Turntable advice

Discussion in 'Vinyl Nutjob World: Turntable and Related Gear' started by Falcor, Oct 10, 2015.

  1. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    What kind of Kenwood?
     
  2. eternaldrake

    eternaldrake New

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    Kenwood KD-64F, pretty much all plastic with a linear tracking arm. not much in the sound department but it is a very convenient table
     
  3. Mystic

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    Is the Music Hall mmf 2.2 still considered one of the budget kings? It's $299. I know the Orbit is popular but for relatively the same price the Music Hall comes with a much better tone arm, cart and features what cost extra on the Orbit like anti skate and cue lever. The Orbit comes with an acrylic platter at this price compared to the Music Halls aluminum. Not sure which is best in that regard.

    Here is the Music Hall:
    https://www.musicdirect.com/turntables/music-hall-mmf-22-turntable

    I'm not looking to go all out. I thought about selling some gear and investing heavily in vinyl but to be honest I don't feel like replacing my hundreds of CDs with vinyl. Just looking for something mid fi so I can listen to the couple dozen records I already own, may buy more on occasion.

    I will likely buy the TC750 phono and upgrade the power supply to pair with it.

    I did have an in home demo of the Music Hall a couple years back and liked it for the couple weeks I had it. Haven't heard anything else except for an Orbit basic at a meet.
     
  4. Biodegraded

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    Same cart on the MMF and the Orbit Plus (that 'Magic 2' is a re-badged OM-5E). I'd agree the tonearm is likely better on the MMF though.

    At the discounted price, I'd go for the Music Hall - or another of Music Direct's specials, the Pro-Ject Debut III, also $299 with sleeves, record brush and cleaning fluid thrown in. The Music Hall TT is a re-badged Pro-Ject - looks like that one has a slightly different arm than the Debut III though.
     
  5. powermatic

    powermatic Friend

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    I'd probably go with the Music Hall for all the reasons you dictate. The acrylic vs. aluminum platter may be a wash at this level, but on top of everything I find the MMF to be be more appealing aesthetically.
     
  6. Derf

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    So do you guys put the stylus cover back on when not using the turntable? Or do you not worry about it?

    Also does anyone have a cover solution for a VPI classic that doesn't cost $300?
     
  7. nonamodnar

    nonamodnar Friend

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    @Derf find an acrylic shop near your area and have them make one for you. I have one done with a thicker sheet and cost me about $120.
     
  8. powermatic

    powermatic Friend

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    A
    A- It's a good idea ( though I don't always do it because some of my Denons have been modified with wood/aluminum bodies) because:

    B- I use a faux silk scarf as a cover for my Prime:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTJE1KP/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    I've adjusted the gooseneck of my Littlight to go over the tonearm wire loop to keep the fabric from smooshing it. I've never had a problem with this arrangement (several VPI decks, many years) but I'm pretty careful. YRMV
     
  9. Derf

    Derf Acquaintance

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    Thanks guys. Sometimes when I snap on the Ortofon cover I think I might hit the needle because it requires some force. And I'll check out an acrylic shop. Didn't think of that.
     
  10. Ziva

    Ziva Friend

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    Thanks for the help everyone. So it turns out these VPI TNT tables with the acrylic platters act like a Van de Graff generator. It was so much static, I knew something was wrong. I'm trying to figure out a way to ground the platter.

    I contacted Manley, and they seem to have developed a mod so the sounds doesn't go through the system. @sphinxvc, I'll report back when I figure out what it does. Maybe this was contributing to your problem, as well.
     
  11. Mystic

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    About a week ago I said **** it. I tried entry level tables before and was not impressed. I don't want to do that again with another Music Hall TT. I want to get a real good impression of what a nice vinyl setup can do and I have about $2k worth of stuff I don't use I can sell off to pay for it.

    I am 99% sure I'm getting a Sol once it comes out. Seems like it's gonna be a killer turntable for the money and leagues better than anything else in the under $1.5k range. I'm expecting to have somewhere between $600-1k leftover for a cart and phono pre and need some suggestions. So far the only ideas I have is a Mani (according to Marv this has had a silent revision and sounds much better than older units) and a Ortofon 2m Blue (supposedly the nude stylus reduces surface noise which is a huge plus as that bothered the hell out of me on my other table I used to own). These will fall on the cheaper side. However I want to make sure I can really get a good rig going that can smoke the Gungnir Multibit and maybe even get close to my Yggdrasil A2 so I'm willing to pay a bit more, those are just what I've got after a couple days of research.

    My sound preferences are just slightly warmer than neutral, definitely not bright or brittle sounding. Solid bass. Think hd650/600 or ZMF on a ZDS and not unmodded hd800 on a Jotunheim.

    Whatever it takes to beat a Gungnir Multibit, if possible with my budget.

    Thanks!
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2018
  12. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    An Ortofon 2M Blue + Mani is not going to be slightly warmer than neutral.

    The 2M series all have a lift at the very top end that some like and some do not like. They are pretty balanced, but have a tighter low end than something like an AT-95. Some say they sound CD like, and I have to agree, but that is mostly due to their detail retrieval. And the advantage of the Blue vs. the Red is that the highs sound more natural and less compressed and slightly harsh at the top end. After 25 - 50 hours, they settle down quite a bit.

    The Mani is also pretty lean. Very spacious, but not boomy. Compared to the phono pre in my Onkyo receiver and to a Project Box Phono preamp, is more detailed, more spacious, and less "warm" or boomy and sounds more like an R2R tape deck to me. I would not call it bright leaning, but some might depending on what preamp they were using previously.

    I like both choices, but both items there are just going to be leaner and maybe not as warm as you like. I have the previous version of the Mani as I bought mine about a year ago or more.

    AT VM540ML or the 750ML might be a bit warmer for you and still has great detail and musicality.

    There are also other phono preamps with a warmer sound (Project, Rega, Musical Fidelity), but you might check the phono preamp thread.
     
  13. Mystic

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    This one? The VM750SH: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-VM750SH-Shibata-Turntable-Cartridge/dp/B01M672NXO
     
  14. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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  15. bazelio

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    Within your cart budget and general preferences, I'd put the Hana SL at or near the top of the list. At a lower price, perhaps the Denon 103 (non-R).
     
  16. Mystic

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    Thanks guys, that gives me a few options to look at for the cart.
    - AT VM750SH
    - Denon DL103 - would be interesting to compare with the AT, being closer in price.
    - Hana SL

    Now I just need a couple options for a preamp, though I suppose I should probably post that in the phono pre thread after giving it a good second read. Any particular products I should look at before I post?
     
  17. sfoclt

    sfoclt Friend

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    I have a Tavish Audio Vintage 6SL7 that I may throw up for sale eventually. It worked great with my ZDS: lots of slam and detail while still being smooth, especially with NOS tubes. I'd considered keeping it as a back-up. It's really a terrific phono preamp that a few people here have. [I sold my Yggdrasil after getting it w/r/t your question about beating the Gungnir Multibit.]
     
  18. Mystic

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    Nice, same tubes as my ZDS already uses too. Definitely let me know if you sell, I'm very interested.
     
  19. Mithrandir41

    Mithrandir41 Friend

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    I recently switched from an ortofon 2m blue to a Quintet black w/sapphire cantilever. A little more top-end clarity than a Hana SL, I think. It's a pretty spectacular cartridge for about a grand.
     
  20. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

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    Doesnt a cart like the Hana SL (low output MC) need a step up stage as well? Probably need to consider that and add it to the budget then
     

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