So, mediaboyny, has been super helpful in getting my 1700 up and running and sounding good. 

Like an idiot, I was a little aggresive in cleaning the stylus and bent the cantilever on my cartridge.  The cartridge was probably shot any way (I was having other issues with it) but now it really is (though, believe it or not, it still play decently)

 So, what to do?  How good is the the Beogram 1700?  I love the styling of it and am impressed with the weight and sound, but now I am looking at a $240 min investment to replace the cartridge.  Should I chuck it?  With audiophile grade tables like the Rega P1 going for $399 brand new (cartridge and arm included!), it seems like that might be the way to go.

 Ideas? 

 (The Beogram did prove to me the superiority of vinyl)

It's a tough one.  The soundsmith cartridges do sound better than the orginals according to what I hear. If you like the look of your current turntable and the sound is good enough (Prior to your unfortunate mishap) then why not stick with it? Due to the low tracking weight you will not have to replace it for many years to come and it will be kinder to your vinyl collection.

 

Simon

The 1700 is one of the best sounding and most reliable B&O decks. Remember that it is your ears that count and not that of reviewers. The 1700 is one of the best automatic decks you can get - its only fault is the lack of damping of the platter - a felt mat suitably cut can remedy this should you wish to play.

As I said in the "other" Beogram 1700 thread, the 1700 is a super little deck that more than help its own against the Rega 2 of the period and if it's in good nick I'd keep it. Clients with "audiophile" aspirations bought the Rega and music lovers who valued good sound and "auto" operation bought the 1700.

I seem to remember that we experimented with fitting a "Linn" turntable mat and, although it raised the arm a tad at the stylus end by a couple of mm, it seemed to improve the sound slightly as I recall (the lifting height is easily adjustable). Of course, the appearance of the deck isn't helped by the black mat, but it may go a little way to damping the platter a bit.