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Music Hall MMF-5.1 or Project RM-5SE

Should I spend an additional $200 (plus shipping) to upgrade the MMF-5.1 that I just received to a Pro-Ject RM-5SE, or should I save my money for a year or two to get a significantly better turntable?

I've recently gotten into vinyl - dusted off an old Pioneer direct drive. I'm enjoying it, so I just got a Music Hall MMF-5.1. It's definitely an upgrade over the Pioneer / Grado Black, but I'm not super impressed with it for the price, even with the good price that I paid. It makes a motor noise that is audible when the room is quiet. The Pro-Ject upgrades the tonearm from aluminum to carbon fiber, the platter, and has a different cartridge (Sumiko Blue Point 2 vs. the Goldring on the Music Hall). My concern is that the RM-5SE will have the same motor as the MMF-5.1, which is made in the Pro-Ject factory using mostly Pro-Ject parts. Should I be bothered by that?

Any comments will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Vic
vinyl_33
don_chisholm's avatar
don_chisholm
32 posts
 
If you hear any motor noise at all, there is a problem. Period. I would call the dealer and discuss it. (Is it new?)

Assuming you have already made up your mind to upgrade, and you are just putting feelers out there :) I would recommend the RM5SE. I have the Xperience and I LOVE it. For the reasons you mention, too. The cf tonearm is astounding and will mate with very high end cartridges. The optional speed box is reputed to be a nice upgrade, too, but I did not need it for mine - is very stable without it.
vinyl_33 OP
3 posts
 
Thanks everyone for the responses.

Schipo, the turntable is on its own table resting on a concrete slab floor. I listen to it through headphones. So there are no vibrations induced through the floor or by speakers. The only vibrations come from the turntable itself. So I would think isolation accessories are unwarranted here.

Don, I have received two new MMF 5.1 and both have the low, but audible-when-the-room-is-quiet, electronic sound from the motor. According to my seller, Music Hall listened to the one that I returned and there is nothing wrong with it. "It meets spec and has no more motor noise than they typically make." It is more motor noise than my 38 year old direct drive Pioneer. And I don't recall any of my other old inexpensive turntables from decades past making any motor noise that I was aware of.

I am a little impatient to have a better turntable and don't know when I would get around to upgrading (other pieces to upgrade by and by). I was wondering if the the Pro-Ject, with the carbon fiber tonearm and Sumiko Blue Point 2 was ~$200 better than the Music Hall (alloy tonearm with Goldring 2200) and a worthwhile turntable to have for a while. On the other hand, impatience is what landed me with the MMF 5.1 which is reasonably ok, but not quite what I thought it would be.
toufu
83 posts
 
I had a MMF-5.1, and I upgraded the stock cartridge to a goldring 1042 by buying the 1042 stylus. Probably the most noticable improvement I have heard for $200. Just slide off the old stylus and put on the new stylus, no adjustment required...
vinyl_33 OP
3 posts
 
Toufu, can you describe the change in the sound characteristics: bass, treble, resolution? Also, did your TT come with the 1012 GX cartridge or the GL 2200 like the newer ones (like mine)?

Thanks,
Vic
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
Definitely save the money! The RM-5 will not significantly better your MH - in fact, I would argue that your MH betters it, at least in two different systems I have heard them both in. I would also agree with the poster who said that Regas will better both of them - especially in the areas of soundstaging and imaging.
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