Beogram RX2 turntable

I have a Beogram RX2 turntable type 5833 with an MMC3 cartridge. It is hooked up to a pair of Polk SDA-2 tower speakers (4 or 6 Ohms ? not sure) all driven through a Denon AVR 1508 receiver. Audio from the turntable was minimal and increasing the volume didn't do anything. Sound through the cd player and TV was fine. Was told to get a pre amp (Behringer microphono PP400) but it didn't help. I'm a neophyte with electronics so am going through a local expert who recommended a new receiver that would not need a pre amp. Am looking at the Yamaha Aventage RX-A780 or the Pioneer VSX-LX303. Would like to know if anyone knows if either of these will be a workable solution and if both, which would be the better of the 2.

That preamp is the wrong kind. You need a specific “phono-preamp” for your turntable. A phono-preamp will provide appropriate RIAA equalization and amplification your turntable needs. Lots of good options out there for phono preamps that would work with what what you have for far less then the generic style “lots of options” AV receivers you mentioned, but both of those should work.

Personally, I’d buy a restored B&O receiver for a classic 2 channel setup with my turntable.

The PP400 is a phono preamp, it should work. Granted the MMC cartridges are lower output than most, but it still should work. I suspect the cartridge is dead.

Jeff:

The PP400 is a phono preamp, it should work. Granted the MMC cartridges are lower output than most, but it still should work. I suspect the cartridge is dead.

Jeff

I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.

Jeff is right, I was wrong about the preamp. But I think if the cartridge was dead it would either be rough sounding that changed with volume, no sound at all, sound that increases with volume when touching the tip of stylus (not recommended) or out in one channel.

Maybe check you connections.

I agree, even if it was producing any signal at all it should go up and down in volume with the receiver volume control. I looked and I don't think that receiver has a phono input, but the Behringer should work fine. The Denon is a good receiver, so I wouldn't replace it, at least not until I got the problem sorted out.

Strange problem. Always good idea to check the connections, and remember the table needs a ground lead attached to the phono preamp.

There is always the possibility of a 'step-up amp' which is inserted in-between the TT and the preamp.  It does what its name implies:  steps up the signal a bit more for the preamp.  The result is output that isn't "minimal".  The step-ups originally were manufactured only in Japan - perfectly fine used ones can be purchased on eBay, but now are available elsewhere.  There are also a few options that combine these functions (step-up and pre amp) as well.  A reasonably priced one is available at Sounds Heavenly and is designed specifically for the Beogram line of TT.  I had the same problem and this unit solved it.