2. analog
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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 9 responses by stefanl

stefanl
296 posts
 
Studying the cartridges that Project uses for their tables it is obvious that they are refurbished Grado's from the Prestige series line.I would try something from about a Grado Red upwards for a cartridge upgrade that won't break the bank and could be much better than the Goldring cartridge you are currently using.If you can spend more money the wood-bodied Grado's are even better.Here is a link http://www.gradolabs.com/frameset_main.htm
stefanl
296 posts
 
The Sumiko BPS does not really have a "hyped" up treble so much as one with a correct frequency response out to 35KHz.This is what the majority of records properly mastered in analogue require.It would be problematic therefore for your speakers if your tweeters don't have at least a frequency response out to this,so you would look elsewhere.I think it is time for you to do a cartridge upgrade from the stock model the table came with and there are many choices.Don't listen to these other members that are rushing to your wallet saying you have nirvana at this price point.You like your table and want to improve it further.If you have patience get a Denon 103 and break it in for 50 hours.
stefanl
296 posts
 
Why do you say that?Is it the cartridge resonance factor?I estimate around 16Hz which is fine.I suppose you don't think it's any good on a dreaded Rega arm also.
stefanl
296 posts
 
From the only serious study of cartridge resonance by Paol Ladegaard."The first thing to do is to raise the(cartridge resonance) frequency to 15-18Hz and then ideally damp the system to a Q of 0.5...In pursuit of this goal one should not make trade-offs with respect to rigidity of the tonearm tube and fixture..."Both Rega and Project arms are suitable especially with the Denon 103.They actually get close to Ladegaard's requirements.
stefanl
296 posts
 
All belt drive turntables are shit ask around!This forum has a long thread on the issue.I know you don't like Rega arms you have made that clear a number of times,but if you ask around a lot of people think they are fine.Origin Live's Mark Baker has made a living off of them.You are making broad statements and offering consensus opinion as truth,but perhaps the issues you found with the Rega's were system specific-all audio is a compromise in some way,from experience you learn,sure.Raul Regas thinks the Denon 103 is crap and he has about the best system on this forum-to each his own.But there were scientific reasons given,that relied on emperical evidence for Paol Ladegaard stating what he did.I don't think he is wrong.
stefanl
296 posts
 
In the Lenco thread Jean has already dissed the Dynavector 10x5 as compared to a Denon 103.One of these modern pieces of junk that get a high rating.One of his favourite combos is the Lenco idler wheel with a Rega RB300 and Denon 103.Killed a VPI TNT and Dynavector 10x5.
stefanl
296 posts
 
Origin Live now produce an arm called the "Conquerer" that is better than an SME V.Based on that original RB250 Rega arm tube.Here is a link http://www.tonearm.co.uk/index.htm.Bearings are beside the point right up the Rega line especially to the RB 900 as the modded RB250(Origin counterweight,Incognito rewire)matches it.The facts could be stated this way,cartridge resonance is the most fundamental and important issue.To quote Ladegaard again "...traditional specifications like rumble,wow and flutter and required tracking force are both unreliable and inadequate.Furthermore,they are strongly influenced by the actual combination of motor,arm and cartridge and record,all left to random decisions by the Hi-Fi consumer."The Well-Tempered Classic turntable was a direct result of this paper.I am not being emotional here.Koetsu cartridges were designed on Garrard idler-wheel turtables.I repeat,the Dynavector does not match the Denon.You are wrong about the table needing a more compliant cartridge the Project arm has the same effective mass(11gms) as the Rega.You made the mistake of telling the guy to get a new table,which was probably a slap in the face to him.Anyway idler-wheel turnatables prove that only backward steps have been taken in audio for quite a while.The uphill battle is all yours.
stefanl
296 posts
 
Sorry! But the link doesn't work in my prevous post the Origin Live website is easy to find though.I was referring to "bearings" just after the failed link.One final point that seems obvious is that speed stability and not running at 33 1/3 RPM is crucially important on any table.It effects everything.
stefanl
296 posts
 
I apologise for another error.The counterweight on the Origin Live "Conquerer" tonearm appears to modelled after the Rega design but the arm-tube is a different "staggered" type getting thinner towards the headshell as the Rega.Here is a comprehensive summary of most Rega type arms at Vinyl Engine library.http://www.vinylengine.com/rega_arm_guide.shtml
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