starguygwb

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Music Direct

Summary:
I see alot of people complain about this table as if it were a high end product, its not! It's a very good entry level doorway into Vinyl. I wanted to see how a new table would sound like compared to my directdrive Tecnnics, and the mmf 2.1 seemed least exspensive enough to do the job. The cartridge that came with the table didn't stay on very long, I replaced it with a Ortofon super om30. It got alot quieter,and seemed to open up some. I can't believe home quiet this table is.One thing of note, open the dust cover when using and it gets rid of any rumble that I can hear. And no interference with my Martin Logan subwoofer at all. I must admit that I'm going to upgrade soon, but after all this was a test to see if new gear outdoes the old. I think anyone looking at a low price point, or a step toward a higher end rig wouldn't go wrong. I've heard people complain about the bad wiring. I've always treated my gear with the utmost care, from my directdrive table to my B&W 805s speakers. My point is some people treat their gear kinda rough and then wonder why it breaks when others use their gear for years without mishap.

Strengths:
For an entry level table, lack of rumble(with dustcover up). Simple set up.

Weaknesses:
Cartridge realy needs to be upgraded.

Similar Products Used:
Tecnnics SL-DD33

7.62Matt

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $269.00 from audioadvisor.com

Summary:
I bought this turntable for my second system, and I have enjoyed it, after a few changes. It appears to be well made, and it is simple. The cartridge that was supplied was not of my taste. I didn't like it at all, to the point I wasn't using it at all. One day, I came across a slightly used Grado red cartridge at a good deal, so I gave it a try. There is no comparison, this turntable came alive! There is a bit of rumble, but there are ways to reduce this. Playing Classic rock, this is the budget set up.

Strengths:
Inexpensive, easy to set up

Weaknesses:
Cheap cartridge

Similar Products Used:
Sota Sapphire/ Benz Micro Gold Micro Sieki/ Grado Gold

Rudy64

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $125.00 from Used

Summary:
While this is a good entry-level "audiophile" turntable, I can't recommend it due to its rather flimsy build quality and use of cheaper materials. The biggest complaint I've seen on this model are that the delicate tonearm wiring is easy to break off; in fact, mine had one wire broken off inside the arm, which means either the tonearm would need to be rewired, or the tonearm replaced with a new one. (Music Hall wants $160 for a new arm.) The anti-skating is also not very adjustable--you are given only three "notches" on a post to adjust it. The motor uses a clever rubber suspension system to isolate it from the turntable base (it is suspended by a clamped-down BUNA o-ring), but the torque of the motor also tilts the motor slightly at an angle relative to the platter, which could be a potential future problem. The dust cover hinges are nothing more than L-shaped rods held in place under friction, unlike true spring-loaded hinges in other turntables. The included cartridge is not all that great--at this level, you're better off replacing it with something like a Shure M97XE that has better tracking and a neutral tonal balance. (Music Hall should offer this without the cartridge as an option.) I could recommend this to someone who wanted a budget, entry-level "audiophile" turntable for lighter usage, but if you're going to be playing a lot of vinyl, I'd look elsewhere for something more sturdy. I've heard of too many other dissatisfied MMF-2.1 owners to feel good about recommending this to everyone.

Strengths:
Good entry-level table for light usage.

Weaknesses:
Build and material quality not up to the standards of other tables on the market. For the price, it's a bit much.

drbrousters

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $269.00 from Audio Advisor

Summary:
Bought this demo from audio advisor and a demo Grado Red cartridge. The $269 included shipping with mounted cartridge. I will say that this combination is a great way to experience vinyl 2 channel audio. After listening to CD's on a good quality Player and a few LP's on a cheap Turntable, this is a treat. It helped me better understand the reason audiophiles use the term "musical" to describe good quality sound. It truly is a musical combination. The instruments sound like instruments. Bass is well-defined and solid. Guitars sound like they are being strummed. Everything is crisp and natural. I'm glad I did this. For those who have had a less than positive experience, try a cartridge updgrade. That having been said, I will not ignore the negatives: 1) Surface noise and scratches. They are atill there and still annoying. 2) Amplifier hum. I grounded this turntable to both the pre-amp and amp, but a hum is still audible (though very low in volume). If those things keep you from enjoying the music, spend your money on a CD player.

Strengths:
Musicality, build quality, cost.

Weaknesses:
Noise

Similar Products Used:
Technichs SL-Q300, Phillips 212A

Price Paid:  $299.00 from Audio Advisor

Summary:
This is a great turntable to listen to your old records. Easy to assemble and the cartidge is already mounted. It would probably sound even better with a cartridge upgrade but sounds good to me. I'm using an Onkyo thx receiver and Snell cv speakers.

Strengths:
price, value

Weaknesses:
not built like a tank

Similar Products Used:
old ar turntable