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Mobile Fidelity Introduces UD1S Analog

MOFI has finally, (well actually it was announced awhile ago) the first UD1S record, Santana "Abraxas".

Here is more on the UD1S process:

More About Mobile Fidelity UltraDisc One-Step and Why It Is Superior

Instead of utilizing the industry-standard three-step lacquer process, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab's new UltraDisc One-Step (UD1S) uses only one step, bypassing two processes of generational loss. While three-step processing is designed for optimum yield and efficiency, UD1S is created for the ultimate in sound quality. Just as Mobile Fidelity pioneered the UHQR (Ultra High-Quality Record) with JVC in the 1980s, UD1S again represents another state-of-the-art advance in the record-manufacturing process. MFSL engineers begin with the original master tapes and meticulously cut a set of lacquers. These lacquers are used to create a very fragile, pristine UD1S stamper called a "convert." Delicate "converts" are then formed into the actual record stampers, producing a final product that literally and figuratively brings you closer to the music. By skipping the additional steps of pulling another positive and an additional negative, as done in the three-step process used in standard pressings, UD1S produces a final LP with the lowest noise floor possible today. The removal of the additional two steps of generational loss in the plating process reveals tremendous amounts of extra musical detail and dynamics, which are otherwise lost due to the standard copying process. The exclusive nature of these very limited pressings guarantees that every UD1S pressing serves as an immaculate replica of the lacquer sourced directly from the original master tape. Every conceivable aspect of vinyl production is optimized to produce the most perfect record album available today.
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mofimadness OP
4,982 posts
 
Just heard that this first release, (Santana "Abraxas")  will be "Extremely Limited To 2500 Copies".

Not sure if this will be the norm or if this is just for the initial release.
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craigus
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For what it's worth, I heard this played in the MoFi room at either CES or THE Show , can't remember which exactly. Not that I've heard all versions on every system, but it was clearly the best I had ever heard that album.  I was not the only one who thought it was excellent. It was black vinyl.There was talk of more releases but no specific titles
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mofimadness OP
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There is an article about this new process and LP release on the back page of the new Stereophile magazine.
sunnyjim
927 posts
 

MoFimadness.  Yes, I have seen the article by Robert Baird in Stereophile.  Now, maybe, Mobile Fidelity can get the original masters (  using this process) and reissue The "Layla" Album with Derek and the Dominoes.  The Mobile Fidelity reissue of the Original Master Recording  as an Ultradisc II  is in my opinion only slightly better than the original LP, and all other remasters which generally have abominable sound.  I assume there was a Japanese pressing. Is it any better than the Ultradisc II??.


 Also, what is your take or any other members on this recording process called MQA that is, Master Quality Authenticated There was an article in  the same issue of Stereophile on pps 39-41.  It seems the proprietary  owners of the process are closed mouth about exactly how it is done, and what the what to expect. in sound quality

mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness OP
4,982 posts
 
Jim...are you asking for a better sounding album on vinyl or CD? The Ultradisc II is, of course, on CD. Mofi never did that album on vinyl. They did "In Concert" on the Anadisq 200 vinyl series.

I do have an excellent German copy and a Japanese copy. I think the German is the best I’ve heard.

MQA, as I understand it, is a DIGITAL technology not an analog format. I have heard it several times, (but never on my system). I was very impressed, but the music was not what I normally listen to, so it’s hard to judge. We’ll have to wait and see what music, (and how much) will actually be available with the MQA process, but IMHO, it could be a game changer.

It seems the proprietary owners of the process are closed mouth about exactly how it is done, and what the what to expect. in sound quality

Lots and lots have been written about MQA. They have been pretty upfront about how it works and what is needed to decode it. There are several very long "white papers" on the process. Almost every audiophile magazine has written about it and there have been numerous interviews with Bob Stuart and his team.
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