Beogram 6000 (5512): Final Adjustments and Test Drive with Isaac Hayes (Shaft!!)

After rebuilding the CD-4 preamplifier, it was time to do the final adjustments on this Beogram 6000 (5512), plug it into the Phono4 input of my Beomaster 6000 4-Channel and put on a nice record!

Once the platter, arms and chassis are aligned, the final adjustments are the tracking weight and the arm lowering limit. This shows the adjustment of the weight with a digital scale:

The arm lowering limit needs to be adjusted in a way that the needle does not hit the low sections of the black signature ribs on the platter. This is the final safeguard against needle loss should the control system fail and put the arm down without a record. The low sections are at the set-down points for 6, 10 and 12" records, i.e. let the needle pass unscathed if there is no record. This shows the adjustment for this Beogram:

And then it was finally time to give this Beogram 6000 a first spin! It is always a satisfying moment when a restoration comes together and the unit is performing perfectly. I put on the seminal Isaac Hayes soundtrack of the movie "Shaft", which I recently bought in very nice condition at End of an Ear in Austin, TX. Here is an impression:

I really like how the CD-4 pre-amplifier sounds...very clear and happy. It is a good idea, though, to turn the CD-4 decoder off with the switch on the right side of the enclosure for regular stereo records, since it can get confused if there is a high share of high frequencies in the music.

Ah, beautiful music! Let's sing along!...;-):

Who's the black private dick

That's a sex machine to all the chicks? (Shaft)

You're damn right!

Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother, man? (Shaft)

Can ya dig it?

Who's the cat that won't cop out when there's danger all about? (Shaft)

Right on

You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother (Shut your mouth!)

But I'm talkin' about Shaft (Then we can dig it)

He's a complicated man but no one understands him but his woman (John Shaft)

I will give this Beogram 6000 some more play to ensure that there are no intermittent issues, and then it will be time to send it back to Norway!