Upgrading Music Hall 2.2 tone arm.

You can obtain a substantial increase in performance by adding the Project Speed Box II (as the MMF 2.2 is manufactured in the Project factory and is actually a step between the Debut III and the Xpression III) and the Project acrylic platter upgrade.Also change the cartridge to one that suits your taste. You will be spending about $240 plus the cartridge of your choice. I have done all of the above to mine plus I added a Denon DL160 cartridge. I doubt you can find a better value by trading in, selling or changing the arm. Is it better than a Linn Basic ? my opinion is yes especially so if the Basik is the pre Akito version. Oh, and so you can judge my prejudices you should know that my primary turntable is an LP12 with the Hercules Regulator and a MMT arm.

Thanks guys. I had a feeling that getting a better turntable would be the result.

I'll look into the Herbie mat and see how that shapes up.

And yes the tracker is the stock cartridge and I'm upgrading that also.

Hi, Gerald,

The mmf-2.2 better than a Linn? You should post that over at the Vinyl Asylum. Might be an interesting (and lively) response!

Tom

Tom,

What I wrote was "Better than a "Linn Basik",which is what Roddierod said he had owned in the past not an LP12. Do you know the difference? I also specified the original version Basik with the not so great Basik arm. The Akido version was a substantial improvement. I also mentioned I own an LP12 that is my reference. I was giving my opinion as the best value for the money spent. I currently own and use all of the turntables I mentioned and thus can do side by side comparisons. Challenge Posts like yours' do not offer information or in any way add to knowledge base of the forum. Finally if you have something to say say it here (oh,and I do post on AA under the same moniker)as this the forum and thread where the original question was asked.

Jerry

Would it improve the sound to close to the Linn or should I continue to hold out to find a Linn that I can afford right now.

Let's see. You used to have a Linn Basik (I'm guessing you mean Sondek witha Basik arm) and really loved the sound. Now you have a Music Hall MMF 2.2 and don't like the sound. You're wondering what to modify on the 2.2 to give it the musical satisfaction you got from the Linn.

You could chase your tail on this for years and hundreds of dollars, with no assurance that you'd achieve your sonic vision. Or you can save the angst, time, money (it's more expensive in the long run), and disappointment and save up to get what you know worked for you.

Currently there's a used Sondek/Basik with Valhalla upgrade and RATA cartridge on A'gon for $1200/offer. All things considered, that's not all that much more than what you already have in your 2.2. Sell your 2.2 and the gap narrows even more.