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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
santanaali
78 posts
 
I am using an MMF-7. But have my eye on a SOTA Cosmos. Try the Goldring 1042; it improved by bass. Dismiss the clamp or buy a better one, I find much better prat with out it on most records. Also since it is a Pro-Ject, Pro-Ject does make a speed controller that I am going to try as well untill funds are available for the SOTA.
Cheers
judy426
228 posts
 
I wouldn't get too bent out of shape here Jfacker. After all we're talking about a turntable/tonearm/cartridge that sells for $500 used. This isn't a Brinkman you know. :-)
dla405j
14 posts
 
Bombaywalla said it all...the mmf-5, in my experience, is very system dependent and with the right combo is a great-sounding unit capable of much music. Since I've had the Bombaywalla unit I've used it with many different power amp-solid state and tube pre combos with 5 different sets of speakers and the music it delivers seems to reflect those strenths/weaknesses. Bass is suprisingly good and it does everything I want it to do. I look all the time for upgrades or improvemnts but it seems that $1500 is about where I would have to go and there might not be much improvement then unless I reworked my amp, speakers, and cart. I learned that clean vinyl culled for the best sound combined with tubes will deliver great sound with the mmf-5 and I'm sticking with tweaks and changes to those parts instead of a risky, limited results of another $1000 invested in a "better" turntable. Another great thing is that the mmf-5 is so durable and easy to set up and move. Bombaywalla shipped it to me a distance of 2000 miles I used it for 3 years and I've moved another 1,500 miles, set it up, and it's still going strong...
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
jfacker OP
85 posts
 
Thanks everybody for your input. Let me be clear, I by no means feel that the table sounds BAD, I'm just trying to squeeze everything I can out of it. My floors are concrete so I don't think resonance is an issue although I've never been crazy about the BDR cones, they were just all that I had. Ideally I'd put some Mapleshade cones or something similarly beefy under the table. I was warned about the clamp also, but after some experimentation I found I liked the sound better with the clamp in place (a little more bite is what I heard).

The point about the phono stage is well taken; I'll try running the MMF-5 into something else. I already hooked it up to the phono stage in a Creek pre I just sold (equivalent to their OBH 8 or 8SE, I think), and the sound was not awful in absolute terms but it was a major step down from the Moscode unit. I'm going to look at tube rolling first, but I suspect the best results will come from having a new cart installed. I have checked into just replacing the stylus but the upgrades aren't cheap. My feeling is that I might be better off just buying a new cart altogether. Anyone wanna venture feedback on the Sumiko BPS? Should I expect a "hyped" or tipped-up treble out of that cart? Thanks again--Jeff.
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