macjonny1 wrote:

I'm curious as to why someone would do a conversion to a (relatively) cheap (price-wise---I've never heard it) cartridge from the B&O standard?  Is there something to be gained here?  Looking at the Grado Gold prices they sell for $220 and that's half of what an MMC1/2 would go for? 

I guess if you really use the deck a lot, a replaceable stylus will be a big plus.

burantek wrote:

Kevin,

Now that you've had the Amina TT for a few months... any further thoughts on it?

Thx!

I am quite happy with it.  One of the best things I've done.  If you've listened to a Grado cartridge, there is a lot of substance and punch to it.  Granted my setup is not proprietal - the turntable goes into a ProJect preamp, to a Krell processor, into a McIntosh power amp, and ultimately thru B&W speakers.

As far as the Grado being less expensive, personally I'm finding out cost does not necessarily mean better or worse quality.  More of a matter of taste for me.

Cheers all!😁

Kevin...

Thx for the fast response... I have a few 400x's sitting around and I have -zero- time! I was considering sending (delivering) them to Benny to have them rehab'd as he is only ~4 hours from me... where I was mentally drawing the line was w/ the cutting/shortening of the cartridge arm, but if the results are better than your previous experience... well, then it may be worth it to do some of the tables!

The conversion obviously allows a variety of the Grado cartridges to be fitted. B&O cartridges were actually quite cheap originally and even the MMC20CL was relatively inexpensive. There is a captive market these days and Soundsmith cartridges are hand made and therefore very expensive. It is an understandable conversion in my view as the 4000 deck is very well made compared to most turntables and also offers a tangential arm of good quality.

burantek wrote:

Kevin...

Thx for the fast response... I have a few 400x's sitting around and I have -zero- time! I was considering sending (delivering) them to Benny to have them rehab'd as he is only ~4 hours from me... where I was mentally drawing the line was w/ the cutting/shortening of the cartridge arm, but if the results are better than your previous experience... well, then it may be worth it to do some of the tables!

Its worth the 4 hour drive.  I bought mine directly from Benny and despite the best packing it still got jarred in the mail (UPS likes to throw pkgs). Happily, I was able to undo the damage.  Do one and compare them side by side.  On the phone, Benny is quiet and unassuming but once you get him talking........

I told him I know how to dismantle a 4002 and he asked me "How do you like the circuit board, how do you like the circuit board?"  I told him it was a work of art.  Get the Grado Gold over the Blue.

Best...

>Personally, I don't like the BG8000 because it is a transition TT from 4002/4 to 8002.  BG8000 has 8002 body but still has the 4002 arm.

This isn't true. Superficially the arm looks the same, but in fact it is a complete redesign!

The sled, the solenoid, the bearing, the sensor is completely different.

In fact the 8002 arm has much more in common with the 8000 arm than the 8000 with the 4002.

Derek