What would be a good turntable/tonearm/cartridge


What would be a good turntable/tonearm/cartridge combination for someone new to the world of analog, having been a long-time CD spinner? I have a nice high-end CJ tube based stereo CD system, and I am looking for something that is easy to set up and maintain. Thanks. -Steve
warmglowingtubesart
Hi, guys. FYI, I have Sonus Faber Cremona speakers, and about a $2,ooo budget for this. Yes, I know that I will need a phono preamp. Thanks! -Steve
Steve - if your budget is $2k I would second Chayro's recommendation of the MMF5 or MMF 7, mainly because I really like their dual-plinth design.

The MMF5 is good, but may require the old "Rega Nudge" for assistance in getting the platter up to speed quickly on power up - but it's not really a big deal - I've lived with it for over 30 years :-)

You can then afford a pretty nice phono stage.

However, I would prefer the drive band going around the outside of the platter, like the MMF 7 offers. It gets the platter up to speed faster and it may offer a more stable rotational speed.

The other MMF7 features I really like are
- non resonant acrylic platter
- motor sits on its own resonance damping puck
- counterweight’s center of gravity level with stylus tip

But then selecting the MMF5 would allow more to be spent on the phono stage

Tough choice, but I'd go with the MMF7. There are still some very adept phono stages out there for around $500

Regards
MMF-7 is an excellent table for the money. I used one for years before switching to a Scoutmaster. MMF-7 sounds great with a modest cartridge; I imagine it would be quite satisfying with a really good one. I still have the MMF-7; saving it for my second system.
open question....What's the relationship between Music Hall and Pro-Ject TTs? Are the companies related or is MH only using their carbon fiber tonearm?

LR57 - Apparantly from a post on another forum - Music Hall uses Project Tonearms.

Music Hall has diverse range of products - seems they have chosen not to get involved in the specialized world of tonearm construction

Whereas Project specializes in all things related to turntable design - they build their own

It’s not unlike those TT brands that choose Rega Tone-arms for their turntables

This does not make the Music hall any less of a turntable - their plinth design is based on some solid design concepts - it would appear they just wanted an arm that performed up to their plinth design and Project had an arm that fit the bill 

:-)