Entered CNET Catalog: 03/20/2005
SKU: 0072874308773
Manufacturer: MUSIC HALL
Manufacturer description
The music hall mmf-5 is a 2-speed belt driven audiophile turntable employing the unique dual-plinth construction originated by music hall. The distinctive design isolates the critical sound reproducing components; platter, main bearing, tone arm, and cartridge on the top platform from the motor, switch, wiring, and feet which are mounted on the bottom platform. Six viso-elastic cones separate the two platforms and provide vibration damping.Product summary
The good: Two-speed manual turntable; piano-black finish; precision glass platter; high-quality tone arm; includes premounted phono cartridge; record clamp secures LPs to the platter.
The bad: You have to remove the platter to change the speed from 33.3rpm to 45rpm; audiophile quality comes with an audiophile price.
The bottom line: The Music Hall MMF-5's high-style flair and impressive features are surpassed only by its sumptuous sound.
Average user rating: 
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 02/15/2006
The Music Hall MMF-5's two-layer base uses six rubber springs to separate the bottom and top platforms, minimizing the transmission of motor and room vibration from the turntable to the LP. The top base has a built-in bubble level, making it easy to adjust the MMF-5 so that it lies flat for optimal sound. The low-resonance glass platter sits on a Teflon-coated ball bearing for minimal-noise operation. The metal clamp produces a deeper bass and helps subdue the clicks, pops, and other noises associated with vinyl playback.
Setting up the MMF-5 is a little more involved than it is with the Sony PS-LX250H turntables. It's not all that complicated, but if you're new to turntables, we recommend studying the comprehensive owner's manual before starting. If you run into snags, Music Hall has an excellent customer-support staff. The MMF-5 comes premounted with a Goldring 1012GX phono cartridge ($225). It sounds awfully good, but higher-end cartridges can upgrade the sound even further. Like the GR1.2, the MMF-5 must be used with a receiver that has a Phono input; if yours isn't so equipped, you'll need to buy a separate phono preamp. Also, changing the MMF-5's speed from 33.3rpm to 45rpm is a bit of a hassle--you'll have to remove the platter and move the belt to a different section of the pulley. (Of course, with decidedly high-end and old-school products such as this, that's considered more an endearing quirk than an annoyance.)
We switched between the LP and the CD of Yo La Tengo's Electr-O-Pura, listening to the former on the Music Hall MMF-5 and the latter on our Pioneer DV-45A Elite DVD-Audio/SACD player. The LP sounded much more lively. Compared with the CD's flat, scrunched-down sound, the LP's was bigger and more realistic. Our Cuban and Latin LPs' percussion had more texture and palpability--we could feel the musicians' hands beating their drums.
The only downsides to listening to records are the relative dearth of vinyl and the inevitable letdown when you have to go back to compressed digital music. The Music Hall MMF-5 may cost more than the Sony PS-LX250H, but it provides a much clearer sound than those two turntables and amazingly better quality than the best CD players.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 3 user reviews
Great turntable for eight years
Pros: Fantastic sound for the price. Upgrading to a better stylus improved the sound even further.
Cons: Manual doesn't offer much help in setting it up and calibrating it properly--get professional help.
Review:
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 3 user reviews
great sounding entry / mid level table
Pros: great value in a turntable
Cons: need to upgrade the stock cartridge
Review: I was able to get a trade-in with an upgraded DynaVector 10x5 cartridge for about $450. This was the perfect first turntable. It sounded great through my all Linn system. I have since upgraded to another table. For ~$500, you would be hard-pressed to find a better table. I know the review at CNET doesn't provide a lot of details, and I won't either... The best endorsement I can give this player is that as a result of buying it 6 months ago, I now own over 50 records and rarely ever buy CD's anymore. Vinyl is addicting, you won't be disappointed.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 3 user reviews
Where are the specifications?
Pros: No specifications provided...
Cons: No specifications provided...
Review: Where are the specifications for this and the other 2 turntables? By specifications I mean rotational speed accuracy; rotational speed consistency (otherwise known as Wow and Flutter); frequency response using the cartridge provided; audio distortion using the cartridge provided; tracking error (how well the stylus parallels the groove; tracking force (how heavily the stylus rests upon the record); signal to noise ratio using the cartridge provided; skating and anti-skating adjustment; and other measurements I've probably skipped over, that every turntable manufacturer used to spout as part of their ads (back in the 1970s).
Citing the construction details of the turntable is interesting, but hardly a specification!
--Paul E Musselman
Citing the construction details of the turntable is interesting, but hardly a specification!
--Paul E Musselman
