Music Hall MMF-9.3 Review

[mep]

My review of the Music Hall MMF-9.3 table has been published on Positive Feedback. http://positive-feedback.com/reviews...9-3-turntable/

The 9.3 is a tremendous value and I'm still shaking my head over what this table has accomplished. When you consider that the total package which includes the table, arm, and Goldring MC cartridge retails for $2,300, it's even more of a shocker. For those who like to complain that the high-end is out of touch with the common man and many products are priced at many multiples of their truth worth, the 9.3 will help restore your faith in this hobby of ours.

[Rob]

Mark, your best work to date and I hope Roy sells the snot out on them. BTW, any hint on where the various bits of kit come from? Europe, Asia?

[Gusf]

Excellent work Mark. I like the look of this table. If I was in the market it would be on my short list.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Nice review Mark! The tonearm is a MH branded Pro-ject 9cc. For audiophiles who want to get into vinyl playback at a level that doesn't break the bank, yet gives a level of quality performance that one would perhaps not expect, tables such as the MMF 9.3 should be on the radar of consideration. Additionally, it's a really smart-looking design with that triple plinth and high-gloss finish.

Will we be seeing a change/update in your signature?

[spinblackcircle]

Having owned 5-6 Pro-Ject and Music Hall tables during my analog journey, they do offer allot of sound for the dollar, but I think their value resides around or below the $1k mark. Once you start hitting 2K and up, I think there are better built and higher quality tables at that price point that would be a better long term investment. I'm not saying the 9.3 doesn't sound as good as tables in the 2-3K range, it's more how it's going to hold up over the long haul. Especially if you swap cartridges more than one or two times.

[Joe Pittman]

What are the tables you think are better at that price point?

[spinblackcircle]

I can only comment on the one's I have owned. The table to beat IMHO is the Marantz TT15S1 (Clearaudio Emotion rebadged). For $1499 you get a great table, the Satisfy tonearm and the excellent Clearaudio Virtuoso cartridge. The next table I owned after it was a VPI Scout. Pair that with a Ortofon 2M black, Grado Sonata or Dynavector 10X5 and it would keep most people happy for a long time. I know people love Rega tables, but the only one I have owned was P3-24 and I only had it for a month. Just not my cup of tea.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Having owned 5-6 Pro-Ject and Music Hall tables during my analog journey, they do offer allot of sound for the dollar, but I think their value resides around or below the $1k mark. Once you start hitting 2K and up, I think there are better built and higher quality tables at that price point that would be a better long term investment. I'm not saying the 9.3 doesn't sound as good as tables in the 2-3K range, it's more how it's going to hold up over the long haul. Especially if you swap cartridges more than one or two times.

Is this an opinion, conjecture or based on personal experience?

[spinblackcircle]

Personal experience.

[mep]

Mark, your best work to date and I hope Roy sells the snot out on them. BTW, any hint on where the various bits of kit come from? Europe, Asia?

Thanks Rob for the kind words. I believe the the tables and arms come from the Czech Republic.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Yes.They are manufactured in the same facility as Pro-ject.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Did you have an opportunity to try one of the Music Hall cork mats in place of the standard felt mat? I have the lower priced 2.3 SE in for review, and have both the MH Cork mat and their pricier Aztek Blue cork mat for comparison. On the 2.3 SE both a re substantial improvement over the felt mat.
They sound different than the standard felt mat on my LP12 too, though I haven't yet determined if it is better, worse or just different yet.

[Guest]

Nice work. I enjoyed your enthusiasm for the MMF-9.3.

[MylesBAstor]

My review of the Music Hall MMF-9.3 table has been published on Positive Feedback. http://positive-feedback.com/reviews...9-3-turntable/

The 9.3 is a tremendous value and I'm still shaking my head over what this table has accomplished. When you consider that the total package which includes the table, arm, and Goldring MC cartridge retails for $2,300, it's even more of a shocker. For those who like to complain that the high-end is out of touch with the common man and many products are priced at many multiples of their truth worth, the 9.3 will help restore your faith in this hobby of ours.

Nice review Mark! There seems to be something said for a manufacturer putting a whole package together (table/arm/cartridge) rather than the consumer trying the hit and miss approach.

I heard the 5.3 table (~$1500) in the Music-Hall room at Axpona and left very impressed with the sound of the system.

[mep]

Nice work. I enjoyed your enthusiasm for the MMF-9.3.

Thanks. In this day and age where it seems that audio gear keeps getting more and more expensive with some of this being driven by overseas markets demanding higher prices, it was refreshing to review an entire LP rig that retails for $2,300 and is capable of playing at a very high level.

[mep]

Did you have an opportunity to try one of the Music Hall cork mats in place of the standard felt mat? I have the lower priced 2.3 SE in for review, and have both the MH Cork mat and their pricier Aztek Blue cork mat for comparison. On the 2.3 SE both a re substantial improvement over the felt mat.
They sound different than the standard felt mat on my LP12 too, though I haven't yet determined if it is better, worse or just different yet.

No. The 9.3 comes with a felt mat and that is what I used. I know some other reviewers feel differently, but I'm a strong believer in reviewing products in the condition that consumers will buy them in. If I have stash of unobtanium NOS tubes and I roll them into a tube preamp or amp and declare that the electronics are now taken to a new level of performance, where does that leave the consumer? I know of one reviewer that has never met a piece of tube gear that he didn't claim he elevated the sound of by installing rare tubes from his collection. A review should be written about how a component sounds as you would buy it from the manufacturer and now how it sounded after it was modified by a reviewer with his personal stash of tweaks, doo-dads, or special tubes.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Me too, actually, which is why I usually review with supplied power cords, stock tubes, etc. Roy sent me the two cork mats with table, as well as the optional acrylic platter. Makes for a more time consuming review, though.

[mep]

Nice work. I enjoyed your enthusiasm for the MMF-9.3.

Thanks. It was hard not to be enthusiastic about the level of sound quality that was being delivered for $2,300.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Oracle Audio is introducing their new Origine TT for $2,000 (table/arm/cartridge) at TAVES this weekend. I'd love to see a review on this....maybe you can get Jacques Riendeau to get you a review sample.