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B&O Beogram RX 2 woes

_Aristo

_Aristo

New Member
Hello!

I'm new to vinyl collecting and I've come into possession of an old Beogram RX 2 turntable. I've got it hooked up to an HK 490i receiver and Celestion DL6 speakers, both of which work just fine. I play cassettes through a deck connected to the reciever via aux/dad.

My problem is skipping and distortion caused by the RX 2 when playing a record. Most of the vinyl I've tested has been somewhat old, but not dirty. The table will skip at various parts of records, sometimes refusing to play at the beginning, sometimes towards the middle. It doesn't sem to matter whether the record is old or new.

I have the instruction manual for the turntable, and I've made sure to align the antiskating, balance the tonearm and adjust the counterweight to the letter. No matter what, it gives me problems. I should mention the cartridge is a MMC4. It doesn't appear to be damaged, but considering it's age, it might have some wear that can't be readily seen.

I've looked at replacement cartridges made by Soundsmith, which is my only option, considering B&O's system is proprietary. The most basic of these, the SMMC4, runs $200. I'm wondering if it would be worth replacing it, or just buying a new turntable entirely for a comparable price and avoiding the headache. If I did the latter, what might be some good entry-level choices between $200-300?

Thanks!
 
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i have an rx2 and just purchase the smmc3 from soundsmith. it's a good sounding cart, if a bit brighter than the mmc4 it replaced. i went through the same decision process you're in and figured for the money this was my best choice.
that said, i'm saving up for a new table that will give me options for cartridge and stylus and maybe overall better sound.
if the only problem with your rx2 is the cart, you will likely get more for $200 keeping the rx2 and going for the smmc4. you might also check barter town for other brands of used tables if you're not wanting to spend significantly more on a new tt. just my $0.02. others may give better advice.
 
The RX-2 is a pretty good turntable but the cartridge choice is a problem. I expect your trouble is from a nearly gone needle and/or collapsed supension. Given the replacement cost it is hardly worth it though it could be sent out to Franz Josef in Germany and I believe the basic retip option will be about $100.

Obviously you can make more practical and economic choices but it's a shame to waste the B&O. I love mine...but I also have 3 cartridges for it.
 
That is a tough one. The RX-2 is a nice table as others have mentioned. I have one as well. That table has the best isolation I have ever seen. You can beat on it and yet nothing gets to the speakers. I would find someone with a microscope ( even if you have to send it somewhere ) and have the stylus inspected. It would be good to know that the only problem is a worn stylus before you plunk down 200 bucks on a replacement. I have seen several MMC cartridges on E-Bay, again it is of course a crap shoot as to what kind of condition they are really in.
Good luck with this, it is a nice table when 100%.
 
Great tables, lousy (in terms of sturdiness and longevity) cartridges. The lack of replacement options has put a serious damper on the resale prices of these decks. That alone says something.
 
I'm thinking it'd be in my best interest to just invest in a new table and have a wider upgrade window. It'd sure save me the trouble of replacing multi-hundred dollar cartridges when they wear out.

It seems that the vast majority of users advise newbies to look for deals on used vintage tables. I'll give that a go and hopefully avoid similar problems. Barring used tables, I've also been a little interested in the Pro-Ject Debeut Carbon.
 
That is sad to hear ( the loss of another B&O turntable ) but the right decision I expect.
Good luck in your search!
 
I have been in the exact same boat as you. My RX 2 provided unflinching service for over 20 years. But, it became apparent the diamond was loosing it's sparkle and no matter what I did to refresh the sound (pre amp, EQ, sonic maximizer, cables) it was time to buy a new stylus.

The replacement cost of my mmc 3 cartridge was prohibitive, as you know.
I sold the TT and with money in hand, went looking for something with more adjustability.
I've learned a lot since then and regret selling my B&O.

So, I would suggest storing it away and buying something else. You may want to come back to it in a few years when you can compare it with your new favorite.

With a budget of $300 you can find a very nice vintage TT and invest in a new stylus and belt.
I enjoy rehabing old 70's equipment. Most have excellent build quality and usually need very little done to them to get things working. Most of what you need to know is available in the Vinyl Engine Database. And with a little cleaning and adjustment you can be back up and running in no time.

Of course, buying new is also an option. But IMHO you can't get close to the same sound quality of the RX 2 under $500.

Belt drives seem to go for a little less and are easier to come by than direct drives. Ilder drives can be either noisy or difficult to maintain. I bought a Dual ilder drive and I love it but it takes dedication to keep it working properly.

You can often use the vintage cartridge that comes with a used TT and refresh it with a new oem or after market stylus. I've often been pleasantly surprised with the cartridge that came with a used TT, so don't assume it's crap until you give it a chance.

If you buy a standard 1/2" mount tonearm you will have to familiarize yourself with cartridge alignment. Just the nature of the beast. Don't discount P-mounts, that can sound excellent, too.

I know it can seem daunting when deciding on what to buy but don't limit your possibilities. I've bought off Craigslist, from yard sales and at thrift stores with great success. Just set your budget and leave yourself room for a new belt and needle.

Look for name brands you know. When you find something, look at reviews on Vinyl Engine or on other websites. Check craigslist each morning and jump on a table that looks good. It must have a dust cover, headshell and working feet. Play test it if possible. Many times people don't know what they have so a little adjustment and clean oil can result in a diamond in the rough. If it's not working like it should it gives you leverage to negotiate.

Turntable brands I look for include Thorens, AR, Dual, Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony, JVC, Technics, Sansui, Rega...
Cartridges include Shure, ADC, Audio Technica, Ortofon, Grado, Empire...
Just what I've had experience with.
 
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Good points above. Hold onto it as it is not worth much to sell.

I traded gear sometime ago for a B&O cartridge and bought another turntable with a good cartridge for $50. It happens.
 
Can someone advise as to how to remove the plastic cover under the platter? Evidently there are switches under it that need cleaning so that the tonearm will drop onto the record. At the moment, it moves into place but then moves back.
 
Ah the classic B&O dilemma. I have one gathering dust in my closet. Don't like it enough to drop the $$$ on a new cartridge, too nice to just throw away. Nobody wants to buy it without the cartridge.
 
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