What to do with an old B&O?

[Barry]

I can't remember the model number, but I had a B&O cartridge with a solid sapphire cantilever.

Ah no - I think it was an MMC 20CL looking it up. Late 70s early 80s.

It was decent. The Soundsmith ones are B&O sanctioned. Bet they're good.

With the deck I owned, there'd be no easy way to fit a trad arm into the chassis.

I still have a few MMC 20 cartridges (20E, 20CL and 20CN) which I can fit into the B&O universal socket, having 1/2" fixings on an SME arm. IMO the B&O range of cartridges are all very good.

[User211]

I paid £67 for that cart. I distinctly remember it. An SMMC 20CL is now $999!!!

They do refurbs at half that price, so a refurbished eBay cheapie would maybe be the best way.

[Macca]

I paid £67 for that cart. I distinctly remember it. An SMMC 20CL is now $999!!!

They do refurbs at half that price, so a refurbished eBay cheapie would maybe be the best way.

I remember when spending £100 on a cartridge was considered to be pushing the boat out. Although I suppose that was 35 years ago.

[User211]

I remember when spending £100 on a cartridge was considered to be pushing the boat out. Although I suppose that was 35 years ago.

Inflation adjusted £67 is considerably less than $999. It was around 1980 I paid that.

I asked an AI and it reckoned hi-fi has gotten more expensive in real terms over the years.

Seems pretty plausible.

[Macca]

Inflation adjusted £67 is considerably less than $999. It was around 1980 I paid that.

I asked an AI and it reckoned hi-fi has gotten more expensive in real terms over the years.

Seems pretty plausible.

Big name stuff yes, no doubt, but if you want Topping or SMSL or Fosi it's a lot cheaper than the budget kit of yesteryear.

[Kvaal]

Thank you all! Guess the tt goes back in the dumpster some day.

[Lawrence001]

Thank you all! Guess the tt goes back in the dumpster some day.

Maybe the previous owner went through the same conversation on a HiFi forum before he dumped it. In fact it may have been in and out of the dumpster several times over the years [emoji23]

[Wakefield Turntables]

Send all your stuff to BEOBLOKE, I'm sure he could find in his collection!!!!

[Barry]

I still think the best solution would be to clean up the deck, make sure the arm moves freely with no 'stickiness' in the bearings, and fit an SP12 cartridge. B&O cartridges are still available; both new and refurbished.

[Barry]

As a sort of coda to this thread on B&O turntables, pickup arms and cartridges, and because Justin mentioned the MMC range of cartridges, I would like to refer Members to the following adaptors which allow these cartridges to be used in other tone arms.

The first is an adaptor which allow the cartridges to be fitted in a headshell with standard 1/2" fixings:

and the second is an adaptor allowing the MMC cartridges to be directly fitted to an arm having an EIA coupling, and which also has a sliding keyway at the bearing end of the arm for the adjustment of stylus overhang (for example all of the SME 3000 series arms, as well as the M2R-9 and M2R-12 arms):