BeoGram

Re: Left channel out on MMC20EN

Step1 — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:58:36 GMT

I remember the cartridge on my mums old 4000 fell out of its housing!! I seem to remember a green plastic frame with the coils inside it. I should imagine it hadn't had sufficient glue in the fatory for it to do that though!!! I think the metal back comes off quite easily but the rest is quite fast!

I wander if the cantalever could be rescued by the likes of Axel?

Re: Left channel out on MMC20EN

Keiko5 — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:47:03 GMT

Rich:

Perhaps your cartridge isn't making contact in the tonearm? Have you another table to test it in?

I tried it in two different decks, without success. I cannot get continuity across the left channel contacts, so I'm pretty sure the cartridge is at fault. Thanks, evryone, for the feedback and advice.

Kevin

Re: Left channel out on MMC20EN

Rich — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:08:09 GMT

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

Probably not the same problem, but I thought I'd share a recent experience anyway.

I purchased a new Soundsmith cartridge that arrived and did not work in my BG3404 (I purchased it for a BG4002, but that's another story). There was no output in the right channel. Figuring the chances of a brand new cartridge arriving DOA small, I suspected the new cartridge just wasn't making contact in the tonearm. I have a working MC3000 and working MMC20EN, so I new the table, cables, receiver input, etc., were all fine.

I contacted Soundsmith and ended up talking to the owner by telephone. After sending the cartridge back, I received this email after only 48 hours:

Dear Mr. Haffner; I have received and tested the SMMC20EN; the cartridge itself is fine, however, the connector might have been too loose for your particular tone arm contacts. I have made it tighter, and feel that this should connect more securely to your tone arm contacts. The original B&O cartridges had more tolerance for variations in contact pressure than my design, and I have seen this problem once before. I feel certain that the modifications I have done will now work well - It will ship out on Monday - best regards - Peter Ledermann

Perhaps your cartridge isn't making contact in the tonearm? Have you another table to test it in?

Re: Left channel out on MMC20EN

Peter — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 02:50:44 GMT

I know Tim has pulled apart a number of cartridges in an attempt to fix them. I think he has managed but the attrition rate was too high to make this anything but an exercise in seeing it it was possible. I would suggest a new cartridge is the best way forward. Remember any working cartridge can be uprated to the highest spec. I have a MMC20S which has been fitted with a shibata diamond and tapered cantilever.

Re: Left channel out on MMC20EN

Dillen — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 01:00:37 GMT

Very difficult because of the way the whole thing is cast into its housing.
Axel in Germany, Soundsmith in the US and a few others can repair and replace
the cantilever suspension but they seem to open the front end only.
I never saw a (succesful) opening of the socket end. Certainly, both of the above
mentioned reject repairs to cartridges with broken electrics.

Martin

Left channel out on MMC20EN

Keiko5 — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:41:01 GMT

Has anyone SUCCESSFULLY dismantled and repaired a B&O MMC 20 series cartridge? I just got a MMC20EN that is out in the left channel. There is no continuity between the left channel contacts. The cartridge itself is in stunning condition. It looks almost new, and I can only assume that it failed very early in its life. Has anyone successfully performed surgery on this series of cartridges?

Kevin