Brigantinus wrote:

Around 1K, i would buy a Pro-Ject or a Rega. Normally these two brands have the best "quality / cost balance".

 

So should I forget about Beogram ?

Jeff wrote:

Be aware that, no matter how good a table things like the Project and such are, and they are good tables, they are fully manual. You put the arm on the record yourself, and they do not pick up or stop at the end, so you have to do that too.

The Beograms were fully automatic tables. Which is why I went back to my BG3000 tangential after living with a very nice VPI HW19 setup years ago. The Beogram was much easier to use and live with at least to me.

Just something to consider before spending money on a turntable.

Jeff how about sound quality ?

Does beogram still sound as good ?

Fortunately for me, my MMC2 cartridge.still works and still sounds very good. Different table/cartridge combos sound different, far more so than anything digital, but let's just say that when I went from a VPI with an ADC carbon fiber arm and a Sumiko Blue Point cartridge to the Beogram with the MMC2, I didn't feel it was a step down. Sounded different, but not clearly better or worse. Opinions will vary though on that. And the BG3000 wasn't one of the best B&O tables.

There are a few semi-auto tables out there now, but I've lost track of who makes what. Since I'm happy with my setup, and I seldom play LPs, I'm fine with it.

One thing to check on is whether or not the table you buy has adjustable anti-skating, that is easily adjusted by you. In order to make the tables more idiot proof, many of the lower end manual tables by Project and such come with cartridges pre-installed, and non adjustable anti-skating setup for that cartridge. If/when you want to go to a different cartridge...you will probably need to adjust anti-skating, especially if the cartridge tracks at a different force or has a different stylus profile (say, a contact line vs. elliptical). That would then require you send the table back to have anti-skating changed at the factory, or always use the same cartridge. Which, if they stop making it, leaves you up the creek in a way, at any rate a more difficult setup than you'd like.

At least there are places/people who make new B&O cartridges and/or rebuild them, so you can stretch the life of a Beogram even though B&O don't make any tables or cartridges themselves anymore.

i love beograms. I have one at my parents home: a beogram 7000 with a MMC2 cartridge. It's a wonderful turntable.

If i would buy a new one in the 1k range, i'd go for a Pro-Ject or Rega.

The aforementioned Beogram 3000 is actually a Thorens 124 MkII with a B&O arm - usually 9" but can be 12" and fitted with an SP2 cartridge - I have the 12" version. Completely different to the other Beograms except for the arm - more extended bass and nothing like the same suspension. An audiophile deck and rare - in the UK B&O actually sold a different 3000 - based on an Acoustical motor unit - I had one of those as well - not as good but similar. Lee and I have ones which have been restored by Frede at Classic Audio who specialises in restoring classic B&O but also the Thorens 124.

However you will either have to use old B&O cartridges (mine is a bespoke one) or change arm. There is quite a bit to be said for the Rega tables - very simple and can use any 1/2" mount cartridge. I would not go for the later tangential models as the build will disappoint - a 4000 would be ridiculously cool though!

dueno wrote:

 

 

Rega planar 3 with pre amp

I agree.  I bought my Rega about 10 years ago and have had no problems.  I think it is a simple design that has an elegant but modern look.  Buy the packaged deal that comes with  the Rega P3, Elys 2 cartridge, and RB330 tonearm.  You will need to buy the phono preamp separately.  A good choice to start might be the Rega A2D which has a feature that allows an LP to be ripped for playback digitally.  Its made in England also.

I have had a Beogram 7000 which was nice and looked great but the Rega sounds much better and can be upgraded if you wish to do so.  The price in the UK is probably £550.00 for the turntable package and about £90.00 for the phono preamp.  The Project turntable is very good also.

If you want a lower price point, you might look at the Rega P2 which is available on Amazon.

So Hiort, you just took Powerlink out from Beogram and plugged into cinch Line-in of the Moment? Or there needs to be a preamp in between?

AnalogPlanet wrote:

So Hiort, you just took Powerlink out from Beogram and plugged into cinch Line-in of the Moment? Or there needs to be a preamp in between?

Thanks for clarification. Hmm, I was thinking about the simplest way to play records via Moment - that means that I need to choose a turntable with preamp built-in (regardless whether it will be Beogram in the end or some modern turntable).