Hi, I'm having an interesting problem with my old turntables.I've tried switching:amps,preamps,speakers,and4 different turntables! The problem is not all the sound comes thru from turntables{B&O 8000,4004,RX2,even tried an old SL-120 Technics with SME arm and signet cart.}My other sources are much louder,radio,tape etc,as well as having the "correct tone sound".I've run them into NEW Sony Surround receiver,still the same!Radio has all the bass as does cd,just turntables do this.Tried outboard new phono preamp into all amps,still the same!Carts being used include MMC20EN,20CL,MMC3,and New stanton 500.weirdest thing is every once in awhile,it seems like it sounds "right",then record ends,flip over,and S.O.S. It sounds like there's a curtain in front of the speakers,as well as having virtually no bottom end.if you augment the bass via EQ,it sounds wrong still, just louder. Any input is welcome,winter's not over in Alaska yet,lots of indoor time left before summer. Thanks in advance for any light you can shed...spookd

The problem is clearly the RIAA you have. The signal from a record player is quiet and skewed heavily towards the treble so it sounds quiet and tinny. You have a fault in your RIAA in the phono pre-amp. What sort is it and does it have more than one setting?

Peter, That was my 1st thought as well,so I bought a brand new Phono preamp,tried it in aux in,tape in, line in, on 3 different amps,same results.The cartridges play fine on my Beosystem 7000,so it shouldn't be them.The only constant is the tables themselves,and I have the cap upgrade kit {from Dillen} for the 8000,although it is not installed yet.NOT a lot of B&O repairs available in Alaska!!Thanks for the thoughts,hopefully someone else has had the same problem and will "cure my problem"

It won't be the record players - they are very simple and I am sure the cartridges are fine. The only bit of electonics in the turntable is the mute circuit and a fault in that will not give those symptoms. Which 7000? The Beogram 7000 has a built in RIAA but does not take MMC20 cartridges. If the Beocenter 7000, that again has a built in RIAA so will indeed be fine.

The interesting feature here is the fact that sometimes it works! This suggests a problem with the power supply of the RIAA I suppose. Does seem very odd though as I cannot imagine there is a direct signal path through the pre-amp. Check the cables I suppose is the first thing I would do!

Hi Peter, Thanks again for the input.It is a Beocenter 7000,the "original remote controlled stereo",according to Car and Driver's ad I found in one of my old car mags from the '80's!I had checked the patch cables to everything BUT the turntables,I guess I figured the odds of 3 different tables having bad cables seemed too high.Now that I remember tho,I also had a "ground hum" noise at quiet passages at higher volumes, worse in the B&O's than the Technics.I'll check the phono cables themselves,after I return from helping friends move furniture{ I GOT to get rid of my truck,too!}Take care and enjoy whatever you can...spookd  Doug