Music Hall MMF-1.5 offers a rich analog sound experience at an affordable price. With a solid MDF plinth and aluminum tonearm, it boasts good build quality and a classic design. The factory-installed Music Hall Melody cartridge and built-in phono preamp provide decent sound, though the high frequencies may feel subdued. For better performance, I recommend upgrading to a higher-class cartridge or external preamp. While the MMF-1.5 performs well for its price, there’s potential for enhanced audio quality with simple upgrades.
Contents
Intro
The Music Hall MMF-1.5 turntable caught my eye with its promise of quality sound and stylish design at a reasonable price. It features a built-in phono preamp, a three-speed belt drive, and a pre-mounted Audio-Technica cartridge, making it user-friendly and versatile. In this review, I’ll explore its build quality, sound performance, and overall features to uncover its potential as a great addition to any vinyl enthusiast’s setup.
Music Hall offers a wide range of turntables that cater to every vinyl lover’s needs. Their prices start from $250 for the affordable USB-1 turntable and go up to $4500 for the high-end MMF-11.1 model. In between, there are popular mid-range options like the MMF-5.3 and the beautifully designed Music Hall Ikura. Whether you’re a casual listener or an audiophile, you’ll find something to match your taste and budget.
Even among the more affordable models, Music Hall offers quality turntables like the MMF-1.5. This turntable serves as a great foundation for expanding your analog system, unlike CD players, which lack development potential. For CD players, improving sound usually involves buying a high-end external digital-to-analog converter.
With turntables, the fun lies in configuring and expanding your system with an external phono preamplifier and a good cartridge. The cartridge is crucial as it greatly influences the final sound. Experimenting with phono preamplifiers can also yield significant benefits, allowing you to fully utilize the cartridge’s audio potential.
Construction & Design
The Music Hall MMF-1.5 turntable stands out in its price group with impressive aesthetics and advanced design elements. I find it to be one of the most beautifully presented classic turntables. The MDF plinth, covered in real cherry veneer, gives it an exclusive character. The plinth, consisting of one segment, is typical for the more affordable Music Hall models. More expensive models like the MMF-3.3 or MMF-9.3 feature two or three-segment plinths, respectively, which absorb vibrations better and provide a more stable base due to greater inertia.
The drive in the Music Hall MMF-1.5 is a reliable system featuring a DC motor and a belt-driven torque transfer to the platter. This setup has a significant advantage: the rubber belt effectively dampens vibrations from the motor, ensuring smoother and more consistent platter rotation. The aluminum platter, with a 305mm diameter, is easy to assemble by gently placing it on the main axle. A heavy rubber mat is then placed on the platter, enhancing the adhesion of the vinyl record and preventing slipping. This mat also serves as a torque store from the motor, contributing to the overall stability and performance of the turntable.
- Plug-and-play with the built-in phono pre-amplifier which can be bypassed if you prefer to use your own preamp. Listen...
- Choose between three different speeds (33⅓, 45, and 78 rpm) to play all your favorite records with the properly...
- Enjoy a stunning design with the gorgeous real cherry wood veneer that will complement any home décor. Fine-tune your...
- Get everything you need to start playing your records with the full-size aluminum platter, special vibration damping...
- Assemble your turntable quickly and easily and use it anywhere in the world with its worldwide compatibility
The main axis of the Music Hall MMF-1.5 is seated in a classic, nearly noiseless sliding bearing with brass elements. Additionally, damping washers between the bearing cage and the plinth help reduce vibrations. The plinth is supported by special rubber feet designed to gradually suppress any vibrations, further contributing to the overall stability and sound quality of the turntable.
The turntable I tested, Music Hall MMF-1.5, offers a very convenient rotational speed control system. With a precisely working knob, I can choose between three speeds: 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm. The rear slim panel features gold-plated RCA outputs and a switch that allows the signal to pass either through the built-in preamplifier or bypass it.
Thanks to this, I can use an external phono preamplifier of a higher class than the one built in at the factory. On the back, there is also a potentiometer for precise adjustment of the turntable rotation and a socket for an external power supply. The turntable is equipped with an elegant, transparent dust cover that enhances the retro feel.
The Tonearm and Cartridge
The tonearm of the Music Hall MMF-1.5 is crafted from light and rigid aluminum, designed in an S-shape to optimize the tracking of the cartridge along the record grooves.
Mounted on a solid and precise base, the tonearm features an oil-damped lowering lever system, which ensures smooth operation. It also includes a magnetic anti-skating adjustment for precise control. The headshell is designed for quick and easy mounting to the arm, allowing audiophiles to experiment with different cartridges and styluses.
The MMF-1.5 is factory-equipped with a quality MM-type magnetic cartridge, the Music Hall Melody, manufactured by Audio Technica. This basic model provides a satisfying listening experience. For enhanced performance, I also tested the turntable with a more advanced Sumiko Pearl cartridge, which offered superior audio quality.
Music Hall offers vivid and saturated sound, as well as natural, unpressed high tones.
The Music Hall MMF-1.5 turntable comes with a significant advantage, particularly for beginners in the vinyl world: a built-in, structurally simple phono preamplifier that supports MM cartridges. This feature allows new users to start enjoying their records immediately without needing to invest in an external preamplifier. Once you are familiar with the turntable’s basic setup, you can enhance the sound quality by upgrading the cartridge or the phono amplifier. This progression can be an exciting journey for anyone looking to delve deeper into the world of high-fidelity audio.
Music Hall MMF-1.5 Sound Test
With turntables, the sound is always distinct from what we’re used to with digital sources like CD players. When I tested the Music Hall MMF-1.5 with its factory setup, using the Music Hall Melody magnetic cartridge and built-in phono preamplifier, I was enchanted by its analog sound. If you’re new to analog systems, you might be pleasantly surprised by the vivid, saturated sound and natural, uncompressed high tones.
Music Hall MMF-1.5 delivers dense, oily, and deep-reaching bass with a slightly softened character, which I noticed especially in Marek Biliński’s tracks like “The Garden of the King of the Dawn” and “E ≠ mc²”. The bass is well-balanced, avoiding the mid and upper bass exaggeration or strong bass weakening typical of cheaper turntables. For its price range, the MMF-1.5 performs excellently.
If you want to enhance the sound quality further, upgrading the cartridge or using an external, higher-class amplifier is a great option. When I used an external preamplifier like the Music Hall Mini Plus while keeping the stock cartridge, I noticed much better transparency in the low-frequency range. The upper-frequency range also improved significantly. With the built-in preamplifier, the treble was slightly veiled, and the vividness outweighed the detail.
- Ultra-low noise design ensures high-fidelity audio playback from your vinyl records Adjustable gain trim control lets...
- Compatible with moving magnet and high-output moving coil cartridges allowing you to enjoy a wide range of vinyl records...
- High-grade headphone amplifier provides powerful and clear audio playback Gold-plated RCA inputs and outputs offer...
- Compact size and energy-efficient power supply make it easy to integrate into your home audio system Worldwide...
- Rigid chassis construction and vibration damping feet help to reduce unwanted vibrations and noise
The mid-frequency range of the Music Hall MMF-1.5 remained juicy and dense, but when I switched to an external preamplifier, I noticed much more detail in the midrange. Stereophony also improved, with sharper sound image localization. Even with the built-in preamplifier, the stereo image was decent, offering an extensive soundstage and clear individual planes, making it easy to pinpoint specific phantom images between the speakers.
The best setup, in my experience, was with the Shelter 201 cartridge, which is among the best in its price range. Unfortunately, this cartridge is only available in Japan. However, an excellent alternative is the Sumiko Black Pearl cartridge, which also performs brilliantly.
- Moving magnet cartridge with spherical stylus
- High output for easy matching to a phono stage
- Wide frequency response for a smooth and warm sound
- Replacement Stylus and Stylus Guard Available
The Music Hall MMF-1.5 turntable greatly benefited from a cartridge upgrade, enhancing its sound quality significantly. The bass gained better control and became more varied, allowing me to hear more detail in Marek Biliński’s albums. This improvement was also noticeable while playing Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here,” where each track sounded more detailed and mature. The midrange became more open and saturated without losing the vividness that characterizes the MMF-1.5’s sound, even in its factory setup. Using the Sumiko Pearl cartridge made it seem like an invisible curtain was lifted from the speakers, revealing much more information and detail in the sound.
Music Hall MMF 1.5 Video Review
Music Hall MMF-1.5 Specifications
General Section
- Power supply: DC12V，2.0A, universal power supply
- Power consumption: 4W
- Dimensions: 17.1(W) x 14.5(D) x 5(H) in., 435(W) x 367(D) x 127(H) mm
- Weight: 12 lbs. | 5.4 Kg
Turntable Section
- Type: 3-speed full manual
- Motor: DC motor
- Driving method: Belt drive
- Turntable platter: 305mm dia. aluminum die-cast
- Speeds: 33 1/3, 45, and 78rpm
- Wow and flutter typical: less than 0.1% WTD at 3KHz RMS(CD-4005), limit: Less than 0.15% WTD at 3KHz RMS(CD-4005)
- S/N ratio: TYPICAL: More than 65dB (DIN-B) (SS-4242), LIMIT: More than 62dB (DIN-B) (SS-4242
Speed tolerance: 3000Hz +/-1%(CD-4005)
Cartridge Section
- Type: Moving magnet
- Stylus: Diamond stylus
- Channel separation: more than 15 dB at 1KHz (CD-4005)
- Channel balance: within 2.5 dB at 1KHz (CD-4005)
- Phono output level: 1.5~3.6 mV at 1KHz 5cm/sec (CD-4005)
- Line output 90-216 mV at 1KHz 5cm/sec (CD-4005)
- RIAA: 20Hz~20KHz: +1/-3 dB
Cartridge
- Cartridge: Music Hall Melody
- Output voltage: 2.5mV +/- 3dB at 1KHz 3.54cm/sec
- Channel separation: Measurement point 1KHz over 18dB
- Channel balance: 25 dB or less at 1KHz
- Frequency response: Measurement point 10KHz / 1KHz 0 +/- 3dB
- Tracking force: 2.0 +/- 0.5 grams
Tonearm section
- Type: Static-balanced, S-shaped
- Effective arm length: 230mm
- Overhang: 15mm
- Offset angle: 22 degrees
- Tracking error angle: 3 degrees or less
- Stylus pressure adjustment method: Rotation movability (1-rotation 4g)
- Applicable cartridge weight: 5~8.5g (including headshell 15~18.5g)
- Anti-skating adjustment range: 0~3g
- Arm lifter: Oil damper type
- Height of stylus: 8~10.5mm
- Lifter descent time: 1.5~3 sec (stylus pressure: 2g)
- Horizontal sensitivity: Less than 0.2g
- Vertical sensitivity: Less than 0.2g
You can download & view the manual here->Music Hall MMF-1.5 Manual
Good to Know
Buying a budget turntable doesn’t mean you have to settle for mediocre sound quality. The Music Hall MMF-1.5 is highly adaptable, allowing for significant sound improvements without major expenses. During my tests, I found that the MMF-1.5 is very responsive to changes like upgrading the cartridge and adding an external preamplifier. A recommended configuration involves replacing the factory-installed Music Hall Melody cartridge with the more advanced Sumiko Pearl cartridge, which is one of the best on the market.
However, to fully utilize this cartridge, the simple built-in preamplifier isn’t enough. Using the Music Hall Mini Plus external preamplifier showed a direct improvement in sound quality. This setup proves that the MMF-1.5 is an excellent foundation for upgrades. Remember, each component has its limits, so choose the cartridge and preamplifier wisely, possibly with advice from a trusted audio salon.
Final Verdict
The Music Hall MMF-1.5 turntable demonstrates that even an affordable model can deliver the distinct sound of analog technology. In its basic version, featuring the factory Music Hall Melody cartridge and built-in phono preamplifier, it offers a balanced sound without exaggeration, especially in the treble range. The presentation is vivid and rich, with surprisingly deep bass for a budget design.
Upgrading to higher-class phono cartridges or preamplifiers can enhance the experience further, revealing more sonic nuances. The beauty of analog is that an inexpensive turntable like the MMF-1.5 allows for various sonic experiments right from the start, without significant investment.
Music Hall MMF 1.5 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great sound for the price
- Built-in phono preamplifier
- Good Music Hall cartridge
- Easy to adjust the speed
Cons
- Non-adjustable feet
Crackling Sound was created to provide straightforward, unbiased reviews of audio products, catering to those who want excellent sound without delving into complex audiophile terms. I aim to simplify the decision-making process for my readers.
As an audio enthusiast and self-builder for over 20 years, I ensure my reviews are honest, highlighting both advantages and disadvantages. I conduct sound tests to deliver comprehensive and reliable information about various audio devices. My extensive experience in DIY projects, experimenting, installing, and using high-end audio gear helps me provide thorough and comparative reviews.