Improving a Stereophile Recommended Component
How you improve upon a Stereophile "Recommended Component" and The Absolute Sound "Editors' Choice Award" Winner? Ask Music Hall's Roy Hall.
Roy quietly crafted an improved version of Music Hall's best-selling, brilliantly designed MMF-5 turntable. He spent many hours working out the fine details of the latest MMF-5.1 to offer an even a greater value for money than the MMF-5. Or, as he is fond of saying, "a greater value for a little more money." Little energy was expended on the name, Roy admits. But, what's in a name, when the performance is this outstanding?
The MMF-5.1 includes the advanced and ultra-rigid M7 tonearm, a dynamically balanced alloy platter, and a moving magnet phono cartridge. Plus, lots of other extras, too.
Proprietary Two-plinth Design
The MMF-5.1 boasts a unique proprietary two-plinth design with six rubber springs separating the bottom platform from the top. This extra level of isolation keeps motor and room vibration out of your music. The compliant feet, two-speed synchronous motor, switch, wiring, and electrical parts are located on the bottom plinth, while the critical sound reproducing components such as the bearing and arm, are mounted on the "floating" top platform.
A new feature for the MMF-5.1 is a dynamically balanced alloy platter. The platter and felt mat sit on a high quality, stainless steel ball bearing sheathed in Teflon, providing extra damping control for fluid, noise-free operation. The bearing assembly comes pre-charged with lubricant. The effective length of the tonearm is 9 inches, which allows a very shallow tracking arc for reduced distortion. The net effect is transparent sound and excellent realism, especially on acoustic instruments.
High-performance Tonearm
Music Hall didn't skimp on the tonearm that comes standard with the MMF-5.1. The pre-installed M7 has a headshell and shaft drawn from a single piece of aluminum for maximum integrity and rigidity. The bearings are made from hardened stainless steel points set in sturdy ring cages. For precise tracking, the counterweight's center of gravity is level with the stylus tip. And the counterweight is decoupled from the arm to act as a resonance damper. The arm also boasts an adjustable VTA, a damped arm lift, and highly flexible internal wiring drawn from high-purity copper for optimal signal transfer.
Magic 3 Cartridge Included
So that you can start enjoying your turntable immediately, the MMF-5.1 comes with the Music Hall Magic 3 moving magnet phono cartridge already mounted. This $350-value cartridge has a replaceable nude elliptical diamond stylus.
Extras Come Standard!
A metal screw-on record clamp is provided as standard equipment, along with cartridge alignment protractor, 45 RPM adapter, and dust cover. The Music Hall MMF-5.1 is easy to set up and assemble, thanks to the included bubble level and excellent instruction manual. | 
