MoFi v/s UHQR

+1, @mikelavigne 

I am with Mike on MoFi One Step releases. Even though these records sounds incredibly good, they are not better than their digital counterparts. You’re paying for tactile experience and fancy packaging. They may appreciate in value over time due to their limited run.

If your digital rig is good, you can pretty much defer the temptation of picking every new vinyl release :-) 

I think a lot of people fail to realize or just ignore, the vast majority of recordings made since the 80s go through a digital processor of one type or another (limiers, compressors, reverb, etc). So regardless of the master multi track being analog or digital, it has at least one step in the digital domain anyway. So, for those who say "but it's not analog anymore" it never was in the first place.

I think a lot of people fail to realize or just ignore, the vast majority of recordings made since the 80s go through a digital processor of one type or another (limiers, compressors, reverb, etc). So regardless of the master multi track being analog or digital, it has at least one step in the digital domain anyway. So, for those who say "but it’s not analog anymore" it never was in the first place.

@roadwhorerecords

purchasing any of these one step expensive pressings, whether with a digital step or not, are 100% pre-1980’s. so there is always an all analog alternative to any of them. which is the main issue.

digitally sourced post-1980 pressings don’t have that alternative, it’s simply a matter of preference for the Lp or file/disc version according to taste. there is never an all analog alternative. so you just follow your ear to the way you prefer your music. and don’t worry about it.

so you cannot really compare the choices, they are fundamentally different. the only question is whether you like the music enough to acquire it.

I have records from both MoFi and AP and, while they’re both good, I’ve come to prefer the AP UHQR recordings. To my ear, they sound richer, fuller, and with more depth.  And Acoustic Sounds customer service is excellent. 

What I’ve “almost” totally stopped buying are records from any number of the other producers. I’ve had several that the quality wasn’t even bad — it was horrible. Case in point was “Natalie Cole - Unforgettable 30th Anniversary Edition from Craft/Concord Records. More skips and pops than a popcorn popper. I’ll be sticking to the better quality production plants going forward.

If anyone is interested in exploring a completely different track, check out Supersense from Vienna, Austria. They’re outrageously expensive (especially with the shipping charge) but I’ve heard a couple of their recordings and I have to admit — they were like nothing I’ve ever heard before or since. I finally broke down and bought one — BUT THAT”S THE LAST ONE! Anymore of those get delivered to the house and the WF is going to erupt!  

@whart 

Very well said!  I agree with you that the focus should be on finding those gems and new music to enjoy.  It takes more effort too...it's much easier to replace an album you have or simply buy the latest audiophile of an album you don't have on vinyl but already know.  I do both and definitely enjoy both!

@mikempls 

You made me remember my success with Rhino records' audiophile releases.  If I recall correctly, they are only $40 and are excellent quality and sound.  I recently bought a Devo Van Morrison and Black Sabbath and they were all great pressings, flat, quiet, great sonics and packaging.