Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Music Hall MMF2.1 Turntables by mike

Model:	MMF2.1
Category:	Turntables
Suggested Retail Price:	$299
Description:	True audiophile turntable at a budget price
Manufacturer URL:	Music Hall
Manufacturer URL:	Music Hall

Review by mike_decock ( A ) on November 13, 2002 at 08:11:08
IP Address: 205.203.58.1

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for the MMF2.1

About a year ago, infected by Mike Fremer's enthusiasm for vinyl I thought it was time for me to give it a shot. I was short on funds and a little tentative so I took the easy route of picking the least expensive Stereophile Recommended turntable.
Setup on this table is a snap. With the cartridge already mounted, all you have to do is take it out of the box, take out the screws holding the motor, put the belt on, drop the platter on the spindle and take out the various clips that hold the tonearm in place during shipping.
The sound of this table with the Goldring Elan was pretty good. I didn't have another turntable to compare the sound to, so I A/B'ed between my Cambridge Audio D500SE.
One of the first records I tried was Steely Dan's "Aja". I had picked up an old ABC pressing at a used record store and compared it to the Mobile Fidelity CD I had. It was no contest. Every person I demonstrated this to voted in favor of the LP.
I also did several comparisons with other albums and if it wasn't a clear win, it was a close contest.
After several months and many albums, I began to notice that there was a bit of sibilant hash on certain LPs. After tweaking as much as I could, I determined that the cartridge wasn't tracking too well so I mounted on an Ortofon OM-10.
The OM-10 on the MMF2.1 gave a slightly better sound. Bass was a little fuller, the soundstage bigger, but there was still some distortion on sibilants.
After much debate, I upgraded to a Shure V15VxMR. Now, I know that most people wouldn't mount a $300 cartridge on this table, but now that I was spending more time listening to LPs than CDs, I knew it was only a matter of time before I upgraded the table. The Shure would be a cartridge that would work well with any table I bought in the future.
The difference was astonishing. Sibilant hash was completely gone. Every part of the sound was clearer and better defined. It was stunning to see this humble little table put out such a grand sound.
I recently upgraded to a VPI Scout. Without a doubt, the Scout is a better table and I've been able to put the Shure in a new home. Sonically, the Scout gives a blacker background, a bigger soundstage, greater refinement and does, well, EVERYTHING better (as one would expect). Even though the Scout is better, with the same cartridge, the MMF isn't horribly outclassed. You may get fewer of the nuances and details, but the musical line is no less musical.
I have heard some feedback from other owners that there were build quality issues with the table. I have had no problems whatsoever. The table performed perfectly every time I went to use it. Based on my personal experience with the table, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it as long as the buyer is willing to upgrade the cartridge.
As an entry level table, it is a great buy and will satisfy the casual listener. With a good cartridge, this table produces a sound quality much greater than it's price would suggest.

-Mike...

Product Weakness: Mediocre cartridge.
Product Strengths: Incredible value. A great introduction to vinyl.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Cambridge Audio A500 integrated, ASL Wave-8 monoblocks
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	ASL LH-01, Audio Research LS3
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Cambridge Audio D500SE
Speakers:	PSB Image 4T, GR Research Paradox 1 on Studio Tech SC-24 speaker stands
Cables/Interconnects:	Kimber 4PR, Kimber PBJ, Audioquest Cobalt, Cobalt Cable Ultimate Speaker Cable, Cobalt Cable Ultimate Interconnect
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	14 x 10 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	DIY room treatments (Three 4' x 2' sound absorbers)
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 Year
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Panamax 5100
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Mediocre cartridge.
Product Strengths:	Incredible value. A great introduction to vinyl.