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Which turntable is better?

bajaed

bajaed

Active Member
I have decided to go one step above entry level(I don't consider the Sony USB table I have now even entry level) on a new turntable. I'm looking at the Pro-Ject Xpression III or the Music Hall MMF 5.1.

How about some feedback on these two choices?

Also would like to hear some opinions on the Bellari VP530 tube pre amp vs. the Pro-Ject Tube Box II.

Thanks, great site!
 
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I have not heard the Pro-Ject, but have heard the Music Hall and enjoyed it.

And starting out with the 5.1 is a good move, in my book.

Have you considered a very lightly used Marantz TT-15S1 or Clearaudio Emotion Turntable?
 
The closest things I've heard to these phono preamps are the Bellari VP130 (like the 530 but without USB) and the original Tube Box (probably closer to today's SE II than to the II). I think the bass is a little fat in both and moreso with the Bellari. The midrange was beautiful with my Tube Box. I see the original Tube Box on the auction site sometimes for fairly reasonable prices. One had a buy-it-now for around $350 or something like that but bidding cancelled that and eventually took it to around $400. That model is probably the way I'd go if I were in the maarket for a budget tube phono preamp.

As for the turntables, I the the MMF-5.1 is a step up from the Xpression III. The closest I've owned to these two has been my MMF-5 and Debut III, which isn't quite a fair comparison. The MMF-5.1 has the split plinth, which is a nice upgrade. I'm editing my original reply in that now I see the Xpression III has the carbon fiber arm, so maybe that's an advantage over the MMF-5.1's alloy arm. With both turntables I'd suggest at least considering the Speed Box. That would be a nice improvement with either one, since both have a somewhat wow & flutter spec and some people will hear that.
 
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I thought the Xpression III was pretty good. Haven't heard the Music Hall, but, since they're made by the same people, wouldn't think there'd be a radical difference in the sound.
 
Thanks for the replies, keep em coming.

If I went with the Music Hall, would it be worth upgrading to a carbon fiber arm down the road or is that just asking for set up problems?

What would a carbon fiber tonearm go for?
 
Oh, I thought it was the one on the Xpression III. Is the III's carbon arm available for purchase?
 
I've heard some of the Pro-Ject line at a dealer near my place, overall, nice turntables. That's where my experience end with this turntable.

Although, if you want to compare a MMF 5.1 with a Pro-Ject branded TT, maybe you should compare it with the Pro-Ject 2 Xperience Acryl TT instead.
As somebody said earlier, these two TTs are made by the same company in Austria.
For a bit more money, well maybe more than a bit, the next step will be the 6 perspeX with the Evolution 9CC tonearm.
 
Maybe the tonearm on the 5.1 is good enough as is?

What would a good but not too expensive cartridge upgrade be for the 5.1? I plan on using a tube phono stage and like a warm, full but accurate sound. I don't like harsh mids and highs.

Anybody think the Xpression is a better choice than the 5.1 because of the tonearm?
 
I think the tonearm on the MMF-5.1 is quite good. The carbon fiber on the Xpression III wouldn't tip the scales to that turntable for me. The MMF-5.1 also comes with a very good cartridge, which probably would be enough to tip the scale for me, when combined with the split plinth.
 
Sounds like the 5.1 is the way to go. Also sounds like there may be no urgent need for a cartridge upgrade.

How would anyone who has heard the Goldring that comes on the 5.1 describe the sound?
 
I had that model on my MMF-5 and I thought it was a very nice cartridge. I suppose I would have called it a bit bright until it either got broken in or I got used to it. Good solid bass and nice open midrange. I got it a bit more to my liking by running the tracking force a little heavy. My only complaint with it was that it didn't track quite as well as I'd hoped. I sometimes wondered whether it could have used a heavier counterweight. It was, however, the cartridge that shipped with the MMF-5 for quite some time. They also used the 1012 for a while...don't know how long.

In this price range, I do like that turntable. There are a few others...not many...that could be worth considering in the same rough range, like the Rega P3-24.
 
If you need a good preamp that includes a MC and MM input. Also a metal remote control, mute, mono, all on the remote as well as the panel. Consider an Emotiva preamp. At $399 it's sleeper and their amps have slewn giants like Krell and other high end favorites at a fraction of the cost. How they do it I don't know, but it's the one product I've bought in Hi-Fi from China that sounds really good.
 
That is a great deal. Kind of had my mind set on a tube phono amp for that warm sound but that Emotiva at close to the same price looks tempting.
 
For a little more cost than the MMF 5.1 look at the Pro-Ject RM-5.1 SE, it comes standard with the 9cc carbon fiber arm and a very good HOMC cartridge. Will track anything, even a record so warped it made me sea sick. Wait for a 10% off sale at an online retailer (Needle Doctor has that deal regularly) and it's yours for $899.
 
I will take a look at the Pro-Ject 5.1.

Any more opinions on the Emotiva pre-amp vs. a tube phono stage? Obviously the Emotiva is a very nice piece of equipment, but I am also looking for a way to introduce a tube sound into my set up without breaking the bank on a tube pre-amp or amp.

Based on what I've read, it's very tough to say no to the Emotiva at that price.
 
The DB-systems DB-8 is a good stand alone phono pre that sounds startling like the phono stage in my vintage ARC Sp-3a1 tube preamp. Liquid but detailed and can be upgraded with a better power supply than the wall-wart it comes with (which still does a great job). I had a VP-129 and it's no contest between it and the DB-8. I really thought the VP-129 was rather limiting and didn't have enough gain for some of the carts I've used. Maybe the newer Bellari pres are better.
 
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