[Peter Wieck]

On Thursday, May 1, 2014 8:02:34 PM UTC-4, Dave wrote:
My current turntable is a B&O TX with an MMC2 cartridge, the one with the=
ruby cantilever. It has served me well since 1985, just replacing the car=
tridge now and again, but is now showing its age. The record turning and l=
inear tonearm are working like new, but some bits, held on with a double-si=
ded tape, are coming adrift, including the cover over the tonearm and the m=
ain plate surrounding the turntable. None of these seem to affect the soun=
d. The automatic operation still works properly. The other age issue is t=
hat B&O no longer make cartridges and the Soundsmith ones are rather expens=
ive. I am probably overdue for a new cartridge.
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My thoughts have been running to replacing the table with a Project Carbo=
n, have read very good things about it, or getting another automatic table,=
like a Denon 300, probably with a better cartridge than the AT one it come=
s with, maybe a Shure 97.
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Here is where I need some advice. Local shops, like QAudio, claim to hav=
e tables in store, but I doubt that I would be able to tell by listening if=
they sound as good or better than the B&O. Everything would be different -=
mounting shelf, amplifier and speakers. My options are to fix the B&O wi=
th automotive double sided tape and get a Soundsmith SMMC2 (maybe SMMC1?) o=
r get a new table. I like having the fully automatic feature. My previous=
table was an Linn LP12 with a Grace 707 and Dynavector cartridge, think it=
was a 103, but that was nearly 30 years ago. I loved it, but it needed co=
nstant care and the fully manual operation caused my wife some problems.
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Ancillary equipment is Pioneer SC-37 receiver with very quiet phone pream=
p, good thing as the MMC2 is low output and Spendor S5e speakers. I have b=
een checking local (Boston area) Craiglist for turntables, but have not see=
n anything in the last several months that looked appealing.
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Any thoughts out there?

Stick with linear. I have a 'since 1978' HK/Rabco that has served me well a=
nd spoiled me thoroughly - but I recently restored a Revox and have another=
Rabco in reserve. The benefit of the above is that they will accept any gi=
ven cartridge you choose - not limited to the B&O stuff for which the world=
is sought in price and barely a small asteroid is delivered in performance=
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Best of luck with finding a replacement!

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA