That is photoshopped and not the "official" MoFi literature despite what we've learned this week.
Do Mobile Fidelity Vinyl Re-issues Have a Digital Step in the Process?
- Thread starter Ron Resnick
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That is photoshopped and not the "official" MoFi literature despite what we've learned this week.
Agree too. It sounds like from what they implied that all of their reissues starting maybe even further back from Santana are done ADA. I doubt that any are direct analog as they feel 4XDSD is easier and sounds transparent to the source (their words).
I think they never thought that they would get caught and if they did play stupid, which is what they did.
Absolutely. And I'm also with you in that I've historically disliked Mofi reissues from a sound quality perspective. And I doubt digital is the culprit to be honest. Thankfully I don't have many left because I don't listen to them. The One Steps are a different animal. I do like quite a few of these. For different reasons. Mainly, they don't sound like the standard Mofi "Original Master Recording" disks. Sound quality is a step up. But, also, the physical quality of the record is outstanding. Near zero, and I mean zero, surface noise. Crisp and shiney vinyl. Flat. I have got to believe the actual vinyl formulation on these records is different. And whatever it is, it's better. In my experience. I just counted and I have a total of 7 One Steps. Five are still sealed. I have about 3 of the standard Mofi records. I'm mostly happy with these three judging by the fact that I actually listen to them.
I would not get your hopes up for a dramatic lawsuit. Other than a demand for rescission (refund of purchase price) it would be very difficult to prove damages.
If Mobile Fidelity wanted to show some class at this late date it could offer a refund to all original purchasers, or to all present owners, for any returned LP which is not AAA.
What would be the result of a law suit? The bankruptcy and collapse of MoFi, putting an end to a source of excellent vinyl?
Discogs shows more than 1000 entries for them, just for LPs. Surely their behavior seems unacceptable, but if for one moment we ignore the moral and fraud aspects, they have brought enjoyment, excitement and life to this hobby. If anyone has doubts please read Michael Fremer about the One Step "Abraxas": https://www.analogplanet.com/content/mobile-fidelitys-one-step-abraxas-any-record-worth-100-0
"Halfway through this "one step"'s side one I said to myself "This might be the best record I've ever heard". I meant by that the technical quality of the record and how much it resembles tape in four critical parameters: the wide dynamics and low bass response, the unlimited dynamic range, the tape-like sense of flow and especially the enormity of the soundstage presentation. More importantly I got a greater appreciation for the music, the musicianship and the showmanship too"
Anyway why will people return their LPs to MoFi, knowing that in a couple of years they will be more valuable than what they paid?
Not to sidetrack too much, but I wonder how many Direct to Disc albums go through a digital miximg board that applies whatever digital fixes before sending the signal to the cutting lathe. Unless the jacket says AAA or is clear what mixing board and tools are used, we just don't know.
What would be the result of a law suit? The bankruptcy and collapse of MoFi, putting an end to a source of excellent vinyl?
Discogs shows more than 1000 entries for them, just for LPs. Surely their behavior seems unacceptable, but if for one moment we ignore the moral and fraud aspects, they have brought enjoyment, excitement and life to this hobby. If anyone has doubts please read Michael Fremer about the One Step "Abraxas": https://www.analogplanet.com/content/mobile-fidelitys-one-step-abraxas-any-record-worth-100-0
"Halfway through this "one step"'s side one I said to myself "This might be the best record I've ever heard". I meant by that the technical quality of the record and how much it resembles tape in four critical parameters: the wide dynamics and low bass response, the unlimited dynamic range, the tape-like sense of flow and especially the enormity of the soundstage presentation. More importantly I got a greater appreciation for the music, the musicianship and the showmanship too"
Anyway why will people return their LPs to MoFi, knowing that in a couple of years they will be more valuable than what they paid?
If evidence beyond a reasonable certainty is established in court, then other companies can claim they lost revenue because of MoFi’s misconduct. If any of MoFi’s customers state they wouldn’t have purchased MoFi if they had known this now disclosed information, and would have purchased from another Label instead then a lawsuit for damages and punitive damages could be forthcoming IMO. Then again, if other labels are playing the same game then there will be silence …
What would be the result of a law suit? The bankruptcy and collapse of MoFi, putting an end to a source of excellent vinyl?
Discogs shows more than 1000 entries for them, just for LPs. Surely their behavior seems unacceptable, but if for one moment we ignore the moral and fraud aspects, they have brought enjoyment, excitement and life to this hobby. If anyone has doubts please read Michael Fremer about the One Step "Abraxas": https://www.analogplanet.com/content/mobile-fidelitys-one-step-abraxas-any-record-worth-100-0
"Halfway through this "one step"'s side one I said to myself "This might be the best record I've ever heard". I meant by that the technical quality of the record and how much it resembles tape in four critical parameters: the wide dynamics and low bass response, the unlimited dynamic range, the tape-like sense of flow and especially the enormity of the soundstage presentation. More importantly I got a greater appreciation for the music, the musicianship and the showmanship too"
Anyway why will people return their LPs to MoFi, knowing that in a couple of years they will be more valuable than what they paid?
1) I was responding to Bill’s post that he hoped for a legal investigation.
2) Sound quality and musical enjoyment are irrelevant to the “moral and fraud aspects.” (Not a perfect analogy . . . but is a drinking water damaging lumber mill let off the hook because some people are happy with their new wood houses?)
3) If Mobile Fidelity calculates that few people would return their ADA LPs, then Mobile Fidelity can, even at this late date, make the offer and not suffer material financial detriment.
Can you please give us a couple of examples to prove that there is validity to this concern?
I am interested to hear if anyone emails them requesting a return/refund on any LPs they have bought from them. My gut feeling is they will not accept returns outside of whatever their normal return window is.
Yes the vinyl formulation is different on the One Steps. Mofi call it "super vinyl."
Marvin Gaye What's Going On had a very low noise floor, but I sold it because the mastering was "hifi" hyped up type of sound. Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um my first copy was noisy and had scratches, second copy was better. This sounds less congested than a Columbia 6-eye stereo LP.
Ah Um can definitely sound hot. I think the ORG was hot and I have an old pressing (not original) that runs hot too. I've heard the One Step isn't as hot, but I haven't opened mine yet.
No I can not. I am more asking the question. How do you know what your getting with any vinyl album. I look on the covers to find date codes, mastering etc, but rarely if ever do any labels tell us what we are getting. In general it would be nice if labels were open and forthcoming on what generation , date produced, mastering process etc were disclossed.
What would be the result of a law suit? The bankruptcy and collapse of MoFi, putting an end to a source of excellent vinyl?
Discogs shows more than 1000 entries for them, just for LPs. Surely their behavior seems unacceptable, but if for one moment we ignore the moral and fraud aspects, they have brought enjoyment, excitement and life to this hobby. If anyone has doubts please read Michael Fremer about the One Step "Abraxas": https://www.analogplanet.com/content/mobile-fidelitys-one-step-abraxas-any-record-worth-100-0
"Halfway through this "one step"'s side one I said to myself "This might be the best record I've ever heard". I meant by that the technical quality of the record and how much it resembles tape in four critical parameters: the wide dynamics and low bass response, the unlimited dynamic range, the tape-like sense of flow and especially the enormity of the soundstage presentation. More importantly I got a greater appreciation for the music, the musicianship and the showmanship too"
Anyway why will people return their LPs to MoFi, knowing that in a couple of years they will be more valuable than what they paid?
I am really struggling with this post. As decent human beings we absolutely should not ignore the moral and fraudulent behaviours of companies behaving in these ways. No excuses, no exceptions.
I agree with your feeling. Mobile Fidelity, by its long history of false statements or misleading statements, or both, is not a classy operation.
I would like to return my sealed ADA Mobile Fidelity releases for a full refund. Failing that, I will try to sell them on eBay.
If I was not a witness to the playing of the original analog master tape, and the LP mastering process, I cannot know. However . . .
I trust Doug Sax.
I trust David Chesky.
I trust Michael Hobson.
I trust Bernie Grundman.
I trust Chad Kassem.
Ron , Grundman is top notch but does he have his own label or control what is written on the notes of LPs that are released with his work?
Surely. It is why I asked for separating them. The referred behavior is regrettable and inexcusable. But their objective was creating high quality LPs and the market appreciated them. Although some people are unhappy. most of them enjoyed the LPs. Courts always consider such aspects. Legal decisions reflect mostly the losses caused by actions.
Yes, too imperfect to deserve a comment. We should address facts, not analogies.
Yes, and maybe a court decision will even oblige them to do so - I was just telling that IMHO probably few people will return the LPs, surely I can be wrong. It will be little punishment and there is risk that it becomes great marketing for them. Just looked at the this week finished eBay sold items and MoFi vinyl is more expensive than ever!
I don’t know the client protocols of mastering engineers.
By writing “I trust Bernie Grundman” I am saying that I trust him not to pretend that, or abet a client whom he believes is falsely marketing that, a job which he does as ADA is AAA.
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