ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Hi everyone
Just interested to know who uses a Beogram 6000 quad in their setup. I see many posts on here about the 4002 and 4004 models but dont see much about the BG6000 quad.
I run one at home, its the AC motor version type 5503, I believe most 6000's were AC motor?
I am using a rebuilt EN with a microtracer stylus from a company called Garrott Bros here in Australia.
The sound is amazing and one thing has always interested me. I have always found the sound from the preamp inside the BG6000 has always sounded better than the sound when using the preamp in my recapped BM1900 (with the same rebuilt EN on my DC motor BG4002 - with tracking weight the same checked with a gauge,etc).
The preamp in the BG6000 seems to provide a better reproduction of the top end with more air and shine to vocals. There is a presence to the sound which is addictive.
As some of you would have seen, I recently upgraded from my BM1900 to a BM2200, both have been recapped and run very well.
In the past I had always assumed the BM1900 phono preamp may not be the best in the B&O stable and not up to the quality of the BG6000 preamp. The sound difference from the BM1900 to the BM2200 on all sources is quite noticeable in a good way. The BG6000 quad really shines on the BM2200 and sounds better than the BM1900.
So the million dollar question, does the phono preamp in the BM2200 do any better than the one in the BM1900 with my BG4002 and rebuilt EN?. The answer is, yes, a little better (but that might just be better amplification of the BM2200) however the preamp in the BG6000 still outshines the one in the BM2200.
I recently purchased a good original EN to try, the sound on both tables was good but the nod still went to the BG6000 with its preamp.
So is it just that these BG6000's have amazing preamps? Has anyone else observed this? Interested in your opinions.
I do find the BG6000 to be a better built deck than the DC4002, everything just feels more solid and robust, the AC motor is quiet and runs effortlessly, the arm solenoid mechanism seems more dampened. What are others thoughts?
Drew
I use a BG6000/MMC20CL combination with my Beomaster 6500 when I want to do some serious listening or just want the pleasure of using this fabulous deck.
Usually, of course, I use the Beomaster for testing Beograms 3500/4500/6500 or 7000 which is what I specialise in rebuilding and selling.
Regards Graham
I had a 6000 for a while - it actually was at Bellac where it was stored badly and hence is now a 4001. I took the pre-amp out, mainly because someone els wanted it - I agree it was very good - the one in the 4400 sounded very similar though. I never used the quad function - although I do have a BM6000, which I also never use! Mine was a DC version though so maybe it differs. My 4000 is certainly the best made of all my Beograms.
Peter
I have serviced many of these BG6000's.
You are right - the majority have the AC motor, I have seen only one with the DC motor.
I have seen 3 versions of the Quad Decoder / RIAA PCB, each later version with less discrete components and more IC's. The sound on the later PCB's is slightly different - more soft. I prefer the earliest version PCB.
On my website - CondorAudio, you can do some in-depth reading about this TT.
If you compare the AC 4002 to the 6000, there is absolutely NO technical difference at all, except for the quad PCB.
If you compare the DC 4002/4004 to the 6000, there is a world of difference.
Menahem
Hi Menahem,
I have the earlier PCB, I think mine is a type 5503. The sound is superb and I still think the preamp outperforms the one in my BM1900 and BM2200 (which should be very good), this means I still use my AC 6000 over my later model DC4002.
My AC 6000 came to me totally dead, its had a heap of components replaced on the main board, new filter caps,etc, new speed lamps, repaired track for the 45 button, a LED conversion on the ruler lamp, repairs to the damaged arm carriage which was bent, a small trimmer placed on the arm position lamp as it was tracking 'too fast' due to an overly bright light source (the cantilever would wobble on records were the grooves weren't totally aligned and would judder on the lead out) which was also present in some BG4000's, new belts, cleaned mute relay (which is sometimes still a bit troublesome) and the arm aligned (it was all out of alignment) and all other platter adjustments made. In total my friend (electronics tech) and I would have spent over 100 hours on this table, its nice that something which was totally unworkable is now functioning again.
Your manuals have been a great source of assistance as has the advice from others on this forum.
The pics below show the sad and sorry state it was in when I got it, luckily it had a good lid.
The videos below show it working after many hours, note on the start up video the arm is swaying due to bad pressing, previously before putting a trimmer on the lamp, the arm would remain straight and the cantilever would move left to right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueM9GKk45zc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reTTfn0LPns
The 5503 could have had one of 2 types of the Quad Decoder PCB.
The lamp trimmer was present on the BG4000, and no longer needed, once that lamp is changed to an LED.
The mute relay is replaceable with a standard Schrack/Tyco 8Amp relay, with the original reverse wiring done correctly - end of problem. You can use a lower amp-rated relay, but the higher the rating, the longer it will last before the contacts oxidize.
I hope you replaced all the trimpots while you had the PCB out.....