A glossy dark walnut plinth, an aluminum platter, a unipivot tonearm and a switchable phono preamp: the Classic brings together in a compact format everything you need to play records without any additional equipment. Supplied with the Music Hall Spirit cartridge already mounted and adjusted, it connects directly to any line input. Its semi-automatic operation simplifies things further with automatic tonearm lift and platter stop at the end of a side.
The Classic borrows its looks from Thorens and Lenco models of the 1960s–70s. The MDF plinth is finished with a dark walnut veneer that contrasts with the silver-colored platter and tonearm. This combination of dark wood and brushed metal gives the whole unit a decidedly retro character, far from the minimalist lines of many contemporary turntables.
The dust cover is mounted on two supplied hinges. The feet are height-adjustable and include a damping system. The whole unit weighs 6.9 kg and measures 435 × 367 × 157 mm, a footprint slightly larger than that of many entry-level turntables.
Many turntables with a built-in preamp only partially disable it: the signal still passes through some circuit components. The Classic takes a different approach. When the selector is set to “phono”, the internal preamp is bypassed and the signal goes straight to the RCA output sockets.
This design lets you use a more ambitious external phono preamp with no compromises if you want to upgrade your setup. A rear switch toggles between the two modes. In “line” position, the turntable connects to any auxiliary, CD or tape input on an amplifier.
The Spirit is manufactured by Audio-Technica to a specification defined by Music Hall. It shares its structure with the AT95 series, among the most widespread cartridges in the world. Its elliptical stylus (0.4 × 0.7 mil) and low-mass cantilever ensure precise groove tracking and good transient response.
With an output of 3.5 mV and a recommended load impedance of 47 kΩ, it matches most phono preamps on the market. The recommended tracking force is 2.0 g (± 0.5 g). The stylus is easy to replace: the Spirit uses a removable stylus assembly.
The tonearm has an effective length of 221 mm. Its unipivot design relies on a single contact point, which reduces friction but requires careful adjustment. Music Hall makes this easier by engraving a mark on the tube indicating the correct counterweight position for the Spirit cartridge.
The detachable headshell screws onto the arm using a locking nut. Swapping cartridges is therefore straightforward, even if the lack of height (VTA) adjustment limits optimization with cartridges that differ greatly from the Spirit.
Anti-skating is set via a graduated dial corresponding to the tracking force values. No thread and hanging weight system here: the mechanism is internal.
The 305 mm platter is die-cast aluminum and weighs 900 g. It sits on a sub-platter driven by a belt from a DC motor. The belt is already fitted at the factory, speeding up setup.
The supplied felt mat does its job as an interface between the record and the metal. Music Hall does not offer an optional alternative mat for this model.
The speed controls (33 1/3 and 45 rpm) are touch-sensitive and located at the top left of the plinth. They replace the manual pulley-step change found on more basic turntables.
Yes. With the internal preamp activated (“line” position), the RCA output delivers a line-level signal compatible with powered speakers, a conventional hi-fi amp or even a soundbar with an analog input.
The detachable headshell accepts any standard half-inch mount cartridge. The arm supports cartridges weighing roughly between 5 and 10 g. However, the lack of height (VTA) adjustment may limit optimization with some models.
Yes. The auto-stop function only engages at the end of a side, by detecting silence. If you lift the arm during playback, the platter will keep spinning until you press the speed button to stop it.
Unlike other Music Hall turntables built in the Czech Republic (by Pro-Ject factories), the Classic is made in China by a partner that Music Hall has been working with for several years.
The supplied RCA cable is detachable from the turntable. You can therefore replace it with a higher-quality cable or one of a different length without any modification.
Under normal use (correct tracking force, clean records), an elliptical stylus like the Spirit’s typically lasts between 500 and 1,000 hours of playback. The stylus assembly can be replaced without tools.
Stéphan
Very nice turntable, top-notch finish 👍.
Superb sound reproduction overall; I replaced the cartridge with a higher-quality one.
Comment from January 05, 2024 — Experience from December 15, 2023
