After a quick scout about, it doesn't look like Music Halls are available in the UK, or at least not under that name...Looks like it'll be the Pro-Ject for me...how annoying does it get having to mess about with the belt every time you wanna change the speed? annoying enough to justify the £60 on a 'speed box II'?

phildodd wrote:After a quick scout about, it doesn't look like Music Halls are available in the UK, or at least not under that name...Looks like it'll be the Pro-Ject for me...how annoying does it get having to mess about with the belt every time you wanna change the speed? annoying enough to justify the £60 on a 'speed box II'?

I don't find it annoying, but I've only had the table for a month or so. Ask me again in a year...

People seem to like that box. I wonder if it offers any benefits besides convenience.

caix wrote:

TheMilford wrote:

caix wrote:Those Projects sound ok. But honestly, the Music Halls blow them away. I had the opportunity to test these side-by-side in the store and the difference was startling.

FWIW they are both made in the same factory... there are some small differences from model to model. But over-all I found that they performed identicaly when comparing similarly priced models in the $200-$500 range

They're made in the same factory and they have the same tone arm. The stock needle that comes with the Project isn't all that great. The stock needle that comes with the Music Hall is pretty bad ass. Also, the Projects use a steel-cut platter that's pretty light. The Music Hall has a heavy glass platter.

Anyway, the difference really is major. Just because they're made in the same factory doesn't mean they sound close at all. Like I said, the only similarity between them is the tone arm.

Actually the Project III has a better tonearm than both the MMF 2 and the 5. It's basically the MMF 7 tonearm with a much nicer tone arm base and arm rest.

The plinth on the Project is a modest one-piece jobber about halfway in between the performance of the MMF 2 and the Rega Plannar 2. so there the MMF 5 is better.

The glass platter of the MMF 5 is nice but at the shop I worked at a few of these were unbalanced.

The MMF 5.1 is $699 whereas the project Debut III is only $329. The Project Debut III blows away the MMF 2 ($399) which is more expensive with a crappy tonearm and cart. And I actually like the Ortofon carts just fine... this will be replaced in a year or so anyway.

Me thinks the Project is a steal nestling right in-between the Music Hall models. Don't get me wrong I dig the Music Hall 'tables but I just feel that this 'table better suits the original poster's needs and is already over what he said he could afford. Plus you can get it in any color of your choice!

phildodd wrote:After a quick scout about, it doesn't look like Music Halls are available in the UK, or at least not under that name...Looks like it'll be the Pro-Ject for me...how annoying does it get having to mess about with the belt every time you wanna change the speed? annoying enough to justify the £60 on a 'speed box II'?

it's not annoying at all and i've been doing it for 16 years.

Jay,

I third/fourth/eighth the Music Hall/Pro-ject recommendations.

I have a Rega Planar 3. I've never considered replacing it, and I've replaced most things around it by now.

The MH and Pro-ject tables are after the Rega style, but cheaper, and are good buys.

I recommend, also, visiting www.audiogon.com and buying one that way. I've had great luck w/Audiogon as a buyer and seller.

Make sure you buy a table w/a cartridge or budget for one.

tmidgett wrote:I recommend, also, visiting www.audiogon.com and buying one that way. I've had great luck w/Audiogon as a buyer and seller.

Yah, ditto. I've bought several pieces of equipment there. Worth the extra hassle to get a better product for your money than you'd buy used locally. I just searched and saw that two Debuts sold recently for $200. I have a Systemdek that is a slightly more fussy but still quite simple machine; they sometimes turn up for a reasonable price as well. Make sure the seller knows how to take apart and pack a turntable properly if it has to be shipped.

It does look like the Music Halls are now sold with the nice Sumiko tonearm as well.

The lower priced Rega tables are considerably better than the Project/Music Hall decks if only for the fact that they have the RB arms mounted. If you could get a table with the RB 250 you can go mod crazy.

Music Hall/Project have had quality control issues that are well documented, do a search over at Audio Asylum in the Vinyl forum.

I owned a MMF7 a few years back and it had multiple problems, including a motor that did not hold speed, a plinth that came with a damaged finish and the tonearm on that model left much to be desired.

All of that being said, the Rega may be out of your price range, but if you save up a bit longer, it will keep you from having to upgrade right away.

Not that I owned one...but everybody tells me I should get a Linn Sondek LP 12. Seems to be a good record player...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn_Sondek_LP12

flytox wrote:Not that I owned one...but everybody tells me I should get a Linn Sondek LP 12. Seems to be a good record player...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn_Sondek_LP12

it is, it is. It is bitchy to set up properly, and it sounds like crap if it is not set up properly. If shipped incorrectly, or poorly packed, it could be ruined. (this goes for almost all good belt drive turntables. If the thing is shipped with the platter in place, the main bearing will be toast. Beware of buying a used turntable for this reason alone)

The LP-12 will also sound like crap with a crap tonearm. When set up properly (suspension-wise) with a good arm and cartridge, it is wonderful.

you can buy 'em on ebay without tonearms for about $400 bucks. With a crap tonearm they are about $600. With a decent tonearm, they are about $1000.

to the OP - Jay: Buy a used rega on audiogon. or a used VPI if you can swing it.

Jay,

I have a Sota Moonbeam that I'm very happy with. I bought it new in the late-90's for around $350. They now go for about $700 new. They are made in Worth, IL.

The Moonbeam is very plain looking and has a nice heavy platter that you have to lift to manually switch the belt from 33 to 45. There's a used one on Audiogon right now for $350:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl? ... 1209532098