Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs-A Short Incomplete History Part 1
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2022
- With all of the "brou-ha-ha" surrounding Mobile Fidelity's admission that it's "Gain II Ultra-Analog" mastering chain includes a heretofore undisclosed digital link, TrackingAngle thought a short incomplete history of Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs might provide some context. Part 2 will deal with the not very funny "brou-ha-ha"
- Hudba
Mike- you're at your best in this type of video. Your passion and years of experience comes through. You are one of the elder statesmen of the vinyl scene at this point and you're looking and sounding really dignified here. love the stories. Great video, keep it up.
Hey Michael! Great stuff here. Train recordings huh? The more you know. Very happy to see you up and running on the new channel. Very interested in seeing what you come up with as regards the "one step" process. We'll be tuning in! 😊👍
Looking forward to Part 2, thanks for showing us some of the history of Mobile Fidelity.
Great video Michael! So glad you are back 👍
Excellent as always, thank you Michael!
29-minutes and not a single ad. Fantastic
One word…the history, the video with Esposito, ….transparency…plain and simple
Great videos, Mike..thank you
Really interesting video. Thanks for the level of detail here Michael. Enjoyed the additional Beatles information. 👍🏻👍🏻
Excellent video! Thanks for posting.
This is a great overview, and I'm glad you got the chance to do some mini reviews of the older LPs. Many people pan the old titles in a blanket fashion as being badly EQ'd, in some cases I think that's true, but many of those records sound great! I agree with you, I think the two best catalogs modern mofi has done, has been Elvis Costello and Miles Davis.
and Dylan .....
@@mazzysmusic Yep, Highway 61 is out of this world
Beck's Sea Change is one of my favorite albums, period, and the MoFi is spectacular. I have a few of the earlier MoFi classical issues (Rite of Spring - Muti, Elgar Falstaff - Boult) which I think are great.There's also a very unusual triple LP of film music conducted by the great (but lesser-known) film composer Roy Budd - he actually paid for the sessions himself (and lost quite a bit of money in the process). Also very partial to the MoFi Herrmann records (though the new remasterings in the Herrmann/Decca CD box set gives even original pressings a run for their money! )
@@poetryonplastic I think I might prefer the recent Japanese reissues. I can’t get any info on what tapes were used and if it’s digital, but pressed at the new Sony plant. A lot cheaper than the mofi and sound great
Thank you Michael. Enjoyed this immensely. Looking forward to meeting you next week in Seattle. Don't embarrass me ;-)
lol. how would I do that? Accuse you of getting promo records?
@@trackingangle929 my very first promo album was from the Warner Brothers rep in San Francisco when I just started my first record store job in 1973: Grateful Dead Bears Choice. My second was the US Vertigo of Kraftwerk’s Autobahn ✌🏼
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, very much appreciated.
Amazing collection. Thanks for such a detailed information.
Fantastic video by the way. Thanks, Fremer.
Thanks man👍🔥pay little attention to anyone trying to steal your sunshine, continue with your work/fun like always.we need you
Lovely job as usual mate! I have the AP SRV and yep, it is frigg'n *STELLAR!* 👍
I have a quite a few mofi records that all have great sound and that I enjoy. I will continue to enjoy these records. Mofi however are finished.
Michael
Congratulations on your new channel. Looking forward to it.
You don’t have to defend yourself on promo records.
You don’t have to defend yourself on anything
I really thought the MoFi Elvis Costello releases didn’t have any air.
They sounded analog - no shimmer on the cymbals, closed in presentation
The UK originals are very lively
They should because how they handled the initial MoFi news was awful. They sent a rude and dismissive tweet and never properly acknowledged it afterwards or apologized. This video is supposed to be that acknowledgement but it isn't. They're playing it off as if they did nothing wrong.
Well put. The very term "ULTRA Analog" implies....what exactly? ANALOG, that's what! And that's what everyone expected. I *did* find the term a bit funny to begin with, but.....all illusions are soon shattered.
There is no definition to “ultra analog”. It’s a marketing term.
When you pulled that Nuggets album out.. every record you show us has a history to it... well...who can do that? To me as a record buyer since 1980... you are the guy i like to listen to... your records tell a story... a great story. Thx!
Good to Hear your insight of the History of Mo Fi Mike. Look forward to Part 2, its like books Don't Judge a Book by its Cover, close inspection required on the Record Sleeve Etc..& miss leading information, like much in History, check the sources
Great video. Keep up the good work.
I’m still kicking myself I didn’t pick up a copy of Elvis Costello and Bacharach when I got the Desire super vinyl.
I agree on Forever changes as well, I picked that up and never play it.
Michael you are the GOAT of the vinyl community! Congrats on the new channel! Well done as always, cheers!
Thanks Mikey, you really are the man! YOU are part of the reason some of us enjoy this hobby so much. Where else are we gonna get this? Please carry on, we need you!
Michael. For all the rolls you speak of. You should know the vast majority respect you, and admire your knowledge, sense of humour and exceptional intellect.
Can you find those criticisms y’all are talking about? Maybe they’re on another video?
On these analog pressings that turned out to be party digital, they all apparently were Direct Stream Digital, a format I love, at 4 times the usual 2.8 Million oversample used on all Super audio CDs, so it is easily to argue that even a extremely experienced music lover, scholar and critic cold mistake bad analog for DSD. No one is saying this. Excellent video!
Great video. Michael - you are the best. Thank you for doing this.
Great overview on MoFi history. Curious to hear how the SRV comparison goes.
I enjoyed this history and am looking forward to the next part. Now on to what really matters... it is time to stop using the terms "analog and digital." It is time to just say "I prefer this mastering and pressing over this mastering and pressing." Truth be told, the mastering choices seem to matter the most in my opinion. Thanks!
Great video 🤘🏽👍🏽🤙🏽
Thanks Massy, for the head's up on Mikey's new channel.
Great video, Michael! Do you have any insight on how Mo Fi selects albums to reissue, then and now? Thx in advance!
Just curious what you think of the Toshiba Pro-Use pressing of Abbey Road? I have a near mint copy and I believe it's the best one I've heard. Granted, I haven't heard many, but still.
It's good but a bit sterile..
Dear Michael Fremer, I'm a 24y old music lover from switzerland and i can tell you this - its always about hype. What happened in the fitness industry with all the hipsters trying to sell and rip-off newcomers to the industry, will also happen to all the hipsters that make hate comments under your channel/videos - they try so hard to have a voice in the industry and they want to make themselfs more important than they are (but they will always disappear after a certain time). So if you read again that someone is accusing you for getting promo records, then you know its just a jealous person that wants to be in your position. Thanks for making your own channel (again) where you say your honest thoughts.
I hope to hear that demo at Pacific Audio Fest
One Stormy Night is one of my all time favorites. It started my infatuation with MoFi.
Great video, I think we all agree MOFI records for the most part sound great and we at least we will now have transparency.
Nicely done
The record Store I worked in in Queens called Records spectacular we had an inside and actually had a 18 wheeler full of the white album a week before it was even released, you could say it was hot off the presses. I still have my LP out of that batch, back then I got paid in records.
Argo released tons of train records here in the UK. Their classical recordings pressings are fantastic as well as all of the Shakespeare plays they released back in the late 50's early 60's.
In the beginning, I collected cassette tapes to learn how to play certain songs by ear (before learning to read charts and use fake-books). Great albums on worn out cassettes turned into CDs. Great CDs turned into MoFi, DCC, and other's 'Gold'-CDs'. Those same albums over the decades turned into SACD's, including classical and opera (thanks, Esoteric). The vinyl collecting was a coincidental result of doing business with companies like 'Acoustic Sounds', Music Direct', and 'The Elusive Disc'. I became an investor losing the motivation to play like John Coltrane or Herbie Hancock. I'll never play as well as Martha Argerich or Janos Starker, but I appreciate being exposed to them by the audiophile companies like MoFi and Acoustic Sounds. Nowadays, I have to curtail my vinyl box-set spending because I need to pay for my new 'Rhodes mk8'. Hopefully, no one will release Steely Dan's "Aja" before then. Mr. Fremmer, keep up the great work. Cheers.
Ya - It’s tricky finding good sounding Little Feat records. Same with Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run. If anyone knows the best versions, please list them here.
I am glad I watched this video because I was wondering what you are thinking about how the best DSD copy holds up vs. analog master copy. Please do the comparison if possible. Thanks for your dedication to attaining the highest fidelity possible.
Very nice vid. Thanks. With no intent to dismiss legitimate concerns about the “marketing” of recent mofis…. Even if mofi cut “all analog” it’s entirely possible one may still prefer a different version. For example take the SRV example of the gunshot. That likely is nothing to do with the DSD transfer and all to do with the mastering choices. I for one much prefer the AP 2x45 of Folk Singer over the OneStep, I can’t articulate why but there’s something “damp” about the onestep and yeah, I consider that a miss. I like you, would very much like to be able to compare all analog versions of the miles stuff (which is why I got into these “high end” records in the first place. But I have a sneaky suspicion I might like them because of the choices made by Kevin Gray or whomever would do them. In one of the follow ups from the mofi debacle, it’s mentioned that KW a at mofi is choosing to diverge from the thriller originals compression. That could be a master stroke or a COMPLETE disaster. If Bruce Sweden and BG made choices back in 82 (after the initial tests were rejected by the producers) I’m here to say those were probably the right choices. It’s not like that record is being put on 45 (which it really should be).
In the Mike (InGroove) video, the MoFi engineers stated that they were making digital Lps even in 2008... as they stated that the first Abraxas of 2008 was DSD sourced....
I think it would be much easier for them to list the 100% analog records they have made... it may be a very short list.
The thing I found hilarious was that in his follow up video Mike talked about all of the 'stuff' they have around including prototype Beatles boxes, and basically the entire physical history. You'd think they'd have meticulous mastering records. I was once at Rudy Van Gelder's and a guy took out the logs and read off every artist that recorded that particular day through the many years the studio was open.
A question please, to anybody… I don’t know these whole catalogues, or different periods of catalogues, like you guys do. But I did revisit my Sony $30 copy of Bitches Brew, and liked it way more than I remembered. Then as luck would have it I got the “Gain 2 Ultra Analogue” version, and it has blown me away. There’s so much happening all at the same time, and yet the sounds are all clear and distinct and musical and I can pick whatever instrument in my mind at any point and follow the lines along perfectly clearly. I love it! So, my first question, what am I listening to? Is it Ultra ANALOGUE, or from DSD? Then I saw Music Direct announce BB coming in One-Step, but that was ages ago. I’ve called MD several times, spoke to different people who answered, and this last time I was told it will be a long LONG very very long time before that comes out. It almost sounded like he was saying it’s a ploy of some kind and that that version will never come out. Or is this me being impatient? Thanks in advance for anyone who can fill me in a bit here!
I definitely agree about the Little Feat mofis. I was lucky to find a nearly mint copy (still in original outer sleeve with hype sticker and all inserts included) of the earlier Waiting For Columbus for a paltry $40 and it sounds fantastic. But I was incredibly disappointed in my newer MOFI copy of Dixie Chicken.
Mikey, have followed all your previous endeavors for years and will continue to do so as I enjoy and respect your views and opinions. However, I agree with Krogg in a previous comment, please stop with the continuing defensive plays on negativity.
You have fallen into a bad habit of getting very preoccupied with all of this, and it is not a recent development. It spoils your videos and detracts from your message.
ditto! and thanks for the great content michael.
If you saw my inbox, never mind what's here from "Chris" you'd better understand. I agree it detracts but being called "fraud", "crook", etc. is really never pleasant. I do my best to be an honest broker of facts. I buy all the gear in my system and get accused of getting it free and it really is annoying as you can imagine.....
Best comment on this channel! No one likes a grumpy old man.
@@trackingangle929 Understandable. No one likes fingerpointing. They don't know you. I don't know you. Keep up the good work and ignore all comments. Mine included.
@@trackingangle929 Michael, this is the nature of the Internet. Sadly. I personally don’t feel you deserve to be accused of any suspicious activities. You’ve always been very entertaining and have the best stories.
You will NEVER not have detractors. But you have us. And we outnumber the a-holes.
Continue putting your best foot forward and we will continue to listen and read.
Please get Kevin’s cut of Marvin Gaye, I’d love to see a video with your thoughts.
Great first phase of your Mobile Fidelity history Michael - what should also be highlighted is that now we know that MoFi actually either captured the Master Tapes used for their 'One Steps' either by use of a Studer Tape copy or 4XDSD digital copy which means their lacquer cutting source was 2nd Generation and adds a further 'step' - they should all now be accurately named 'Two Steps'....I suspect that the more wealthy audiophile vinyl collectors in the world are considering a class action lawsuit against MoFi on this basis of them mis-selling and mis-representing their products - I think they'll have a pretty strong case.....
Hi! I thought that I heard on their video that they use the studer and then transfer to DSD file which means 2 additional steps. I could be be wrong as Im not native english speaker.
You must be joking.
@@andresypaolaguzman202 They say if the release is for their vinyl, a Studer Tape copy of the OMT is made and for their SACDs they copy it digitally at 4XDSD (so potentially they do both at the same time if the title has both format releases - which be where you might have been confused )
Mike, thanks for what you do. The exciting thing about vinyl is the discovery of gems from the past. I am constantly learning something new. Rich
No matter what people say, I still prefer vinyl records and tapes over any digital format including DSD. I like what I hear and feel when I play records, tapes and CDs. Having said that, AAD cds are not bad. They retain a portion of that analogue sound and feel. Listening to music using the analogue medium does involve a bit of cleaning and subtle adjustments of the equipment. I enjoy that.
Michael, thank you for great videos. I have a question that's unrelated to MoFi: do you like more challenging, some would say "experimental" electronic music? Stuff like Aphex twin, Autechre and similar. 45 RPM Michael for example loves stuff like that and talks often about those records. I was wondering if you listened to those records what your opinion on their sound quality is. Personally, I find them pretty amazing.
All the best.
Yes. I have plenty of that/those genres
@@trackingangle929 What do you think of the sound quality of those vinyl releases?
Excellent
Thanks, I have the Sgt. Peppers, not the DSOTM , UHQRs , hahaha. Started buying MoFi 80 's and still today regardless of constrovery but not exclusively. Aloha, great video ,,,,
Gahhh! I want that Katy Lied so bad.. I must score a copy! One of my favorite Steely Dan albums. 👍
The first MFSL LPs I bought were the classical releases of the 500 series. Some of them were good, some were very good. But the pressing quality (Japanese super vinyl) was always excellent, no clicks, pops and other noises at all, which set them really apart from most of the standard LPs in these days. A pity that they stopped re-releasing classical music when they resumed LP production in 1994.
I actually have the UHQR of “Dark Side Of The Moon”, which I bought at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo for (I think, $29.88 - the tag is faded) while I was in college. I’ve never played it. It’s still sealed, which I know is a little insane.
You want to sell it?
MoFi should change their name to "Mobile INfidelity Sound Lab"
The Vinyl Community says that the best ones were done in Australia.
When can we expect Part 2?
Very interesting, although I would say the whining about being criticized in every video that I've watched (admittedly only 3) might get old if it continues.
It already did
Put yourself in his position. Constantly having your integrity called into question would probably get old too.
@@gonzaljevic Well of course no one's forcing you to watch. But read the comment above from "Chris" who tells me I've lost the plot in my own life in part because he wrongly believes I get all of the costly audio gear I have here for free. How would you react over time to get lies about yourself thrown in your face? Things like "you are a crook", "you are corrupt" etc. I really don't care if people disagree with my opinions but the other stuff is something else and over time it can get to you....
@@trackingangle929 Funny how you throw in "audio equipment I have here" How about audio equipment you've acquired over the years?
@@trackingangle929 there are so many positive comments here and these people are not getting a reply while you're wasting your time with haters. I can only imagine how it feels but just let it go and save your precious time for those who care. Haters gonna hate... Thank you for all your reviews, videos and for so many things I've learned from you.
Great video ! Can't wait for Part 2. Question - do promos sound better ? Some say yes, because most are early pressings etc.
You should do a mobile fidelity factory tour 😁 I wish they or music direct would open a distribution centre in the uk or somewhere in Europe the price to get shipped to the UK is getting as dear as the record itself, worth it though dire straits sound fantastic just got brothers in arms last Tuesday and have still to clean and play it 😀 we've been having freaky hot weather here in usually constantly raining Scotland and don't want to take the chance with the vinyl in extreme heat 😀 anyway great video and please stay safe 😀
Thanks for your efforts. Your commentary has made my return to vinyl more fun.
I understand that folks like their vinyl systems and have invested a lot, but I would rather have the DSD file made from the analog tape than to have these records. It would be closer to the source and potentially sound better...
Not to upset anyone here, but that is my sincere feeling. I spent double on my vinyl setup than my digital setup but it is still unable to compete with the digital setup. Wish MoFi could offer the DSD files for those of use that don't have top of the line vinyl playback systems.
Sincerity is good! However i still prefer vinyl to SACDs. I'll come over and set up your turntable....
Remember hearing the Trains
On the big Dunleavy Speakers?
I think I hear the wife calling
You
I hang on every word Michael, screw the wannabe’s, your collection should to go to a museum at some point. The only Mofi I have is a 1984 Beatles Rubber Soul.
Bought it new back then so ya I’m older as well. Haven’t played it in ages but after all this talk it’s going for a spin soon. Love your passion. Thanks 🙏 😎
I’d love to know what you think of the Mofi ‘My Aim Is True’. Mine sounds like absolute death compared to the original. All of the rest of the Mofi Costello catalogue sounds great though 👍🏻
Is your original the U.S. or U.K. pressing?
@@trackingangle929 don't know about his but my UK Stiff crushes MoFi's...
I agree. My mofi Aim is the quietest pressed lp I have. I don't like it at all.
Mike have listened to MofoFi’s Billy Joel’s Songs in the Attic 45 rpm pressing? It’s my 1st Mofi purchase
I'm about to play the 1st original pressing of Tin Pan Alley and the One Step back to back. Thanks for the idea.
Please report back! Especially about the frequency balance....
@@trackingangle929 It is documented that my friend(professional musician and phenomenal guitar player himself) who has a vinyl CZcams channel, discussed this back when we both first got our Mofi One Step Couldn't Stand the Weather. I think our chief complaint of the entire album was how SRV's guitar was no longer the star of the show, but was somehow "muddied" in the mix. I was comparing the Mofi then to Spotify streaming of the original :( . I searched and found an original pressing after that. Just now, listening back to back, this is my synopsis: I played both albums without adjusting anything, ,except the turntable speed. In the original pressing, the bass guitar is right where it is supposed to be, under the rest of the music. The rim shots of the snare drum are crisp and piercing. The cymbals sparkle and sizzle. When SRV comes in on vocals, his voice is characteristically rough, but there is a pure tone in the center of it. His voice is dead center and in front of his guitar amp that is slightly above and to his right. The drum kit is behind and slightly to his left. A point of reference to me was the "pick rake" right after the lyrics "two by four"... I involuntarily visualized a zoom in shot of his hand holding the pick and raking the strings. It even evoked a visualization of SRV's trademark grimace on his face. I did in fact jump a bit at the "I heard a pistol shoot..." spot. Couldn't help it. There was space and live air in the song, and unmistakable soundstage. The first thing that struck me when the Mofi One Step started spinning was the overpowering low frequencies. The ever-so-slightly off tune bass guitar was relegated to the Star of the Show throughout the entire track. What is it called when the bass rumbles too much? That's what it did, and it seemed to have to0 much reverb or a bit of echo, leaving one tone to linger into the next. The track was impressively silent, as in zero vinyl noise, no ticks, no clicks, no pops. Also, no feeling of air moving around in space. The bass, to me was a distraction. I could have turned down the sub, but I wanted to listen with identical settings, and with myself positioned in exactly the same place in the room. When SRV came in with his lyrics I was shocked. His voice was not the same. The EQ was changed from the original, significantly. His voice also lacked the inner pure tone that is actually dominant in the original pressing, as opposed to the fuzzy overtones and undertones that the Mofi overplayed. His voice was pushed back into a small space in the mix, feeling and spatially "appearing" unnatural. The soundstage in the One Step is large, surrounded by the bass guitar booming off the walls of a square room, and everything else, including the supposed star, the guitar which is pushed too far back and squeezed. The cymbals lacked the high frequency sizzle. There was no air to breath in the One Step. Suffocating. I did not jump at the same places the Original Pressing made me jump. I was not enthralled as I was hearing the original pressing. I actually have had the original pressing for several months, but played it the first time just now, as part of this comparison. I am spinning it now again, just to enjoy. :)
When Sgt Pepper's was re released and digitized the original producer who resides in Sydney was horrified at the fidelity losses in the recording
I unironically want to hear that Steam Engines and thunderstorm record. Seems like a great mood setter.
A bit of a tangent, but I hesitated to buy the MoFi Miles Davis catalogue because I already had the Mosaic box sets on vinyl. Would you care to comment on how the Mosaic records sound compared to the MoFi? (At the time they were released, the general consensus was that the Mosaic sets were the new benchmark).
I have to go back and compare. Of course those Mosaics present the music in "running order" not album order but when I have time I'll compare some tracks. Those are all analog too so.....
@@trackingangle929 I did exactly this recently. The Mosaic Milestones destroys the Mofi and a ton of alternatives (Grundman, Absolute Analogue, Kevin Gray versions, RK Smith Mono, even the Mosaic) sound better than the Mofi KOB, but all other Miles are superior from Mofi.
@@trackingangle929 I forgot: the Sketches of Spain Mosaic and the Original and the Grundman are superior to the Mofi for me.
@@trackingangle929 I would love to hear your thoughts. (Maybe an article/series of videos....?) I treasure those sets - which I got when they were issued. I remember you doing an in-depth comparison of the CD and vinyl versions of the Live at the Plugged Nickel (not in CD's favor), but as the MoFis came out you demurred because the Mosaics were out-of-print and already very expensive. BTW so excited about the new venture (I still own all my original Tracking Angle magazines).
@@comeon9796 That is so interesting! I got a few of the MoFis of later electric Miles and the live gigs and was not disappointed.
Geez, Michael-why didn’t you insist that King of America be cut at 45 rpm over 2 sides along with Get Happy!! Kidding, of course-but KOA has some seriously long album sides as well, and while the MFSL is no doubt the best sounding version of my personal favorite EC album, it’s a missed opportunity.
I agree people who said bad things about you or pressings are just dumb I believe you I learned a lot from you thanks for doing this keeps me inspired maybe those people who talk about bad things should get a Crosley
As a make up for their abuse of transparency they should put out Beck’s Sea Change again.
This is the best suggestion I've heard in the midst of all of this.. in fact this is the one record I would buy with the words DSD imprinted on Beck's forehead.
I still have no idea what mobile fidelity is other than a record label.
MoFi said in the interview that their 2008 Abraxas was a digital, so I don't trust anything after 2008 to be purely analog.
We can never know if the digital conversion made the product good or bad, or if they were just given a project that was doomed from the start because of many varying factors.
The printing process/quality could in they also have been changed slightly throughout the years.
I'm really glad you made this video. It's fair to say that some of your comments in the videos made with the other Michael as a reaction to this breaking story were unnecessarily harsh on Mike Eposito. Your objectivity in this video towards Mike, and the whole debacle in gneral (rather than the name calling) shows what a great journalist and commentator you are and what you bring to this community. Bravo.
Thank you. Yet the hate comments continue arriving. Part of the deal I guess.
I bought the MoFi "Katy Lied" also. I feel it made the DBX processing on that recording sound even worse than on the "common" LP. Also bought half-speed AJA (around the same time) which I like a lot.
Michael, I sense the Beatles outer sleeves in the box set having the same tape printed shows the profound cost cutting in printing .. if anything it would have made sense to have the actual sleeve art work. Doesn't seem to be much to extract from that in terms of provenance - PS, wish I could see you at the Pacific Audio .. saw you at the last Rocky Mountain at PS Audio booth.. loved listening to the analog/digital vinyl comparisons!
I'll be there next weekend!
@22:16 that is something we need, sadly reel to reel never took off and never took advantage on the scale of economy. A question for micahel is why dont he show off his reel to reel in his collection. We would love to have a deeper understand his 30+ years of audio experience
I had to take a master out of the UK once. It was just like the movies. I had to check in and take a suitcase that was handcuffed to me.
Looking forward to part 2
I'll add that I agree that while it's ultimately about the sound, truth in advertising is important. Otherwise there's a bit of mistrust between the company and the consumer, and that's not good.
Mike, did you see the poetryinplastic MoFi video? Very well done... you should especially watch it at the 32:05 time stamp for the 2017 MoFi interview...
Yes. Michael (another Michael!) wrote for AnalogPlanet and will write for TrackingAngle.com when it goes live later this summer. Great guy!
Everyone can go be upset about current MoFi events. I'll be here just enjoying my collection as usual.
Mike congratulation on the new channel. Much success. Subscribed.we need someone who knows what they are talking about. No one can give a history on mofi like you.keep up the good work.glad your back. Enjoy the music
Thanks a lot. There’s so much confusion out there, I appreciate your views. You’re my go-to guy & always will be.
Your place looks like a music library in a radio station. I like audiophile record discs. In fact, I hoped that many albums would be mastered at half speed on to virgin vinyl, instead of massed produced vinyl. Does your place have a broadcast booth? Smile! 🙂
MOFI was deceitful, end of story. Re: Elvis Costello and some of the more exciting stuff they did around that time, it was too early in the vinyl revival for those releases to do as well as they might do today (pre DSD sourcing announcement).
The market for vinyl is very different now, and especially audiophile vinyl than it was 10+ years ago. IMHO that's even more of a reason for MOFI to cut the B.S. and be truthful about how each release was sourced and cut.
Of course MOFI is happy to charge extortionate prices for Elvis Costello releases they have as warehouse backstock. Wonder how many they can sell at those prices now after MOFI-digi-gate???!!!
All this stuff about mobile Fidelity is giving me a headache😦 I pretty much have had enough I'm just going to my local record store or eBay or Amazon and I'm just buying records and if I get a really good quality sound I'll be thankful for it, but I'm through with hunting down the best sounding pressing in fact I actually started buying CDs again because it's so cheap and some of them sounds so wonderful✌
Why react so defensively? You certainly don't need to justify yourself to anyone. You are the vinyl hero! 😁
i'll send you my inbox. True plenty of compliments but when you get called a "crook" and "corrupt" it's ......
I lived through Mobile Fidelity in the '70s. A couple of things -
1) A bunch of us, including Rob Doorack, a reviewer from no longer published Listener Magazine, convened at Sounds Of Silence in Nashua, NH, to do a shootout between DSOTM pressings, including a CD, an original UK Harvest, an original US, a standalone MoFi, and the 25th Anniversary. The original UK Harvest was easily the winner. The MoFi came in low in the poll of those in the room. It sounded hyper-detail, yes, well-pressed, but stiff, lifeless. The UK was airier, more transparent, and sounded more real.
2) The test pressing of that Doug Sax-mastered reissue was the 25th Anniversary. The test pressings WERE done at RTI and reportedly sounded great (I have a reviewer friend who got one). But the commercial pressings were done at a facility in Holland, and, unfortunately, didn't sound nearly as good (according to my reviewer friend).
To each his own DSOTM!
That is correct. I too have one of those DSOTM RTI pressed Test Pressings and I can confirm it is amazing!
Just wait until the MOFI "Cassette Scandal" breaks.... If thoses hubs could talk!
You have to love how In Groove Mike stirred shit up enough to bring the vinyl/audio community to this point. He is probably watching this video and polishing his head saying "Yesss, yesss". LOL!! Just kidding Mike(s), I love the scrutiny the hobby is being put under solely for the love of the sound.
As always, Michael you are on point. Thank you When are you writing the definative book on vinyl collecting, recording, etc?
Talking about Carole King's "Tapestry". I had always preferred the original Columbia, Santa Maria pressing, then Classic Records did both a 33 1/3 rpm version and a 45 rpm version. I wasn't impressed with the 33 1/3 rpm version but felt the 45 rpm version equaled the Santa Maria pressing. In 2012, ORG did a 45rpm version and I was disappointed with it. In 2013, Mofi Did their 33 1/3rpm version , MFSL 1-414, this was the best version I've ever heard and consider it to be the reference version. Then, Mofi released UD1S-2-030. It didn't sound good to me and not even close to their 2013 version. What happened?