Do Mobile Fidelity Vinyl Re-issues Have a Digital Step in the Process?

[Ron Resnick]

the flat out lies being conveyed by this company . . .

I have not seen evidence of “flat out lies.” I think it is more complicated than that.

I think it looks presently more like a matter of the principals at Mobile Fidelity making statements which may be technically true but which they know are highly likely to be misinterpreted by the audiophile community.

 

[microstrip]

I have never bought a record for investment purposes.

I can't say the same. More than once when I saw an hard to get LP I already owned and liked a lot for a nice price I bought it .

I have never bought a record with the intention of selling it in the future.

Also true for me . I do not know how to sell records, I have plenty I would like to sell .

As far as I can recall I have never sold an LP in my entire life.

Sometimes these repeated LPs that I had bought are metamorphose in last minute anniversary or Christmas gifts ...

 

[Jeffy]

Anyone want to sell their Mofi Santana for 125.00 I’ll buy it

 

[Ron Resnick]

I see this chart purporting to show the process from the original master tape (depicted by two physical tape spools) owned by the record label to the vinyl in the customer’s hands. I do not see a digital step on this chart. It would be reasonable for a consumer looking at this chart to assume that there is no digital step in this process.

If there is a digital step in this process, absent some clear explanatory disclaimer or footnote disclosure, which I do not see here, this chart is false and misleading.





Depending on the facts which eventually are established this chart could reflect a “flat out lie.”

How many consumers would look at this chart and assume that between the first step and the second step there is an analog-to-digital transfer?

Look carefully at the point being made by the chart. In a “traditional” three-step process we know there is no digital step. “Traditional” analog vinyl mastering and production does not have a digital step. The clear marketing intent, to me, is to show the elimination of two of these “traditional” steps.

Who looking at this chart reasonably would assume that while two “traditional” steps are being eliminated an untraditional digital step is being added?

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I have not seen evidence of “flat out lies.” I think it is more complicated than that.

I think it looks presently more like a matter of the principals at Mobile Fidelity making statements which may be technically true but which they know are highly likely to be misinterpreted by the audiophile community.

It depends if “spirit” is a lie or not

 

[dminches]

For a long time now most record companies have not been forthcoming about how the LP they are selling was produced. They use terms like “mastered front he original tapes” as a way of making the market think it is AAA when, in fact, often it is not.

I would have to do some research to see if any MoFi releases in the past 15 years have specifically said “all analog” or “AAA” when in fact they were not. I do agree they, like others, have been happy that the market believes it is AAA even when it doesn’t say it. It is deceptive at best and false advertising at its worst.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

For a long time now most record companies have not been forthcoming about how the LP they are selling was produced. They use terms like “mastered front he original tapes” as a way of making the market think it is AAA when, in fact, often it is not.

I would have to do some research to see if any MoFi releases in the past 15 years have specifically said “all analog” or “AAA” when in fact they were not. I do agree they, like others, have been happy that the market believes it is AAA even when it doesn’t say it. It is deceptive at best and false advertising at its worst.

good summary!

 

[microstrip]

Anyone want to sell their Mofi Santana for 125.00 I’ll buy it

Now that you refer to it, I remembered I have a backup sealed copy of it. But I have now looked at the prices going around - it immediately became an investment, I have to amend my previous post. Thanks Ron!!!

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Now that you refer to it, I remembered I have a backup sealed copy of it. But I have now looked at the prices going around - it immediately became an investment, I have to amend my previous post. Thanks Ron!!!


View attachment 95891

Get rid at that price before they plummet overnight when people realise that it is a digital master lol

 

[microstrip]

Get rid at that price before they plummet overnight when people realise that it is a digital master lol

No, these GAIN 2™ Ultra Analog LP 180g Series of the 2000's will become even more valuable!

Fortunately I have more than a few!

 

[Audiophile Bill]

No, these GAIN 2™ Ultra Analog LP 180g Series of the 2000's will become even more valuable!

Okay no idea. Good luck.

 

[Ron Resnick]

It depends if “spirit” is a lie or not

I agree. Please don’t think I’m fencing with you. I’m not.

I’m just trying to stay precise as to the facts as we learn them, and how my understanding of principles of misrepresentation might apply to those facts.

We know enough already to say — without putting a fine point on it — it’s shi#%y!

I am never buying another Mobile Fidelity release. Chad Cassem of Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions truly understands, respects and implements the purest audiophile analog ethos.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I agree. Please don’t think I’m fencing with you. I’m not.

I’m just trying to stay precise as to the facts as we learn them, and how my understanding of principles of misrepresentation might apply to those facts.

We know enough already to say — without putting a fine point on it — it’s shi#%y!

I am never buying another Mobile Fidelity release. Chad Cassem of Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions truly understands, respects and implements the purest audiophile analog ethos.

No problem, Ron. I am with you all the way.

 

[Avidlistener]

Regarding whether MFSL “lied” as I mentioned customers posting email exchanges with them were told the LP’s were analog. Also Fremer has been saying Thriller would be mastered from an analog dub from the master. Wonder where he got that info from, when it has been revealed as coming from DSD.

@Jeffy if for example you found out the tubes in a preamp were for show only, and that the entire circuit was solid state, what do you think should happen to that company?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Why the snarkiness? “Possible” means possible. Nothing more, nothing less.

Ron,

i guess i apologize. i should have elaborated more before hitting send.

notice i added more to that post after you copied it.

OTOH the idea that somehow, a definitive, iconic, live Grammy winning Clapton concert recording in 1992, had a tape machine going too, that we never heard about till now, is crazy beyond a real stretch. not possible is right on. that puppy would have been used for the original vinyl of Clapton Unplugged (which i own and sounds great btw) many times over.

 

[Jeffy]

Regarding whether MFSL “lied” as I mentioned customers posting email exchanges with them were told the LP’s were analog. Also Fremer has been saying Thriller would be mastered from an analog dub from the master. Wonder where he got that info from, when it has been revealed as coming from DSD.

@Jeffy if for example you found out the tubes in a preamp were for show only, and that the entire circuit was solid state, what do you think should happen to that company?

I think the company should admit to this and apologize and maybe be honest in the future. If MOFI does not apologize to the community for not being 100% straight forward in some fashion then yes not good. I am sure most of us thought all of their releases were done AAA especially the one steps.

 

[Lagonda]

I see this chart purporting to show the process from the original master tape (depicted by two physical tape spools) owned by the record label to the vinyl in the customer’s hands. I do not see a digital step on this chart. It would be reasonable for a consumer looking at this chart to assume that there is no digital step in this process.

If there is a digital step in this process, absent some clear explanatory disclaimer or footnote disclosure, which I do not see here, this chart is false and misleading.


View attachment 95890


Depending on the facts which eventually are established this chart could reflect a “flat out lie.”

How many consumers would look at this chart and assume that between the first step and the second step there is an analog-to-digital transfer?

Look carefully at the point being made by the chart. In a “traditional” three-step process we know there is no digital step. “Traditional” analog vinyl mastering and production does not have a digital step. The clear marketing intent, to me, is to show the elimination of two of these “traditional” steps.

Who looking at this chart reasonably would assume that while two “traditional” steps are being eliminated an untraditional digital step is being added?

Sometimes the original files where made on digital tape, before hard disk recorders became prevalent, this was the dominant "original master tape".

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MITSUBISHI ProDigi Digital Reel-to-Reel Recorders - From X-80 to X-880, Part 2

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[dan31]

Anyone want to sell their Mofi Santana for 125.00 I’ll buy it

I have 2 sealed copies. Since the consensus is they stomp any other version I may hold on to them for a bit longer.

 

[dan31]

I do see an opportunity for MoFi to start selling 4X DSD files. This will keep some revenue coming in until people forget.

If you look at the pending One Step on offer at Mofi it must be daunting for them. How many orders have they placed for boxes and art work, etc? I'm guessing they will get a few cancelled preorders.

 

[dminches]

I think the company should admit to this and apologize and maybe be honest in the future. If MOFI does not apologize to the community for not being 100% straight forward in some fashion then yes not good. I am sure most of us thought all of their releases were done AAA especially the one steps.

Can you point to a specific instance where they released an LP and said it was AAA or all analog and it wasn't?

I do agree they have not been forthcoming and they very well knew that people assumed most of the releases were AAA, but we should be careful with people saying they lied (not saying you did).