Music Hall MMF 7.1...cartridge options?

Hi, M,

I've been using a mmf-7 with the Pro-Ject 9 aluminum arm for over four years and haven't gotten the upgrade bug yet. (I actually have two mmf-7 'tables.) I did upgrade cartridges though. The Eroica isn't a bad cartridge and if you can get one included for less than $200 it might be worth it. Depends on whether you've got the extra cash to buy a separate cartridge that's equal to or better than the Eroica/2400 and what your phono stage (preamp) can accomodate. I now run low output moving coil cartridges (my preference) but keep the Eroica around as a spare/emergency cartridge.

I agree with Ehaller about the Herbie's mat; it improved overall dynamics and tonal balance and reduced surface noise with my setup. I wasn't quite as impressed with the Speed Box; it may or may not make a big difference. If you have good clean power you may not notice a dramatic improvement, but it is a nice addition.

I also agree with the others about a good phono preamp. It will make a big difference if your current phono stage is on the lower end of the spectrum. And like Tgrisham and Ehaller, I eventually spent about the same price for a phono stage as I paid for the turntable. I started out with a Jolida JD9 and still use it, but the Rogue Stealth is my preferred phono preamp.

The mmf-7.1 with the new carbon arm seems like a good deal compared with other turntables in its price class.

Have fun!
Tom

Hi, M,

I think you'll really enjoy your new turntable and the Goldring 2400. The Pro-Ject arm's biggest flaw I think is the tonearm mounting post design. It's not a very good fit and subject to misalignment (off-vertical) when you adjust height for SRA. As for cartridges, I've been running a Dynavector DV-20XL cartridge for the past year and it sounds great with the mmf-7. It was a lot of money (for me) to spend on a cartridge but it was worth it. It does involve changing out the stock counterweight for a heavyweight (120g) counterweight, available at http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73925.

I found specs for the Belles 28A and noticed that it has settings for a moving coil cartridge (including variable adjustments in impedance/resistance loading, nice!) but the gain doesn't look right; 26 dB of gain isn't much, unless they figure you'd be using a step-up transformer/headamp with it. I run my 20XL with 50 dB of gain and it seems to perform best with resistance loadings below 100 Ohms. (Based on my experience and numerous threads about this cartridge.) I run mine at 70 Ohms now (started out at 44 Ohms) and it sounds very nice.

I haven't heard the Dynavector 10x5 so can't compare the two, but if you can wait to upgrade cartridges and you can accomodate a LOMC with 0.3 mV of output and 100 or less Ohms resistance, then the extra $300 to get a 20XL might be something to consider. I'd just play the Goldring 2400 for a while and get to know the sound of your system with the new 'table and cartridge. Then you'll have a better idea of what you like and dislike about the 2400 for comparison with other cartridges.

Have fun!
Tom

PS: Another LOMC cartridge to consider is the AT33PTG, which I also like a lot, but I'll note a couple cautions: Namely, it's not a U.S.A. warranted product and it has a tiny stylus that is not easy to see for alignment. That aside, it's a great cartridge for the money.