Music Hall Classic Turntable

I'm surprised some smart a** hasn't chimed in saying "yes, switch to a XYZ brand of table for the upgrade".  

I'm surprised some smart a** hasn't chimed in saying "yes, switch to a XYZ brand of table for the upgrade".  

Why is that such a bad answer @rpeluso? My thought is that an external phono preamp is a good move if you don't already have one. And if you do, the another TT might be the solution because at $650 for table, arm, cartridge & phono preamp will have many compromises that will likely  never show any differences in sound except if you upgrade something like phono pre or maybe cartridge. Those 2 can be used on a different TT. .I am speaking out of experience

Cartridge recommendation? Thanks.

What is your budget for a cartridge? 

What do you use for a phono preamp?  The one built into the TT or a separate phono preamp?

Staying with that TT, I would consider buying a few extra headshells (they are removable, they are a special size/shape with an offset at the end of a strait arm.

OEM cartridge is a MM Moving Magnet type, with unimpressive specifications, thus it is easy to get a better sound out of that player

As a matter of fact, if you simply upgrade the existing MM cartridge, you will get obviously better sound, far greater channel separation 28db; far tighter channel balance 1.0db, the combination will produce superior imaging of everything you have been listening to.

$245 at Amazon. VM540ML Moving Magnet Cartridge

and the TT has (and you may be using) the built in optional phono riaa eq. A change of the phono eq is also possible if you have not already done that, although, a better phono stage will not do much for the OEM Cartridge's limitations..

I would then select a Stereo MC Cartridge and perhaps a Mono Cartridge.

Now you could play Stereo MM; Stereo MC; and Mono by changing the pre-mounted cartridge/headshells.

We would need to know more about your system, if you have a phono stage, if you have any ability to play MC, if you collect any Mono LPs .....

What make and model, what stylus shape, how many playing hours are on the existing cartridge? The currently supplied cartridge tracks at 2.0g, has only 18db stereo separation, and channel balance is 2.5db, I would change it.

Four stars for what Elliot said.

My budget for a new cartridge is $200.00.

I had a Music Hall turntable a few years back, it was a lemon, but the sound was great when it worked. I shouldn't have sold it. As far as I know, the arm is good, from Pro-ject, and I would start with a phono stage upgrade rather than cartridge  

@tominnj  as far as a cartridge upgrade, Roy suggested an Ortofon 2M Bronze. He said that it was one of his personal favorites for the price. That is what I did as well as a phono-pre, and it has made for a really good bedroom system. 

My girlfriend has a Music Hall Classic. I think it’s a great turntable for the money. +1 on an Ortofon cartridge that fits your budget. My girlfriend is using the phono stage in her Peachtree Nova 150. But, i’m sure upgrading the phono stage from the Misic Hall to something else would help a lot too. 

I’ve got an Ortofon Blue cartridge that I’ll give you if that would be an upgrade for you. 

Love the Music Hall Classic. However, the built-in phono stage is OK but not great so a better stage might be called for - Moon by Simaudio LP 110 v.2 perhaps. I'd replace the OEM cartridge with an Ortofon 2M Blue or Gorldring E4 in a heartbeat.