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B & O RX2 cartridge?

F

fmitchelltx

New Member
I purchased a B & O RX2 earlier today that needs a cartridge. The needle on it currently is broken. Do I have to buy another B & O MMC cartridge? Will an Audio Technica or similar cartridge work? If so what would I need to purchase? I just want to listen to some of my old vinyl that has been in the closet for years. I really don't want to invest $300 plus for a cartridge as the turntable will be used only occasionally. Any help would be of great help.

Thank you!
 
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Yes, you do have to use a B&O cartridge. There is no way around that. It also has to be one of the MMC5 ($$$) through MMC1 ($$$$) as nothing else will fit.

As a rule these cartridges, even used, sell for $100 and up. You can get your's retipped for about $150 or so through a couple of places, but really it is probably not a good investment I am afraid to say. One of those places is this place:

http://aminaaudio.com/cartridge.html

Soundsmith also does it, and I think there is a place in Europe but that's just about it.

I hope you did not spend a lot on the RX2 even though it is a pretty nice turntable. I have one so I am familiar with it.

Sorry to welcome you to AK with this news, but welcome nonetheless. :D
 
I have a Beogram TX2, linear tracking sister to your RX and right now I use a Soundsmith SMMC4.
I paid $100 for the turntable and $150 for the cartridge (the cartridge now sells for $250). I think it was well worth it, in fact I sent the original MMC cartridge that came with the turntable to Axel in Germany for retipping (been out about three weeks, should be done soon). That job will cost about $250, but it'll have a Shibata stylus on it instead of a bonded elliptical like the Soundsmith.
The retipper in Georgia can only rebuild the cartridge with a bonded elliptical stylus. The price is good, though.
Soundsmith will not rebuild MMC cartridges because it isn't cost effective.
I think it's worth getting a good cartridge into one of these old Beogram decks as long as you don't pay much more than $100 for the turntable itself.
$300 total for an RX2 and a retipped cartridge isn't a bad price. Entry-level decks from Rega, Pro-Ject, and Music Hall are all more expensive than that, even some of the Super OEM tables sell for more than $300.
 
You can watch the auction web site and buy one cartridge. I bought a MMC 3 with the RX for $180 several years ago. Sometime the seller didn't mention what type the cartridge in the TT and most of the time people try to avoid the B & O turntable. Welcome and good luck on finding cartridge!

Binh
 
Thanks!

Thank y'all so much! I bought the B&O on eBay for $50 with free shipping so I think I got a great deal. I don't mind spending $100 - $150 on a cartridge. I figured about that much for one. I will keep looking on eBay for a cartridge, Can I use an MMC4 or do I need to spend more for a 1, 2, or 3. Is there a tremendous amount of difference in sound quality for the occasional use? Is eBay the best place to look for one?

Thanks again!

Frank
 
Frank, keep watching on eBay and aim for the best that you can afford. I am very happy with my MMC3.

Binh
 
fmitchelltx said:
Thank y'all so much! I bought the B&O on eBay for $50 with free shipping so I think I got a great deal. I don't mind spending $100 - $150 on a cartridge. I figured about that much for one. I will keep looking on eBay for a cartridge, Can I use an MMC4 or do I need to spend more for a 1, 2, or 3. Is there a tremendous amount of difference in sound quality for the occasional use? Is eBay the best place to look for one?

Thanks again!

Frank
Click to expand...


I'd skip eBay, as most of these carts are reaching the end of their useful life due to rubber parts wearing out. Go with the soundsmith option. I've had several of these tables, and I've had several tips give up the ghost... Including a coveted MMC1.
 
fmitchelltx said:
Thank y'all so much! I bought the B&O on eBay for $50 with free shipping so I think I got a great deal. I don't mind spending $100 - $150 on a cartridge. I figured about that much for one. I will keep looking on eBay for a cartridge, Can I use an MMC4 or do I need to spend more for a 1, 2, or 3. Is there a tremendous amount of difference in sound quality for the occasional use? Is eBay the best place to look for one?

Thanks again!

Frank
Click to expand...

A 4 or even a 5 is not a bad cartridge at all. I sold B&O and was always partial to the 2. Best bang for the buck when new. IMHO
 
ggregg said:
A 4 or even a 5 is not a bad cartridge at all. I sold B&O and was always partial to the 2. Best bang for the buck when new. IMHO
Click to expand...

I agree. None of them are bad, but you do have to be careful with old ones being sold by those with no concept of what they have, i.e. the average eBay seller. If the suspension is shot or the coils are dead you will be back to square one.
 
Thanks!

Thank y'all! I am a little hesitant to buy one on eBay. I really have little other choice though. If anyone knows where I can get a good one for a price I can afford to put into it, please let me know.

Thanks.

Frank
 
If you still have the original cart, get it retipped. The cheapest Soundsmith you can get for your B&O is $250.00, it's got an aluminum cantilever and bonded elliptical stylus.
Some folks who have compared Soundsmith and original B&O prefer the voicing of the B&O. I haven't had the chance to do that yet and while I like the speed and accuracy of the Soundsmith cartridge, that bonded stylus isn't the best on sibilant recordings.
There's a link further up this thread to an outfit in Roswell GA which will rebuild your MMC cartridge with a new aluminum cantilever and a bonded elliptical stylus for $150.00.
Then there's Axel in Germany who has so many different levels of build, might take you a week to decide. Starts at the basic aluminum cantilever/conical stylus all the way up to sapphire cantilever/line contact stylus. I chose the most popular option, aluminum cantilever/Shibata stylus. Should cost about $250.00 for the work and return shipping once it's done.
 
Thank you. I could do $150 to get the current one retipped. That may be the way to go. What do I need to do? Just send it in and say I need to get it retipped? Do I need to include any further information?

I should have the B&O turntable in about a week. I may have more questions once I receive it. I may post a picture of the cart that is on it when I receive the turntable.

Thank y'all so much.

Thanks,

Frank
 
Thank y'all! It looks like getting the existing cartridge retipped may be the way to go. I found someone in my area that says he has an MMC 5 that he would sell. He says it is in working condition. It would be through the mail so I could not check it out before purchase. Would an MMC 5 be worth investing $100 or so on? I am thinking that it would be better to just get my cartridge retipped for $125.I don't know what cart is in the turntable I just bought yet.

Thanks,

Frank
 
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