Beobloke of this parish probably has a shedload of them.
No doubt he'll be along soon.
Not really a shedload, no, I'm down to five at the moment - a1960s Beogram 3000, an 80's Beogram 2000, plus a 4002, a 5000 and an 8002
So, then, B&O turntables. They’re a little bit of a minefield to be honest and you have to ask yourself whether you want one as a second deck to look nice and be fun to use, or you want something that will properly embarrass some modern gear, as both options are available. Do be aware of the cartridge situation that has already been mentioned – they are proprietary and expensive but if you’re not put off by this then let’s go…
First up you mention linear tracking and the Beogram 3300 and this definitely comes under the category of decks that are nice to look at, easy to use and pleasant to listen to. There’s a huge range available, as the Beogram TX2, 3000, 3300, 3500, 4500, 5005, 5500, 6500, 7000, 8500 and 9500 are basically all the same thing. There are styling differences and some have built-in RIAA preamplifiers but other than that, they are much of a muchness. These were B&O’s last turntables and remain popular and hold their prices well. They’re generally reliable, the mechanism is a masterpiece of efficiency and they’re actually a pleasure to service – believe me, these are three words that rarely apply to B&O! All in all they’re lovely to look at, nice to use and kind to your records. If you've got your heart set on a 3300 with MMC4, it’s a decent price and you can see it working, then go for it. If you change your mind, you’ll easily get your money back on it.
The only problems is….well, basically, these later linear trackers don’t sound all that great. As I mentioned they’re pleasant and sweet to listen to but they don’t get the best out of the MMCx series cartridges, which really are very good. These linear decks replaced the last range of radial tracking designs which included the Beogram RX2, 1800, 2000 and 5000 and, frankly, these are far better sounding units that are also less popular and cheaper. If you’re looking at this sort of era of deck and linear tracking isn’t a must, then my pick would be the 1980s Beogram 2000 with an MMC4 - I’d personally take one over the likes of a Rega P3.
So, then, what about a linear tracking deck to take on the big boys? Well, this is easy, you have a choice of three:
Beogram 4000 – this was where linear tracking started for B&O and in some ways it’s still the best. Belt drive, built like a tank, an absolute design classic and sound superb. Stick an MMC6000 or MMC20CL in and you’ll wonder exactly how far turntable progress has come in the last 40 years. The downside is they are complex beasts with lots of operation controlled by mechanical microswitches and they are not a beginner’s job to service. They’re also going up in value – a decently fettled one with a good cartridge will set you back four figures. And to think, I bought a mint, boxed one for £4 at a car boot sale 30 years ago. *
sigh*. The later 4002 and 4004 models are also very capable but don't seem to perform quite as well as the original 4000.
Beogram 8000/8002 – these were the peak of B&O’s linear tracking designs and both use a direct drive linear motor that performs magnificently. The two are basically the same but the 8000 takes the earlier MMC20x series cartridges and the 8002 takes the later MMCx range (the same as used in the Beogram 3300). My friend Tim the B&O guru has an 8000 as he prefers the MMC20CL cartridge and I have an 8002 with a rebuilt MMC2 but there really isn’t much to choose between them. Sound quality–wise this is as good as it gets with B&O turntables and they will wipe the floor with many modern designs costing well into four figures. The downsides? They are computer controlled and hideously complex. Aging capacitors cause all sorts of odd behaviour and the 4000's mechanical microswitches gave way to optical sensors and the failure of one of these can bring things to a halt. Worst of all, if the main control IC throws a double six and rolls over, then that’s the end of the deck, although thankfully this is a rare occurrence. The ingenious electronic design must also have soaked up most of the development costs as build quality is a bit shoddy. Most of the panels are stuck on with double-side sticky tape that has a foam core. The foam rots, just like an old speaker surround, and the silver panels around the platter and covering the arm literally fall off them as they get older, which is, frankly, disgraceful! Then again, it’s not difficult to sort out, so horses for courses.
Anyway, sorry, I’ve been rambling so I feel a summary is in order:
Beogram 3300/MMC4 – not a bad choice at all but not the best sound quality you can obtain from a B&O record deck.
If you fancy better quality, similar styling, a lower price and will forgo linear tracking: Beogram RX2, 1800 or 2000 with the same MMC4
If you want the best B&O linear tracker you can buy – Beogram 8002