Hi

 I am having some difficulties getting my "new" Beogram 2000 to stop playing after I start it. It only has four buttons, and it is apparantly only the "cue" button that controls the pickup. There's no problem getting the pickup to the record, but when I want to stop playing, and remove the record, the cue button only allows me to lift the pickup from the record. Not to dock the pickup itself. Nothing works. If I press and hold down the cue button, the pickup just goes up and down continuously. 

Only way to get it to dock is to disconnect the power, and connect it again. Then it docks immidiately after, no buttons pushed. 

 Does anyone know what is going on? 

Thanks

Regards

Rasmus Petersen, Copenhagen

It should track automatically to the start of the record by pressing "PLAY", and stop playing & return to rest when you press "STOP". It's ages since I've owned one of these decks so correct me if I'm wrong. But I think the PLAY/STOP button is activated by pressing the far right hand side of the aluminium front strip.

The arm should also return automatically at the end of play.

Chris..

Hej Rasmus,

Velkommen til Beoworld ! 

Do you have the earlier or later model ?

The earlier model (70's with the SP type cartridge) should stop when pressing LIFT but they sometimes fail. I don't have a fix for this other than gently lifting the tonearm and bring it over the lead-out grooves where it should lift by itself, bring the tonearm home and stop the platter.

The newer later model (80's with the MMC1-5 type cartridge) should stop as Chris describes, by pressing the right side of the front alu strip. If it doesn't the contacts have probably oxidated. This is common for these decks if standing unused for a long time and will normally "wear off" in daily use.

Martin

EDIT: I just noticed you mentioned the CUE button in which case you have the later model.

Dillen:

The newer later model (80's with the MMC1-5 type cartridge) should stop as Chris describes, by pressing the right side of the front alu strip. If it doesn't the contacts have probably oxidated. This is common for these decks if standing unused for a long time and will normally "wear off" in daily use.

OOH good! My memory isn't as bad as my age would suggest then

Agree with Martin re:- the contacts oxidising. They are simple copper domes which can develope a green oxidised surface - repeated use will soon get them working again.

Chris.

Well, Chris,

We are of apprx the same age so I suppose our memories could be degrading at the same rate. 

Martin

Dear Chris and Dillen

 Thank you very much for your responses! I am ashamed to say that I hadn't noticed the play button, you mention. It is extremely seamlessly, discretely designed. Sorry for have wasted your time on a silly question like this. Before writing the post here, I searched the net without luck for the manual for the Beogram 2000 (which would probably have answered the question). Too bad that B&O does not have an archive.

 Now that I have your attention - I think that I get quite a lot of "noise" ("crackling") when using the Beogram 2000 - even when playing brand new records. I don't really have anything to compare with, though. The beogram is fitted with the MMC-4 pickup. Would a newer/better pickup reduce the problem, you think?

 Thanks again.

Best regards,

Rasmus 

Hi Rasmus,

                no need to feel that you have wasted our time here, B&O are renowned for fooling people with their discreet buttons - you aren't the 1st - and certainly won't be the last person to fall for this.

As for the "crackiling" sound, Is the stylus on your cartridge clean and is the tracking weight set correctly? To set the tracking of the cartridge follow THIS guide.  If all is well then try cleaning the diamond tip on the stylus/cartridge by applying some jewellery cleaner VERY carefully with a fine fine brush (don't allow any to ingress into the cartridge body). 

The chances are though that your cartridge needs replacing, don't bother trying to buy a used one as there are many pitfals. Even so called NOS (new old stock) ones will have suffered with ageing of the suspension and will be sold without guarantee. Your best option by far would be to buy a brand new soundsmith SMMC4 which is far superior to the original B&O MMC4 in all but build refinement. I personally own a SMMC4 and can vouch for their excellence - as can many other Beoworlld members. Sound Smith are the actual B&O recognised manufacturers of styli/cartridges since they ceased production of their own.

The user manual for the BG2000 doesn't appear to be on site but the BG5000/1800 & RX is and they are all the same basic turntable as the 2000, the service manual is also present but these manuals are only available to members with minimum silver membership.

Chris.

Chris, thanks again for your good response.

I tried to follow the guide, but for some reason the pickup now does not have enough weight at all - it kind of skips around on the surface of the record. It does not seem to have enough weight to keep the needle in the grooves - also even if I turn the weight up to the maximum, well over the 1,2 that is recommended in the guide. 

Anyway, I am considering investing in a new catridge, as you suggest. I read somewhere that some producers, and Ortofon in particular, are producing catridges that are specifically designed to minimise noise and crackiling from the records. Does that also hold true for the SMMC4 that you mention? Will other catridges than Soundsmith even fit on the Beogram?

Thanks!

All the best

Rasmus

 What you are describing sounds very much like you need to replace the cartridge. It could be either the stylus itself or the cartridge suspension causing the problems, either way it needs replacing as they are not financially viable to have repaired. A new sound-smith cartridge should definately minimise any unwanted noise but of course this will depend on the condition of your vinyl.

MUSONIC sell replacement B&O cartridges but these to me look like sound-smith ones with the labels removed, either way they are more expensive.

Other than possibly the above, I don't know of any manufacturer other than sound-smith who produce cartridges for B&O turntables. They do come recommended by both B&O themselves and members of Beoworld who own them.

This is by far your best option for a replacement cartridge.

Chris.