Beogram 4000/SMMC20CL+ -suddenly sounds like my tweeters are blown.

8 replies
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Dunderhonning (archived2)
Bronze
Posted November 13, 2017 at 08:19 GMT
#2224456

When you speak of the devil. 

Last week I pondered whether or not too little use of a turntable could affect it in any way. so I guess it was only natural for my Bg4000 to throw a divine fit yesterday resulting in massive distortion of the vocals. 

As any sane person would I went into full panic and started planning a viking funeral for my summer house. This helped as I remembered that I could play the album on the Bg3000. There everything sounded as it should so I called the vicar and told him to delay the notification of my next of kin. With my death wish subsiding I also remembered that I have a backup pickup for the Bg4000. 

Next step was to swap the SMMC20CL+ for a MMC20E, this also sounded completely normal which means the SMMC20CL+ has for some magical reason lost its will to live. I've checked the needle under a magnifying glass and from what I can see everything looks as it should. 

Has anyone experienced anything similar, and is there a last ditch attempt I can try before sending it off to soundsmith for a rebuild? 

C(
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chartz (archived2)
Bronze
Posted November 13, 2017 at 17:24 GMT
#2224457

Hi there,

Have you checked the tip with a thread counter?

Perhaps it is just dirty...

Another hypothesis would be a failed suspension. 

I doubt that the stylus could break all of a sudden, especially considering it is not a bonded one.

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Dunderhonning (archived2)
Bronze
Posted November 14, 2017 at 06:29 GMT
#2224458

Hi chartz, 

I have carefully brushed the tip with a brush from a Bg8000, but to no avail. I could try cleaning it with some specialist product or acetone on a q-tip just so I can cross dirty tip off the list. 

Sad to say I don't even know what's implied by checking the tip with a thread counter :) 

Failed suspension is my main suspect as well. So I'm going to flick the housing with a finger, or tap it lightly against a table or something as my repairman told me this was the preferred action back in the day if the "suspension got stuck." 

 

Robert 

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chartz (archived2)
Bronze
Posted November 14, 2017 at 18:03 GMT
#2224459
I clean my stylii with a Q-Tip and aceton. Just keep the Q-Tip up!

A thread counter is a X8 magnifying glass!
AU
Offline
AudioOrigin
Bronze
Posted November 18, 2017 at 19:16 GMT
#2224460

Audio Origin can refurbish your cartridge here is a link 

link

suspension only repairs available on request with free microscope inspection

Best regards Alistair

Audio Origin

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Dunderhonning (archived2)
Bronze
Posted November 18, 2017 at 20:25 GMT
#2224461

Thanks for the explanation, chartz! I cleaned it with a aceton dipped q-tip and gave it a couple of light knocks on a table. I don't know which of those did the trick, but one of them sure helped as everything is back to normal. 

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chartz (archived2)
Bronze
Posted November 18, 2017 at 21:40 GMT
#2224462
It was probably just dirty then. Good to know everything’s back to normal.
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Dunderhonning (archived2)
Bronze
Posted November 18, 2017 at 22:08 GMT
#2224463

Yes, for sure. That was a pleasant surprise indeed. So now Britten's War Requiem is the soundtrack to me cleaning all my pickups while I'm at it. 

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