WOW !!

and another... GULP !!

Just a bit overpriced.

Craig

Can't remember what cartridge it was but the gentleman I bought my BM3000-2 from wanted $495 for one. Are any of the cartridges worth this kind of money? Honestly?

9 LEE:

WOW !!

i got one of those... for free!

I've sold two MMC1 carts on ebay, one for $425 and the other for $849 (US dollars).  The one for $849 had the original triangular box which you never see.  So yes, there are a lot of people who will bid these kinds of prices. 

Just got a used MMC4 from Ebay a week ago.  How much should I have paid?

No offense will be taken if you answer in the affirmative:  were you guys calling me a chump two weeks ago when I bought it?

MMC4's make £50-£100 in the UK dependent on the advert!

Buying used cartridges is a bit of a lottery. Most of my experiences with s/h MMC's have not been good although I recently bought a NOS, boxed MMC20CL (sort of MMC2+ equivalent) for £50 and it arrived as described!!

I paid the equivalent of 90 pounds and am happy with what I received.  I don't have the means to examine the stylus or anything, but the sound is just fine.  Next time I'm just going to buy a SoundSmith.

About 18 months ago, my 1 year-old had thought it might be fun to press down on the tonearm of my RX2 and rub the stylus back and forth on the platter.  So, I have an MMC4 cartridge with cantilever and no stylus.  I know SoundSmith won't touch this, but perhaps the German outfit would?

Axel will replace the entire cantilever anyway, so I guess it would be no problem if the coils are still OK (and if the cantilever is still there, I don't think the internals have been damaged).

Never happened to me, but I don't expect he'd charge anything if it can't be repaired, so you wouldn't have anything to lose. I'd always prefer this option over gambling on eBay, although you seem to have been lucky!

Rich:

IAbout 18 months ago, my 1 year-old had thought it might be fun to press down on the tonearm of my RX2 and rub the stylus back and forth on the platter.  So, I have an MMC4 cartridge with cantilever and no stylus. 

I met a guy who was restoring an old Mini. He hand beated all of the panels and did a concourse restoration. Not long after it was all finished, his 1 or 2 year old wanted to be like daddy and work on the newly restored car. He beat all of the mint panels with a hammer!! The kid obviously wasn't old enough to know that what he was doing was wrong, he just did as he saw his dad doing...

tournedos:

Axel will replace the entire cantilever anyway, so I guess it would be no problem if the coils are still OK (and if the cantilever is still there, I don't think the internals have been damaged).

Never happened to me, but I don't expect he'd charge anything if it can't be repaired, so you wouldn't have anything to lose. I'd always prefer this option over gambling on eBay, although you seem to have been lucky!

Checked the web site and did use Google translator on some of the pages, but I did not see any info on sending in a cartridge (only a few refurbs for sail).  The only German I know is my last name (Haffner, as in the Mozart serenade and symphony)....would it be bad form to email to "info" at his web site in English?

jldmelb:

Rich:

IAbout 18 months ago, my 1 year-old had thought it might be fun to press down on the tonearm of my RX2 and rub the stylus back and forth on the platter.  So, I have an MMC4 cartridge with cantilever and no stylus. 

I met a guy who was restoring an old Mini. He hand beated all of the panels and did a concourse restoration. Not long after it was all finished, his 1 or 2 year old wanted to be like daddy and work on the newly restored car. He beat all of the mint panels with a hammer!! The kid obviously wasn't old enough to know that what he was doing was wrong, he just did as he saw his dad doing...

He was only trying to help.  My daughter, on the other hand, apparently prefers digital to analog.

Axel seems to have revamped the site a little, but the page you're looking for is probably this.

No problem writing him in English, he's a nice guy

Axel tests all cartridges for deficiencies in the coils before repairing. If the coils are u/s he does not proceed.

However, you can check the coils before sending the cartridge. If you have access to a multimeter, measure the resistance across diagonal contact pins on the rear of the cartridge. Open or closed circuit indicates defective coils but a few ohms resistance indicates that the cartridge is OK.

Axel has repaired around 20 cartridges for me, some MMC4 , some MMC2. Quite simply, he does a superb job at a much lower cost than the new Sound-smith cartridge.

Graham

Is the MMC4 rebuild worth it in your opinion? My MMC4 is on its way out, and I'd like a replacement. What does the rebuilt MMC4 sound like compared to a normal MMC4? I ask because I have heard that SMMC4s can sound superior to standard MMC4 carts, so wondered where the rebuilt MMC4 that AXel offers would fit in this spectrum? Also, how much is the rebuild?

Ta. 

John

I think he repairs them to MMC1/2 specs.  Also, on the website I belive it shows what the cost is (99EUR if I remember...don't have the link handy)

joeyboygolf:

Axel tests all cartridges for deficiencies in the coils before repairing. If the coils are u/s he does not proceed.

However, you can check the coils before sending the cartridge. If you have access to a multimeter, measure the resistance across diagonal contact pins on the rear of the cartridge. Open or closed circuit indicates defective coils but a few ohms resistance indicates that the cartridge is OK.

Axel has repaired around 20 cartridges for me, some MMC4 , some MMC2. Quite simply, he does a superb job at a much lower cost than the new Sound-smith cartridge.

Sigh.  If I'm reading the schematic right, I have resistance across L & LG ("top" and "bottom" leads) but open circuit across R & RG ("side" leads).

I suppose it can't hurt to send it across the pond anyway, right?

j0hnbarker:

Graham

Is the MMC4 rebuild worth it in your opinion? My MMC4 is on its way out, and I'd like a replacement. What does the rebuilt MMC4 sound like compared to a normal MMC4? I ask because I have heard that SMMC4s can sound superior to standard MMC4 carts, so wondered where the rebuilt MMC4 that AXel offers would fit in this spectrum? Also, how much is the rebuild?

Ta. 

John

John, THIS might assist in answering your question. Although it's not for the MMC4 I'm sure the results would be similar.

Thanks chaps - think I might go down the rebuild route then...

j0hnbarker:

Graham

Is the MMC4 rebuild worth it in your opinion? My MMC4 is on its way out, and I'd like a replacement. What does the rebuilt MMC4 sound like compared to a normal MMC4? I ask because I have heard that SMMC4s can sound superior to standard MMC4 carts, so wondered where the rebuilt MMC4 that AXel offers would fit in this spectrum? Also, how much is the rebuild?

Ta. 

John

I have MMC4's and MMC2's rebuilt as near as possible to their original spec. I can't tell the difference in sound quality between the rebuilds and the originals and none of my customers have complained!

The rebuild for your MMC4 will cost 99 euros.

The SMMC4 sounds impressive when first auditioned but gets harsh and tiring on prolonged listening depending on the type of sound you prefer to hear. However, to be fair, there is not much in it. If I had not heard the originals then I would not have noticed or would simply adjust the tone controls! 

The Axel rebuilds seem to retain that easy to listen to B&O sound.

Rich:

joeyboygolf:

Axel tests all cartridges for deficiencies in the coils before repairing. If the coils are u/s he does not proceed.

However, you can check the coils before sending the cartridge. If you have access to a multimeter, measure the resistance across diagonal contact pins on the rear of the cartridge. Open or closed circuit indicates defective coils but a few ohms resistance indicates that the cartridge is OK.

Axel has repaired around 20 cartridges for me, some MMC4 , some MMC2. Quite simply, he does a superb job at a much lower cost than the new Sound-smith cartridge.

Sigh.  If I'm reading the schematic right, I have resistance across L & LG ("top" and "bottom" leads) but open circuit across R & RG ("side" leads).

I suppose it can't hurt to send it across the pond anyway, right?

If it was mine then I would not bother sending it as it sounds like you have defective coils on one channel.

I check all my cartridges before sending (these were Axels instructions). If they display a fault like yours then I simply throw them in the bin.

joeyboygolf:

Rich:

joeyboygolf:

Axel tests all cartridges for deficiencies in the coils before repairing. If the coils are u/s he does not proceed.

However, you can check the coils before sending the cartridge. If you have access to a multimeter, measure the resistance across diagonal contact pins on the rear of the cartridge. Open or closed circuit indicates defective coils but a few ohms resistance indicates that the cartridge is OK.

Axel has repaired around 20 cartridges for me, some MMC4 , some MMC2. Quite simply, he does a superb job at a much lower cost than the new Sound-smith cartridge.

Sigh.  If I'm reading the schematic right, I have resistance across L & LG ("top" and "bottom" leads) but open circuit across R & RG ("side" leads).

I suppose it can't hurt to send it across the pond anyway, right?

If it was mine then I would not bother sending it as it sounds like you have defective coils on one channel.

I check all my cartridges before sending (these were Axels instructions). If they display a fault like yours then I simply throw them in the bin.

Instead I think I'll send it up to Benny in Georgia.  I'll be out a couple bucks and know for sure.  Shame.

joeyboygolf:

j0hnbarker:

Graham

Is the MMC4 rebuild worth it in your opinion? My MMC4 is on its way out, and I'd like a replacement. What does the rebuilt MMC4 sound like compared to a normal MMC4? I ask because I have heard that SMMC4s can sound superior to standard MMC4 carts, so wondered where the rebuilt MMC4 that AXel offers would fit in this spectrum? Also, how much is the rebuild?

Ta. 

John

 

I have MMC4's and MMC2's rebuilt as near as possible to their original spec. I can't tell the difference in sound quality between the rebuilds and the originals and none of my customers have complained!

The rebuild for your MMC4 will cost 99 euros.

The SMMC4 sounds impressive when first auditioned but gets harsh and tiring on prolonged listening depending on the type of sound you prefer to hear. However, to be fair, there is not much in it. If I had not heard the originals then I would not have noticed or would simply adjust the tone controls! 

The Axel rebuilds seem to retain that easy to listen to B&O sound.

Thanks Graham - sage advice as ever. Think I'll go for the 99 Euro rebuild and see how I get on with it.