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Just come across this thread which made me examine the cartridges I still have.
SP15 – interesting square diamond with edges parallel to cantilever – cut to a shape which looks down my microscope to be spherical – supposed to be elliptical – this is the first of the MMC range and became the MMC4000.
I then have 2 MMC5000s
- Square diamond – quite a bit smaller and set with sides 45 degrees to cantilever and cut with a Shibata profile – elliptical with leading edges cut away. Blue dot on mating face of cartridge.
- Round diamond, smaller and darker but with similar Shibata tip. Green dot on mating surface.
MMC6000 – square diamond again edges set to 45 degrees and both front and back surfaces cut away – Pramanik profile.
MMC20CL – lovely transparent sapphire cantilever with tiny diamond, edges parallel to cantilever , both leading and trailing edges cut away though leading edge deeper – the 6000 seemed more symmetrical.
MMC20SH (!) – this the relevant one really – pretty sure Axel did this one for me – the cantilever has a cut close to the body and there seems to be a sleeve almost but very smooth and no ridge but a graduation down to the rest of the cantilever. There is a diamond which I think is square, sides 45 degrees to side of cantilever though looks about a degree out. The diamond seems to be contact line rather than shibata as cut on four sides though not as well finished on the trailing edge compared to the B&O versions (being a bit picky here!) Attaching a picture for the cantilever.
I confess to rarely using them these days and my ears are not what they were! I remember to 20CL being temperature sensitive – came alive in a warm room. The 6000 was quite bright and made a superb record cleaner – could clear dust out of a pristine looking record! I rather liked the SP15 and that one stays on the BG4000!
I do have a memory of having an MMC4 rebuilt – it involved the suspension being replaced and the front of the cartridge cut off and then reattached but a line remained to show the process. No longer have any of the newer cartridges as either sold or gave away all the relevant decks. I never liked them as much as the 4000 series, not even the 8002 I had.
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Very kind of you. I think the kind chap on the front desk was still getting his breath back after helping with the M100s! Would be interested to see the workshop though. I do have a few bits not in your product list – the Beogram 3000 Thorens and Beogram 3000 Acoustical (this is now in the hands of another enthusiast). The BG3000 Thorens is probably the best sounding Beogram – mine comes with the 12″ B&O ST/P arm and a bespoke SP2 cartridge. The bass seems far more extended than even my 4000 but it does needs mounting on a isolating wall bracket to get the best out of it. It was designed to be used with the semi professional Beolab 5000 system of the 60s and B&O went to Thorens as their own decks of the time were just not as good. Acoustical is an interesting side note – a Dutch company who supplied their motor unit to B&O for the UK market as I believe Thorens were less than keen that the TD124 was sold in the UK under the B&O brand from what what I understand. Having had both, the Thorens is the better, though that could well be because mine was restored and improved by the inestimable Frede at Classic Audio
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It is amusing – a number of my pictures on the old Beocentral and Beoworld sites found their way onto other sites so the 4001 seemed like a good enterprise to establish who was taking things! You of course are completely absolved as we put the 4001 on site for exactly that purpose! I may bring it down when I pick up the 4401 (which I am pretty sure is real!) – As you can see, it also has the well known bogus MMC20SH – this was a MMC20S that I had retipped with a Shibata diamond and better cantilever – akin to the MMC5000. I am not sure that I wouldn’t keep it on site to confuse the opposition!
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The benefit I now have is that my high frequency hearing doesn’t really go much over 10KHz so even pretty poor speakers sound not bad! The advantages of age!
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Thank you – have edited profile as well to include dog though not convinced is same one – this is Brutus who was my last dog – we lost him a good few years ago but still have at present 3 bassets and a labrador , but these are really my wife’s and daughter’s.
Thanks to Multicare who are at present fixing some old equipment for me. Couple of small speakers (M100.s!) and some audio bits.
I did post a lot as I had a considerable collection of 60s, 70s,80s and 90s equipment and when Steve set up the site, we decided that the best way to make it successful was to make sure every post was answered the same day. Because I had most of the kit, I could usually go and test things and then tell them how it worked. The official B&O site was really somewhere where dissatisfied customers complained and B&O closed it as it was not conducive to their sales. I think because we were not B&O, we were given a far easier ride and had far more positive posts – once they knew that we would always reply, the site ballooned and continued to do so. We attracted some fantastic moderators who knew far more than me but continued the answering of queries. B&O were always very positive. particularly after Lee took on the site and we visited Struer a number of times and were looked after very well.
I am afraid I started to bow out once the manufacture was outsourced to China and once the audio systems were discontinued I felt my role was done. Glad to see things are still up and running and I know Keith is a superb organiser. I have retired as a GP this year and no doubt will be around a bit more. I remember the bike avatar Guy!
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Not convinced it will work though will try it out when I can. The 4004 used a proto datalink and Tim on Beocentral suggests it is not compatible. I will let you know – will need to find where I put the spare DIN pins first!!
The Beoworld piece also suggests that it will not work remotely. It will of course function perfectly well as a record player – I have used mine with all sorts of Beomasters.
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Frede is one of the kindest men that I have met. I still have fond memories of meeting him and the splendid hospitality he showed. I treasure my Beomasster 4401 he gave me and the Beolab/Master 5000 that he restored for me and the unique Beogram 3000 Thorens. He also lives in a fabulous house in an idyllic location which we have visited a couple of times and it was always a pleasure. I do hope you enjoy a long and happy retirement.
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I had my MS150s repaired some years ago by Richard Allen speakers – they serviced them but were so impressed with their sound that they tested them properly and presented me with the frequency chart saying they had some of the flattest frequency responses they had come across in a pair of speakers and were very impressed. I actually sold them as this series of speakers had tweeters that seemed to shriek to me at higher volumes – I preferred the older M100.2s which I still have though I doubt they actually perform as well. I also prefer the finish of the earlier speakers – B&O seemed to be using slightly poorer materials though the electronics performed probably better. I seem to remember these Yamaha speakers were very bright and needed very good sources or could be shrill. But excellent speakers they seem to be in need of a slight polish though 😀
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I wonder if it needs a new battery – maybe simply does not have enough power for all the LEDs. Multicare seem to be able to fix most things – they are playing with a variety of my odd stuff and I suspect changing a battery and checking the power rails could be in order. Complex inside so unless confident, I would leave to them!
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I suspect I am no longer a founder member though was the very first moderator at the start of Beoworld when run by Steve. It has certainly been a long time ago and things have changed – I encountered Beoworld first as Steve had ‘borrowed’ a number of my pictures from Beocentral, a B&O site run by the Jarman brothers. This was settled amicably and I then started helping Steve. Some may remember the meeting in France when a number of us met up. The idea was to set up a B&O museum in the hotel Steve had set up but unfortunately this came to nothing. Lee and I picked up a lot of the equipment I had donated and we became good friends ( and still are!) My thought on B&O these days are very mixed – I still have a fair amount of older equipment ( a fair bit is being fixed at Multicare as I post!) including the Beomaster 4401 and infamous Beogram 4001 (it’s a fake!) but failing hearing and a dislike of most of the new products has seen me drift away – play more with cars and dogs these days! Keith is an excellent chap – was a pleasure to meet him and his wife when they were up in Newcastle though that was many years ago. I am pleased to see the site still running and a good number of the golden oldies still active!
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Just bought a 9500 – have actually owned another one for many years that I bought new but lent it to a friend and would feel bad taking it back! Found a boxed fully working one. Have owned a lot of B&O in my time though have given most of it away now. The 9500 is IMHO the pinnacle of usability for a B&O product. Completely intuitive in how it works but very sophisticated – works 2 way with the Beolink 7000 (not quite as well as a Beosystem 7000 but pretty close) and is the classic 80s/90s look. Doesn’t have DAB but I dare say one could attach an Amazon Dot if required. Going to pick it up from my sister who collected it and has tested it. Already have the BL4000s fitted and waiting!
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Always tricky looking for a good match – would probably try getting fixed (? Wilmslow) or find the same driver second hand – v difficult! I have a pair of S45.2 on stands which you could certainly have on long term loan whilst waiting for either repair or replacement. I live in North of England.
Not used in a while and under a bed but will look and make sure they are working – in Greece for 2 weeks but if interested let me know. The 3ooo is a good receiver – I have had most in my time but gave my collection away some time ago – still have a 4401 which a friend gave me. Older B&O was my passion for a while – the newer kit less so.
Best Wishes
Peter
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