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Music Hall MMF-5: laid back sound?

I just got my first "real" turntable, a Music Hall MMF-5. The image stability, channel separation, soundstaging and lack of noise are leagues beyond anything I've encountered in my experiences with older direct-drive tables and lesser belt driven designs. I'm feeling, however, that the dynamics are a little reigned in with the MMF-5, and the bass is a bit mushy. The cart is the stock Goldring 1012 and it was set up by a local analog guru who's done right by me in setting up other tables. I replaced the rubber feet with BDR cones (3 of 'em) and have the table leveled on a granite platform which is spiked to the floor, so I don't think isolation is (exclusively) the issue. I also replaced the stock felt mat with a Herbie's Way Excellent mat. I considered rolling the Amperex orange globe 6922s in my phono stage (modified Moscode Super It, pretty sweet!) for something a little livelier, like maybe new tubes from Electro Harmonix, but that's getting into the whole tone-control trip. I already have very transparent cables in the chain (Audio Art IC3, see my review), and my current setup of an ATI 1502, passive pre and Dynaudio 50s should let all the good stuff through, so maybe this is just the character of the table. Is there something else I can do here, or should I look at a Rega for more snap and tighter bass?
jfacker

Showing 3 responses by dan_ed

dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Judy, Judy, Judy! ( my best Cary Grant. ) You're right on, IMHO. I don't think a 103 would be a good fit. I do think a Dynovector 10x5 or the like might, but it seems we've already priced ourselves out of Jfacker's market. But there is no real assurance that the problem is with the cartridge.

If the real problem is mushy bass, then all things considered I suggest Jfacker look at the VTA and VTF settings. Sorry dude, it's time to quit depending on your local TT setup guy and learn to DIY. Buying a lesser cartridge, even a new one, is not probably not going to solve this.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Hi Jfacker,

I owned a MMF-7 for a while and it sounds to me like you have covered all of the tweaks known to help the Music Halls. I'm not familiar with the goldring as I used a Shure V15VxMR, but I would think that trying a different cartridge should help many of the things you describe. I have heard of folks changing to the 1022 stylus and they report improvements. With that Project arm you'll need to stay with a high compliant cartridge. The Music Halls do have a bit of a darker sound but you be able to get tight bass. Whether or not you want to spend the time and money to improve things with the MMF-5 or change tables is up to you, but unless you're willing to spend at least $1.5K I don't think you will significantly improve on the table you have.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Stefanl, we're talking about a Project arm here that just is not that outstanding. It is adequate, but nothing more. I know and love the 103 (mine is a 103R mounted on a Basis Vector) and I agree that it is an awesome cartridge for the money. If we were talking about a Rega arm on this Music Hall I would be in complete agreement with your 103 recommendation. I really believe that this arm needs a more compliant cartridge.

Judy, have you tried a Rega 250 with the HiFi mod? Really does wonders for the performance of that arm.
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