MoFi controversy


I see this hasn't been mentioned here yet, so I thought I'd put this out here.  Let me just say that I haven't yet joined the analog world, so I don't have a dog in this fight.

It was recently revealed that Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs one step LPs are being cut from digital masters (DSD) rather than being straight analog throughout the chain.

Here is one of the many Youtube videos that discusses it

 

To me, it seems that if MOFI is guilty of anything, it's "deception by omission."  That is, they were never open about the process and the use of digital in the chain. 

One thing to mention is that hardly anyone is criticizing the sound quality of these LPs, even after this revelation.  Me personally, I wouldn't spend over one hundred dollars for any recording regardless of the format.

 

ftran999

Showing 3 responses by karl_desch

Not to stoke a digital vs analog debate…but I think it’s entirely reasonable to think that in many peoples stereos, especially if they have worked on improving their turntable/arm/cart/preamp front end, that a $100.00 Mofi pressed using a digital master could still sound better than the $30.00 SACD.  So many variables.

A friend of mine, who cuts lacquers with a Neumann VMS 80, has explained to me in the past that it is much more difficult to get a good cut with an all analog master tape than a digital one.  Most lathes preview the a digital file which allows the lathe to cut within its safe parameters. All analog cuts that turn out great might be "minor miracles".  I'm sure @atmasphere can explain the preview process better. 

My understanding of the process, but who really knows...  

Start with Master tape, record with DSD while adjusting for tape head azimuth, splice together in digital domain, ?convert to analog?, ?master in analog domain?, cut lacquer.