please help!! my turntable seems to work fine, it turns arm goes down but I get no sound out of it at all,... what cna it be and how do I know if I need a new needle?

Did it work properly before?  Are you using a Beomaster 5500 receiver?  The problem is probably not with the needle/cartridge, as problems here would more likely result in distorted sound or a channel being dead.

Which cartridge do you use ?
Is the needle touching and tracking the grooves ?
Which amplifier do you use ?
Have you set correct tracking force ?
Have you undone the transport safety screws ?

Martin

Hi,

Having just worked on a Beogram 5005 (thanks to those who helped!), I now know how these machines work...

But yes, Martin's questions will have to be answered, you have to tell us more.. Since we know you use a BM5500, tell us more about the turntable itself please, and send us nice pictures!

Is it connected to the Phono socket of the Beomaster ?
Forgive me for asking, but it's very easy to pick the wrong socket.

Martin

I want to appologize to all you who replied to my plea,... I was absent for a while, it was indeed the needle, I bought a used one form ebay and I had great sound as soon as I pluged it in....

the question now is will I get a much better sound if I buy a new sound smith cartridge?

I have an SMMC 4 from Soundsmith on my BM 5000 and I can recommend it, with a new cart. you will get the sound that a new cart. is able to produce. If your old cart. is sounding good and you like the sound, continue using it, it may last a couple of years more, but it will go bad as all of these old cartridges, so buy a spare from Soundsmith. The sound from vinyl is not only produced of the cartridge but also from the source (your vinyl) then the cart. and after that the innards of your BM 5500, preamp, amp and then speakers, if your vinyl is like new and all the rest is in pristine or very good shape, you will get the best sound, but if any of the other  items are bad or mediocre your sound will be thereafter.

Saludos amigo

Gracias amigo,.. I just played some Frank Sinatra that is almost new, and I got to say....I'm hooked. now on the search for black gold.