Thanks for the information and sorry about your troubles.
But I wouldn’t write off all Musical Fidelity products. In my experience, their CD players, DACs, and amplifiers provide good sound; and can be found for generally good value on the used market. I have an older Tri-Vista Integrated that sounds great (especially after some tweaking with fuses, umbilical/power cords upgrades, etc.)
Also, all companies have a "core competence" at which they are best. (Great power cords, just average interconnects, or great amps, just average loudspeakers, etc.) Musical Fidelity peripheral products (like MF turntables perhaps) - are likely outsourced and simply badged with the corporate name, and may not be representative of the rest of the company’s offerings. Regardless, if the company puts its name on a product, it should support and provide some avenue of assistance for service of the product to keep it functioning properly. And certainly if the product was defective when sold ’new’.
You didn’t say if you contacted Music Direct when you first had issues. They should have instructed you regarding how to resolve the issues within either their express or implied warranty, or that of Musical Fidelity. Music Direct’s website states that they have a 60 day Satisfaction Guarantee. Perhaps that by the time you had pulled the cartridge pins, soldered new ones, etc., MD determined that you had voided any warranty. Or perhaps you got a closeout or ’as is’ deal. Again, sorry about your troubles.
