[Dave]

My current turntable is a B&O TX with an MMC2 cartridge, the one with the r=
uby cantilever. It has served me well since 1985, just replacing the cartr=
idge now and again, but is now showing its age. The record turning and lin=
ear tonearm are working like new, but some bits, held on with a double-side=
d tape, are coming adrift, including the cover over the tonearm and the mai=
n plate surrounding the turntable. None of these seem to affect the sound.=
The automatic operation still works properly. The other age issue is tha=
t B&O no longer make cartridges and the Soundsmith ones are rather expensiv=
e. I am probably overdue for a new cartridge.

My thoughts have been running to replacing the table with a Project Carbon,=
have read very good things about it, or getting another automatic table, l=
ike a Denon 300, probably with a better cartridge than the AT one it comes =
with, maybe a Shure 97.

Here is where I need some advice. Local shops, like QAudio, claim to have =
tables in store, but I doubt that I would be able to tell by listening if t=
hey sound as good or better than the B&O. Everything would be different - m=
ounting shelf, amplifier and speakers. My options are to fix the B&O with=
automotive double sided tape and get a Soundsmith SMMC2 (maybe SMMC1?) or =
get a new table. I like having the fully automatic feature. My previous t=
able was an Linn LP12 with a Grace 707 and Dynavector cartridge, think it w=
as a 103, but that was nearly 30 years ago. I loved it, but it needed cons=
tant care and the fully manual operation caused my wife some problems.

Ancillary equipment is Pioneer SC-37 receiver with very quiet phone preamp,=
good thing as the MMC2 is low output and Spendor S5e speakers. I have bee=
n checking local (Boston area) Craiglist for turntables, but have not seen =
anything in the last several months that looked appealing.

Any thoughts out there?