Mobile Fidelity UD1S Thriller

[Ron Resnick]

Has anyone compared in his/her own system the original vinyl pressing of Michael Jackson’s Thriller to the just-distributed Mobile Fidelity Ultra Disc 1 Step version?

A number of people have posted reviews on video on YouTube about this comparison, but I don’t trust any of them (except for Danny Kaey, but he has not reported on this yet).

I trust WBF reports and Michael Fremer reports.

 

[XV-1]

Care factor zero.

This is the root problem of the ever dwindling audiophile market. Nobody ever complained about the rather excellent sound of MJ's Thriller. Yet here we are with a one step release. Why?

Go out and buy new music as this is what will keep audiophiles and music alive.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Care factor zero.

This is the root problem of the ever dwindling audiophile market. Nobody ever complained about the rather excellent sound of MJ's Thriller. Yet here we are with a one step release. Why?

Go out and buy new music as this is what will keep audiophiles and music alive.

What is the point of an inapposite reply like this to a specific question?

I have always complained about the sound of Thriller. I find it bright and edgy sounding — a lot like early digital (even though it’s not a digital recording). It is the one Mobile Fidelity DSD transfer I have not listed for sale on eBay, because, since I find it kind of digital sounding to begin with, maybe a significantly different re-mastering EQ will actually make it sound better to me than the original analog mastering.

Buying new music, arguably, is a discrete sub-hobby. I, personally, prefer to continue to refine and maximize the suspension of disbelief of titles I already love. Hence my question.

 

[daytona600]

Only played billie jean and ticks all the hifi boxes But also bit boring and lifeless
Borrowed copy would Never own a MJ record

 

[Ron Resnick]

Only played billie jean and ticks all the hifi boxes But also bit boring and lifeless
Borrowed copy would Never own a MJ record

Thank you for your reply, but I am not understanding your answer in response to my question. Also, the absence of pronouns makes it difficult to understand to whom you are referring.

Are you saying you or someone you know compared the two records in question? Which one of them was “boring and lifeless”?

 

[XV-1]

What is the point of an inapposite reply like this to a specific question?

I have always complained about the sound of Thriller. I find it bright and edgy sounding — a lot like early digital (even though it’s not a digital recording). It is the one Mobile Fidelity DSD transfer I have not listed for sale on eBay, because, since I find it kind of digital sounding to begin with, maybe a significantly different re-mastering EQ will actually make it sound better to me than the original analog mastering.

Buying new music, arguably, is a discrete sub-hobby. I, personally, prefer to continue to refine and maximize the suspension of disbelief of titles I already love. Hence my question.

Ron

It's important for your soul and new artists in general that you broaden your musical horizons with new music.
You never know, it may invigorate your life

 

[Serenade]

My personal experience. I own both versions

The good parts of Thriller one-step over early press (Gatefold, no MJ listed as a producer)
1. Jet black background
2. Pin point imaging
3. Wide 3-D soundstage
4. Extreme clarity of low level details
5. Impressive packaging
Using Thriller title track as an example. The narration by Vincent Price is so realistic that I can "see" him. The door slam at the very end is outside the speaker boundary.

The Bad parts of one-step
a. Low volume. Really need to crank the volume knob up
b. Lack of emotion. Hear much, but feel little of the music. My feet dont feel like moving to the music

 

[Ron Resnick]

My personal experience. I own both versions

The good parts of Thriller one-step over early press (Gatefold, no MJ listed as a producer)
1. Jet black background
2. Pin point imaging
3. Wide 3-D soundstage
4. Extreme clarity of low level details
5. Impressive packaging

When are you going to get to the good parts?

 

[facten]

When are you going to get to the good parts?

Seems like from his last statement that you've read the good parts

Lack of emotion. Hear much, but feel little of the music. My feet dont feel like moving to the music

 

[Ron Resnick]

Seems like from his last statement that you've read the good parts

I know.

I just don’t consider:

1. Jet black background
2. Pin point imaging and
4. Extreme clarity of low level details

to be good parts.

I am putting these up for sale on eBay!

 

[JRW1971]

I have the OG (the real OG before MJ was added to the engineering credits) and the One Step. The highs on the One Step are far too pronounced. So much tizz. The OG also has some of that '80s splash, but the One Step is swimming in splash. And, like many MoFis, it just has this sound that reminds me of what a Ferrari would look like if I -- not a mechanic -- took it apart, tried to enhance certain things with all the best intentions, and put it back together again. I very, very, very much prefer the OG. Plenty of examples when I prefer a well-done reissue over an OG; this is not one of them. I'm not even sure why I bought it, because the chances of MoFi's inside team bettering Bernie were not high to begin with.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Thank you for this report.

 

[LL21]

Has anyone compared in his/her own system the original vinyl pressing of Michael Jackson’s Thriller to the just-distributed Mobile Fidelity Ultra Disc 1 Step version?

A number of people have posted reviews on video on YouTube about this comparison, but I don’t trust any of them (except for Danny Kaey, but he has not reported on this yet).

I trust WBF reports and Michael Fremer reports.

Hey Ron,

Ordered the MoFi SACD (obviously digital only here). Will be interesting to hear it.

 

[Ron Resnick]

From these reports about the LPs, I suspect it’s going to be less good than the original.

 

[LL21]

From these reports about the LPs, I suspect it’s going to be less good than the original.

Certainly seems that way, though depending on the system you are using, I wonder if the additional details will be welcome. That can happen occasionally.

 

[Avidlistener]

Just for fun if anyone wants an insight into Billy Jean, there are all 39 tracks of the multi track sessions floating around online. Playing Michael’s uncompressed vocals are quite interesting and give us a peek into his raw talent. I brought all tracks into Logic Pro and made a little demo playing isolated tracks.

 

[LL21]

Just for fun if anyone wants an insight into Billy Jean, there are all 39 tracks of the multi track sessions floating around online. Playing Michael’s uncompressed vocals are quite interesting and give us a peek into his raw talent. I brought all tracks into Logic Pro and made a little demo playing isolated tracks.

That was cool! He can definitely sing. The solo singing sections are impressive.

 

[Avidlistener]

Also interesting to hear how simplistic some of the raw tracks are, how the production really took them to another level.