[Matt]

Hi.

I've been scouring both this site and the net at large and have found precious little in the way of some sort of list of collected mods/tweaks for an MMF-5. Anyone know of anything?

Also, even if there isn't table-specific mods, how about turntable mods in general? Is there a good place to go to learn some stuff that I can apply (to hopefully positive effect) to this 'table?

Regards,
Matt

 

[Matt]

...for instance, about whether a mod or tweak would be useful for the cartridge/tonearm of this unit. The cartridge really, really "sings" (i.e. you can hear the music coming directly from the cartridge very clearly when you turn off your headphones). Does this merit some sort of sorbothane damping on the cartridge body and/or some sort of tonearm wrap?

Do those dampings make much of a difference? If so, what?

- Matt

 

[SumB]

You might try sound deadening paint to the underside of the platter, and the paint, or visually obtrusive (but easy to apply) bituminous tar sheets (or cork) on the bottom of the plinth.

Replacing the (rubber?) feet with spikes or cones can only help.

Then there's the mat... You may wish to experiment with cork, leather, rubber, felt, and bituminous tar sheet combinations until you find something that suits your fancy. Felt alone is no good for discharging static.

Blue Tak is useful for damping the back of the motor plate where it contacts the plinth.

Tonearm wraps and headshell/cartridge damping should be performed with caution, as adding too much will drastically alter your arm/cartridge resonant frequency. Electrical tape or heat shrink works well in this regard. Blue Tak under the headshell as a last resort.

All in all these tweaks should lower the noise floor, firm and deepen the bass, and improve imaging, detail retrieval, and dynamics.

I gleened most of this info from Bushman's excellent Analog Dept. Invaluable source for Thorens tweaks, and many can be adopted for other tables.

 

[fredpb]

1) Shure Tracking force guage.

2) Dampening. My MMF5 sits on an 18"x18" ceramic tile which is on a square of carpet underpad foam. You could use Vibrapods too.

Other than that, don't mess with it.

 

[Matt]

....SumB (will check out site) and fredpb.

fredpb: since you've got one, what about levelling the unit, which I have heard is absolutely essential?

How about one of those SorboGel record mats? Overkill? They say they're for glass-plattered 'tables to reduce "hardness" to the sound, which I do notice.

Oh yes, and happy birthday!

Regards,
Matt

 

[Todd R]

PROPER SET UP!
Make sure you have the table level & cartridge aligned properly. Even thought Music Hall claims it's all set, mine wasn't and needed adjustment. Buy an alignment gage and stylus weight scale.

Go to the Vinyl Asylum for a lot of good advice and a searchable data base.
http://www.AudioAsylum.com/audio/vinyl/bbs.html

The replacement stylus 1042 is a drop in replacement for the 1012 and sounds quite a bit better. Best price was at Mantra Audio.
http://www.mantra-audio.co.uk/

The None-felt doughnut phono mat was a good addition and quieted my table down a lot
http://www.extremephono.com/Mat.htm

 

[Matt]

Quote:

Originally posted by Todd R PROPER SET UP! Make sure you have the table level & cartridge aligned properly. Even thought Music Hall claims it's all set, mine wasn't and needed adjustment. Buy an alignment gage and stylus weight scale.

What is the best alignment gauge for the Goldring carts and where do I buy one?

Quote:

The replacement stylus 1042 is a drop in replacement for the 1012 and sounds quite a bit better. Best price was at Mantra Audio. http://www.mantra-audio.co.uk/

Hmmmm...$150. Is it that much of a difference? What improves?

Quote:

The None-felt doughnut phono mat was a good addition and quieted my table down a lot http://www.extremephono.com/Mat.htm

This looks like my kind of tweak (cheap!) How would you rank the mat's performance improvement(s) to the replacement stylus' improvement(s)? Also, would I need to stop using my MMF-5 record clamp if I got this mat?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Hirsch]

The least expensive alignment protractor is here

Send them a self-addressed stamped envelope, they send you a stylus protractor (cardboard). There are fancier ones, but this one will let you set a Baerwald two-point alignment, which is what you're trying to do.

 

[Matt]

...thanks for the tip on the protractor. It looks like they have a downloadable, printable one. Is that as good?

Regards,
Matt

 

[Hirsch]

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt ...thanks for the tip on the protractor. It looks like they have a downloadable, printable one. Is that as good? Regards, Matt

I haven't tried the downloadable one. The spreadsheet that generates it is interesting, however, and there's no reason that it shouldn't be good. The key is to be sure that your printer is printing *exactly* to scale. If the printout alters the size in any way, and many printers do, the protractor will be off.

 

[Videoshielded]

I have that table.

It has to be absolutely level. I thought I had it level, and I couldn't figure out why it sounded a little lame. Once I checked it with a carpenter's level AND the bubble level, then redid the tracking force, cart alignment, and anti-skate, it really started kicking butt.

Now if I could just get around to building a better phono pre. The Little Rat is good as far as it goes, but . . . .

 

[Matt]

Hi again.

About levelling the table: I have mine (neccessarily) on a desk which is not perfectly level. It's sturdy, but it has a slight downward slant.

With this in mind, and considering fredpb's use of a ceramic tile on carpet foam, what would my best option be for creating a tweakably level surface (short of a $200+ turntable rack)?

Could I use play sand in bags with an 18" tile on top, then tap at the corners with a rubber mallet until I get a level surface? Would this provide a reliable, "set it and forget it" flat surface, or would it be a maintenance nightmare?

If that won't work, any other ideas?

Also, I assume that the right way to level the table (the most sensitive way) would be to measure the tilt from every corner, facing both along the width and height of the table until they're all perectly level from each of the eight directions, correct?

Regards,
Matt

 

[Todd R]

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt Hmmmm...$150. Is it that much of a difference? What improves?

Everything!
Quote:

Originally posted by Matt This looks like my kind of tweak (cheap!) How would you rank the mat's performance improvement(s) to the replacement stylus' improvement(s)? Also, would I need to stop using my MMF-5 record clamp if I got this mat? Thanks, Matt

Well, the matt was less of an impovement, but well worth it.
Yes, you don't use the clamp any more with the None-Felt mat. You push down on the record and it sticks to it a bit.

 

[fredpb]

Yeah, I should have mentioned leveling. Go to Home Depot or some other store and get the tiny bubble level (don't believe one in plinth) and use it on the glass platter in various positions. Use it on the platter only.

I don't recommend the sorbothane matt or any other accessory.

The clamp, platter, and mat work together. There is a reason for this design.

It sounds great! Just keep it aligned!

 

[Matt]

...or plinth? I would have thought that by checking the level of the plinth, the platter would naturally be level with that. Is that not correct? I thought you would gauge the plinth because, after all, that's where the bubble level is, but maybe I'm wrong...

Furthermore, what about irregularities in the felt mat? Does this mean that if I am checking the platter for levelness, I should remove the felt or leave it on?

(Thanks for all the help so far, fellas.)

Regards,
Matt