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

@grislybutter - they're not $10 records you're comparing them to. They're $20-$25 records if new. If they are 45's they are more. The One Steps are mainly 45's and they are $125. The 33s are $100. Compare apples to apples....

I avoid used records at all costs because you don't know what you are getting, although I am sure there are some bargains available. I've been able to pick up some NEW records on eBay for $12-$15.

The One Steps have already gone down a bit on Discogs, some titles more than others. I hope it continues.

Usually record stores price their used records based on condition (or maybe how much they paid for it, which should be based on condition), so the more you pay, the better SQ you get.

In terms of getting "the most" out of a record, that is impossible to assess. I would say more like the value, which is in the eye of the consumer. My cousin has a couple thousand dollar system that he thinks is very good and has other priorities than upgrading it (and that is really all that matters) and he appreciates better sounding records and buys them sometimes. I consider my low 5 figure system beyond very good (and don't want to invest a lot more - I've built it incrementally over 40+ years, never in big chunks) but plenty of people spend high five into 6 figures, some even 7! If you're playing with Monopoly money, why not? It must be nice. I just hope those people have the room acoustics to justify it. My brother in law has spent probably $60K or more on his system and it is in his office! (maybe 10x12) with speakers close to the wall because he can't move them out due to space limitations. 

@sokogear I wonder what speakers and turntable you have - now - that you know so much about records. 

Monopoly money - must be nice!

If I spend high-dollar value for a specific thing, I feel ripped off if that thing is not what it’s supposed to be.

We buy analog stuff for a reason.

The “stop complaining if it sounds good” argument is nil.

Side-stepping honesty as a company is bad.

Would you rather have bad sounding AAAA stuff? I buy it because it sounds good. They have since expanded on their explanation and describe what size and speed tape they use and the size of the data files. If that reduces their demand, all the better for me and the true audiophiles.

@grislybutter - yes it must be nice. Not me though- it’s all hard earned cash. I have a Rega P8 on top of a Townshend seismic platform sitting on a wall mounted shelf for max isolation. Cartridge and phono stage are also very important - (importance is reduced as you go down the signal path) van den Hul MC One Special and Sutherland Insight LPS. I feel the source is the most important so I purposely have spent less than what is typical on my speakers, KEF R500s. To round it out, I have. Plinius 8200MK II integrated amp and a nice Puritan Power conditioner. Traded in gear on most, and bought used, demos or close outs, except Rega.

I have enjoyed Mobile Fidelity MoFi Original Master Recordings since the seventies. It seems criminal and counterproductive in our tiny hobby to financially punish anyone. If you don’t like what they make, don’t buy them. Now it is sad that they chose to not be fully transparent, to offer "deception by omission". I can forgive them for this and move on. I’ll keep my old MoFi And continue to buy new issues, because they sound fine to me!

Being punitive helps no one. It’s just mean spirited. Life is too short for that nonsense.

mahler123 You covered the issue at hand with remarkable precision and clarity. Well done. I fully agree  

 

Happy MoFi listening. Thank you MoFi