Beogram 3000 linear tracking worth resurecting?

Thanks for the thoughtful responses.

As far as sound quality, I probably couldn't tell a mid-fi from a better or worse one with my current setup. I do like to play my vinyl and know that I'm not damaging it, though. The cheap Kenwood gear that I have probably would not do the sound quality of the turntable justice. Is $125 about average for a cartridge these days? How would I know if the one that's on it is any good?

Steve

For what it's worth, I checked with my friend who has the TX2. He's using the MMC4 and said he ordered it through a link on the B&O website.

As far as the average prices on carts, I don't like to say--you can spend anywhere from $40 to over $10,000 on one. Right now I'm using a Clearaudio cart that I bought for maybe $280, and based on my experience with other inexpensive carts, it is a good start to the "high end" sound. The Shure M97Xe is a good one for about $100--tracks well, sounds clean, and the price is right. Generally, I'd rather have a ch3eap cart on a great table/arm than a very fancy cart on a poor table. I used the same Clearaudio on my old AR/Linn setup as I do on my current Michell/Origin Live setup, and the sonic difference is, of course, enormous even though I'd be perfectly jsutified in putting a much better cart on. As another example, I heard a VPI mkIII through Levinson amps and a $16K pair of B&W speakers; the VPI was set up with an inexpensive RB300 and $40 Grado cart...needless to say it still sounded quite nice ;)

One thing to consider though--I hear the the B&O carts are proprietary. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I never really studied my friend's too carefully...

You absolutely must use a B&O MMC serier of cartridge. No other one will work to the bet of my knowledge. The $125 price isthe standard price for the MMC 4 currently. (I know this because 6 months ago I sold my B&O 3000 to my brother in law and that is what he paid for his MMC 4.)

Actually, the Absolute Sound ranked the B&O parallel trackers very highly in the '80s. If I recall correctly, this was with one of the "super rubber" mats to damp platter resonance.

As most people have pointed out, though, the cartridges would likely be a big limitation (distinctly mid-fi when you can find them) and 20+ years of mechanical wear and tear probably haven't done them any favors (if you can find one in working condition - most that I've seen "need work").

Keith

I was looking on this website because I recently inherited my father's beogram turntable. My dad purchased this one in the late 80's and hardly ever used it because he became enamored of CD's. Anyway, classical music was his life and he researched this turntable with care and bought it because it was "the best". I was looking forward to trying to use it only I can't figure out how to get the arm to drop on the record. I seem to remember you just lifte it over and it would drop. Does anyone know this or have a users manual that would explain what to do? The B&O website was pretty useless. Thanks
Joyce