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BRONZE MemberYou haven’t mentioned which country version you have, but since both components have two-pin AC plugs, I would start by testing them in the same wall outlet without a power strip and flipping one plug if possible to see it the hum lessons. When you do this ensure that no other connection goes to either component including antenna cable. It is quite possible that it is a crossed ground or phase issue when the units are plugged into different outlets. Also a cable antenna or TV connection that has a CATV connection can introduce hum. This test will let you narrow it down.
Sound quality will be more a function of the cartridge and speakers you are using versus the preamp. To get an internal one you’ll need to spend around $400 where a decent external one can be had for $100+.
I can’t comfortably comment on how sonically different they were even though I worked for a dealer while both were in production. Obviously, the 4400 was their top of the line at its time a was replaced by the 5000 series during the 7700’s time. Both had similar discrete Class AB amps. If you want to read about the design I can suggest no better resource than it Owners Manual: https://beomanuals.com/manuals/Beomaster/Beomaster%204400/Bang-Olufsen-Beomaster_4400-Owners-Manual.pdf. While you obviously don’t push your Maggies that hard, sometimes you don’t know what you are missing till you hear them with a more authoritative amp. In my case I was using Sony’s venerable TAN-5550 VFET amp which was a great match as it was conservatively rated and I beefed up its power supply.
If by first generation, you mean MG-1’s then they are 4-ohm speakers and you will find significantly better dynamics from the 4400 as it has a more powerful and capable amp section – 75w vs 30w in 7700. I never had the MG-1 but dit have the MG-2 and they definitely needed the power for good bass response.
If you have the original phono DIN cable marked with a PH then B&O used to have DIN->RCA adaptor that had an external ground wire which is needed. If you can find that then a special internally grounded one such as https://soundsheavenly.com/beogram-record-players/14-2244-beogram-to-non-bo-device-as-used-on-beogram-4000c-phono-pre-amp-receiver-amplifier-etc-bo-ref-6271348.html#/2-length-1m/60-grounding-internal_ground_link will work.
You mention a preamp but don’t mention which one and whether you are using the proper Phone DIN cable to it. This cable has double screening and is a requirement to prevent hum and buzz.
I suspected as much. I did not choose that route as I wanted the higher head room and direct coupling to avoid caps in the direct signal path,
FYI, you are not limited to an internal phono preamp if you have trouble finding one. You can use and inexpensive Project Box or Schiit Mani and actually get better sound.
Great progress! I would measure the woofers as the doped cones will likely change the parameters causing a crossover modification.
Very clean. How are you deriving the bipolar phono section supplies? I offered a similar mod back in the 1980s (w/o the remote) using a DC-DC converter plug-in module.
The click you are hearing is the muting relay. Make sure you use the schematic for your specific Type number as the circuit did change over the production period.
The damper only causes the arm to lower slowly. It’s the solenoid activation that releases it to lower. If it is not staying down, what is the DC voltage you across the solenoid when the arm is supposed to be down?
When you stat that the arm does not stay down, is that because the actuator does not retract? If that’s the case I would check the actuator circuit. Since you state you had it serviced for a bad solenoid, did they replace anything besides it? Do you have a voltmeter to be able to test the circuit?
That is the correct cable. Without the pins in one connector, you will not be able to control the turntable from the remote control. It will play fine and should not exhibit hum,
You should replace the relay. Beolover has a replacement at https://beolover.com/products/siemens-relay-replacement-for-beogram-4000-4002-and-4004. You can find new impregnated motor bearings at https://www.beoparts-shop.com/product/motor-bearings-set-for-beogram-4002-4004-6000-dc-motor-versions/.
The correct cable did have a Phono label at one time to distinguish it from a Beocord cassette cable. Datalink cables have 7-pins instead of 5 and pins 6 and 7 are removable as they have a small screwdriver slot at their tips.
I’m not sure I’d buy that he sold it for $3K as it was never sold in mint condition. You can clearly see in the video the wear spots on the control panel and pitting throughout. Also his “repairs” are dubious. Who wraps tonearms in foil tape? If he knew what he was doing he could balance and center the platter plus clean the top plate. The cantilever is also askew. In that condition and at that starting price he’ll be lucky to sell it in 6 months. Pass!
Image shows the stylus is long gone. Time for re-tip or replacement.
While it is not the best angle to examine, it does look like the tracking force is too heavy or the stylus’s suspension is shot and needs replacement. If it’s an SP-10 or 12 it should be 1.2 grams.
You can use the Line input into the Beolabs as I described above as they will turn on when they sense an audio signal.
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