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Mofi Returns for What & Why?

On the current Stereophile is an interesting article by Barry Willis heralding the return of legendary audiophile record label Mobile Fidelity. The innovative company that pioneered the 1/2 speed mastering of legenadry albums by Pink Foyd. Steely Dan,The Beatles Rolling Stones and also the non-legendary remastering of Gino Vinelli,Melissa Manchester is being relaunched under new ownership and saluted by the now mainstream press. This much awaited event
is realized in the issuing of Modern Cool by Patricia Barber on SACD with others to follow on SACD as well as the "possible revival of half speed mastering and heavy vinyl records for the discerning audiophile." For what?, why bother? SACD has been coming for years so has the new Mobile Fidelity company. SACD is still a fringe format. Vinyl lovers (such as myself) buy vinyl everyday on ebay and auction houses. Why not release vinyl?
When Music Direct announced the acquistion of the Mofi intellectual properties, they did a survey asking what were the people's favored titles. My personal favorites were Hendrix, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and a few others (I like all kinds of music). Just how do you associate the limited past glories of Mobile Fidelity with the trumpeting of the release of a niche artist with a even more limiting format? All for the "possibility" of future vinyl releases? Of what? This mis-marketing seems to me, to be mostly a waste of time. Somebody please exlpain the rationality of all of this to me. I got one hand on my wallet and the other one switching to ebay!
trebleclef

Showing 1 response by stevebraxton

stevebraxton
17 posts
 
I hope the revival of Mofi is a big success for both SACD and vinyl. I think SACD is poised for big growth. I missed out on releases of MofiI vinyl in the 80's and 90's and would like a chance to buy some high quality vinyl issues. MD /Mofi owns the vinyl cutting machines which are probably the best in the world. Why not put these to use. The few Mofi vinyl issues I do have sound great.
I have purchased so many used vinyl records that are worn out and not worth having. The Mofi vinyl on Ebay and other sites seems priced way too high.
There could be some momentum gain for SACD by doing this. Which is a good thing as it sounds great.
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