Beogram 3404?

twheel · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 2:49 am Post subject: Beogram 3404?

A local estate sale has a B&O 3404 with cartridge/stylus for $40. Would this be an upgrade from my Dual 1019? I don't want to spend the money if it is not better than what I already have. Thanks for your input.

pirca · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject:

Stay with your Dual Wink

twheel · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject:

Thanks

, with so many makes and models out there it is hard to know how they compare.

Snead · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 4:06 am Post subject:

I had a cherry 3404 for a number of years. Aside from being a little creaky and plastic-y in construction, and using weird Euro connectors, it was fine. It was belt drive and used a Technics motor.

Its cartridge was an MMC-20EN, which sounded excellent. In good shape, it brings about $100 on the auction site.

So if this estate table is in good condition and has a good cartridge, it would be a nice buy at only $40.

As you can can tell, I'm a semi-fan of the line and hence I must disagree with Pirca - I think it would be a step up from a Dual. Cool

YMMV.

twheel · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject:

They went down to $20, so I got it. I'll have to adapt the output to RCA before I can see how it sounds. I'll keep you posted. Very Happy

Tim

JoeE SP9 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 4:57 am Post subject:

twheel · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:10 am Post subject:

Got it running and one channel is really weak. If I switch the rca plugs the weak channel switches to the other side. The weird thing is, when the arm lifts the weak side sounds strong for a fraction of a second just as the arm begins to lift. The same thing happens when the arm lowers. Just as the stylus sets down on the record, there is strong output for an instant. I thougt this would be the switch that turns off the sound when the arm is moving, but I cleaned those contacts with no improvement. I'm stumped. Anyone have any ideas?

twheel · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject:

After further tinkering I realized that the burst of sound from the weak channel is not simultaneous with the stylus contacting or breaking contact with the record surface. I push the button to raise the arm, there is a brief increase in sound from the weak side, the record continues to rotate for a half turn or more, and then the arm raises. The same thing happens when the stylus sets down on the record. The stylus makes contact with the record surface and a half rotation or more later the sound begins with both channels strong but one side immediately drops to almost nothing. If the problem originates in the "mute" switch as I originally thought, why isn't it on both sides? Anyone have any ideas?

JonL · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:31 am Post subject:

1st, congratulations on your purchase. I bought a 3404 new back in the day, it was my main table until this summer when I found a B&O TX-2 linear tracker for almost nothing. I loved my 3404, it was a great sounding table and was a big step up from the BOTL Dual I was using before.

There is a mute switch inside the table, I never opened mine to see how it works. It certainly has two pairs of contacts, one for each channel. One set of contacts is probably dirty. Get a product called "Deoxit" which is an excellent spray contact cleaner. That may fix your problem.

Next, you should be aware that those B&O cartridges are long out of production, and the suspensions in many of them are starting to fail from age. Look at the stylus and make sure it seems to be coming out of the cartridge properly - not canted to one side or twisted or anything odd like that.

Finally, if you need a new cartridge I believe new replacements are made by only one company, they can be reached at sound-smith.com.

Good luck!