Price Paid:  $450.00 from Ovation

Summary:
Wow for the price this turntable is wonderful. Roy Hall has done a great job on this budget table. It really does a great job isolating vibration. I did not purchase this table, MMF-5, but the MMF-7 instead. The Gold ring 1012gx cartridge is truly a good match with the arm and platter. I would recommend you get a new record mat. The felt one supplied can be a bit warm, but I am a bit picky about my vinyl. I would strongly recommend this table to anyone who occasionally listens to records, if you are more of a hard core vinyl-phile like me maybe the MMF-7 is more your speed. Both are wonderful values and could easily integrate into your system in about 20 minuets.

Strengths:
There are a lot of great things about this table… the price foremost is right on either model. The VTA adjustment is something that you will not find on any table arm rig at this price point. Setup is minimal 20 minuets or less. Sonics The midrange is good, but a little on the warm side at least in my tube system. Bass is good and is the highs. Transients are crisp, lo level details are wonderful, an all around great performer.

Weaknesses:
The warm midrange really keeps this table from being a perfect five. If it were possible I would give it a 4.5. The bearings are good and if you have the money and or an understanding wife the MMF-7 truly is a great upgrade. A new cartridge could take even the MMF-5 to an even greater level.

Similar Products Used:
VPI TNT MK. V, Sme Model 10, Music Hall MMF-7. My sistem consits of B&W 802, Audio research Reference Phono Audible Illusions modulus 3a preamp, Cary v-12 amps monoblock modified, Carin Fog v2.0 cd pl

Price Paid:  $0.00 from see review

Summary:
This review/listening report is for the Music Hall MMF5 turntable. I bought this TT brand new in January 2002 at Hollywood Sound, FL. Right out of the box (as Larry promised me) the TT sounded great. The 1st thing I noticed was that the hum of the AC motor driving the spindle was gone, gone, gone! I immediately realized why people like belt-drive TTs so much. Thus, the spaces between tracks were blacker/quieter than ever before. The high frequencies were immediate but not fatiguing to my ear. This could have been a combination of a new TT, using BL1 Series II interconnects & B&W DM604S2 speakers. Anyway, what I liked about this top-end was that I was involved in the music – it said “drop whatever you are doing & listen to me”. This appeals to me because I feel that it is a live session. Playing the MMF5 thru the CAT SL1 offered me a whole new world of bass – plenty, tight, focused, fast & in full control of my speakers. Vocals came thru with much more precision & fullness than with my previous Dual – it seemed that the artist now removed a veil covering their mouth. The midrange had now transformed itself into something much more articulate, more dynamic and with the correct timbre. I felt that there was a certain “sparkle” in the sound (that I had been missing so badly in my Dual) that once again reminded me just why vinyl is so irresistible. When I changed the power amp section to the RG4 & changed the interconnects to the Groneberg, the sound quality went up a few more notches. The power output & current drive capability has doubled or tripled which has brought much greater transparency to the overall sound. In conclusion, I’m a delighted owner of the MMF5 TT. My experience with it has all been good despite the very low rider 1012GX cartridge being heart-palpitatingly close to the vinyl surface (it has not touched the vinyl even once till today).

Strengths:
The MMF5 is a superb budget TT for getting at the musical goods & is certainly No. 1 in its class. The MMF5 offers fine levels of quietness & details; a slightly bright high frequency/treble (might appeal to many out there), which is not fatiguing atleast to my ears; rich & honest midranges & a superb warm & deep bass.

Weaknesses:
Slightly forward trebles, bass might not be the best out there. Not the last word in details.

Similar Products Used:
Dual CS506 Direct-drive TT Technics Full automatic, linear tracking TT from the early 1980s.