It's a tough one.  The soundsmith cartridges do sound better than the orginals according to what I hear. If you like the look of your current turntable and the sound is good enough (Prior to your unfortunate mishap) then why not stick with it? Due to the low tracking weight you will not have to replace it for many years to come and it will be kinder to your vinyl collection.

Simon

As I said in the "other" Beogram 1700 thread, the 1700 is a super little deck that more than help its own against the Rega 2 of the period and if it's in good nick I'd keep it. Clients with "audiophile" aspirations bought the Rega and music lovers who valued good sound and "auto" operation bought the 1700.

I seem to remember that we experimented with fitting a "Linn" turntable mat and, although it raised the arm a tad at the stylus end by a couple of mm, it seemed to improve the sound slightly as I recall (the lifting height is easily adjustable). Of course, the appearance of the deck isn't helped by the black mat, but it may go a little way to damping the platter a bit.