Hi

How can I get a spare cartridge ( MMC 6000) for my Biogram 6000? Are there any substitutes?

Welcome to Beoworld SALDAGO

You have probably realised that MMC6000 cartridges have long since been discontinued so the first question is :- Do you require a Quad/4 channel cartridge which the 6000 was designed to be?

You really have 3 viable options here :-

Option 1. If you DO require a 4 channel cartridge then your next best choice is a MMC20CL which was the top of the line replacement after the 6000 was discontinued. However these are also no longer produced by B&O and are now made under license a company in the USA called Sound Smith  these are not cheap but ARE of excellent quality, some (myself included) say better than B&O's originals.

Option 2. If a 4 channel cartridge isn't neccessary then ANY of the MMC20** range will fit your deck but they do vary in quality with the MMC20S being the least specified follwed by the MMC20E the MMC20EN & finally the MMC20CL. All of these are often sold on ebay as either use cartridges or so-called NOS (New old stock) but personally I would avoid this route & go for a Sound Smith equivalent as the original B&O ones come with the real chance that the internal suspension will fail drastically without warning.

Option 3 - possibly your best one. If your current MMC6000 cartridge is simply worn but still working on all channels then you can also send it for refurbishing to Axel Shurholz in Germany who is very highly regarded amongst Beoworld members who have used his services. I have absolutely no idea if anyone has sent him a MMC6000 but he will retip with whatever profile diamond you require. He speaks English so there shouldn't be any language barriers.

Chris.

Looks like Axel is currently migrating the site into some new webshop - it's a complete mess right now!

Don't be frightened by that, it's a fully legitimate and excellent service. Wait for a while until things are sorted, or just send him email if you're in a hurry.

Dear Chris,

Thank you very much for taking time to explain. No I do not need a 4 channel cartridge, so I could go for any of MMC 20 range, right? I will try my luck on e-bay. 

Thanks again

Axel has retipped four cartridges for me, one being an MMC6000 fitted with the 179€ option with shibata shaped diamond on a sapphire cantilever. Quality is exellent

SALGADO:

Dear Chris,

Thank you very much for taking time to explain. No I do not need a 4 channel cartridge, so I could go for any of MMC 20 range, right? I will try my luck on e-bay. 

Thanks again

No problem, & good luck with ebay. Yes ANY of the MMC20 range will fit, as will any of the MMC3000,4000,5000 cartridges. Also the MMC10E & SP15 will also fit but whichever you choose to buy is likely to be a lottery. I highlighted the MMC20 range as they are now available from sound-smith & were the last of this type of cartridge produced by B&O so likely to have at least half a chance of being usable.

If you do get one from there then my advice would be that you don't hope to keep it as a spare for when your current cartridge expires. The reason being that the internal suspension on these cartridges is simply rubber blocks which harden over time and eventually become useless & fail. There is a train of thought which suggests that not playing these cartridges can hasten the hardening process of the suspension. This is just a theory but it does has some credence considering the inherant properties of rubber.

Must add - you'll be very lucky to find a decent MMC20 cartridge on ebay for less than the price it would cost for warranted refurbishment from Axel, just food for thought.

Chris.