridge from the LEFT side of the turntable, which is how you have to do it or it's in the way of your using the tonearm.

Model L3/18 is an 18" gooseneck w/ the standard weighted base and halogen 5 watt lamp. I use the screw-down base. I think they also still make the edge-of-shelf clamp type base.

The 2 watt lamp is an incandescent, you don't want it.

Get the 5 watt halogen lamp. WAY better. It reqires the little hood with the heat fins, but if you order the model i mentioned above, it will come with it.

Now, if you really want to be 21st Century, go for the new LED model. It doesnt have infinite dimming, but it does switch between red (low) and white.

http://www.littlitestore.com/

I've never had hum problems from my Littlite. It wouldn't be from the rheostat anyway. It's just a simple resistance pot like a volume control. It's not like a wall dimmer. The only source of hum might be the wall wart (transformer) itself, but I have mine plugged into a non-system wall outlet and never had a problem. It's ohly putting out 12V AC so it's not radiating much of a field anyway.

You'll have to ask Doug about the LED version, but my understanding is that it's either white light (high) or red light (low) and that's it. But that shouldn't be a problem either, because that's pretty much the way you would use it anyway (high or low but not in between.)

What I'd like to know (Doug) is whether the LED version (on high/white) is brighter than the halogen version on high? If it is, I'm going to get one of those because I'd like a little brighter light.

My experience with various Littlite mounting systems is they all suck, that is if you're planning to yank the gooseneck around a lot (trust me you will!)

Other than the panel mount (BNC plug) the weighted base is your best bet. However, there's a DIY alternative which I hit upon and it works the better than all the other attachment methods. You just need to plan where you're going to want it:

Take the chassis apart (that's the little box at the other end of the goosenck with the rheostat) by removing the two screws on the top (either side of the rheostat knob) That will release the subchassis on the bottom. (This has nothing on it, it's just a piece of metal.) Screw the subchassis down to your shelf (it's predrilled) and then slide the main chassis with goodseneck over it, secure the two top screws and you're done. Really solid, and it doesn't matter where you position the gooseneck.

The reason I mention this, is because although you can get the 18" gooseneck with the weighted base, it can tip over if you're not watching the position of the gooseneck relative to the base. Plus the base may limit placement.