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MoFi controversy

I see this hasn't been mentioned here yet, so I thought I'd put this out here.  Let me just say that I haven't yet joined the analog world, so I don't have a dog in this fight.

It was recently revealed that Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs one step LPs are being cut from digital masters (DSD) rather than being straight analog throughout the chain.

Here is one of the many Youtube videos that discusses it

 

To me, it seems that if MOFI is guilty of anything, it's "deception by omission."  That is, they were never open about the process and the use of digital in the chain. 

One thing to mention is that hardly anyone is criticizing the sound quality of these LPs, even after this revelation.  Me personally, I wouldn't spend over one hundred dollars for any recording regardless of the format.

 

ftran999
larsman's avatar
larsman
2,030 posts
 

I don't care one way or the other, but I thought the main point of this MoFi controversy wasn't so much the sound - a lot of these vinyl guys are saying the sound is excellent on a lot of these - but that they are paying large amounts of money for something that is different from what they thought they were paying for. 

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,599 posts
 

Yes some people are really upset that MoFi vinyl has a digital step in the process that no one was informed of.  There is a thread on this over a thousand pages long on the Steve Hoffman Music Forums.  I suggest that anyone who wants delve deep into this matter seek out that thread:

Steve Hoffman MoFi DSD Vinyl thread

daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,915 posts
 

@larsman  +1

You are correct, the anger at Mo-Lie is due to the 'bait and switch' tactics that were used to lure the a'phile community into paying more $$ for the 'One Steps' ;wherein all the while withholding a specific step that Mo-Lie knew would severely and negatively impact their desire to the consumer and their profit center.

grislybutter
3,311 posts
 

I am still stuck at people spending a $100+ for a record?

It's what a person spends on food in Eastern Europe in 2 to 3 weeks. 

I feel bad when I pay more than $10 for a used record. 

This wealth and spending is beyond my imagination. 

 

From that point of view, MoFi has created a miracle drug. 

sokogear
1,100 posts
 

Hey @grislybutter - if you really want to blow your mind, check out Better Records. They recently had a copy of Aja listed for $899! It’s been well cleaned though….

i have a couple of the One Steps, and they sound amazing. I only got them because a dealer took a few of my older audiophile records in trade (which I never listened to). 
 

If this controversy makes the prices of these go down, maybe I would get a few more. If it makes scalpers avoid getting involved, all the better- more for the people who actually listen to them.

 

I think the guy who made the video is too serious or self righteous when he says he wants “the analogue experience”. Doesn’t he want the best listening experience? I kind of feel sorry for him- he seems like a guy who I is never happy, especially if the value of his Mofi inventory takes a hit because of an issue he helped emerge, which true audiophiles couldn’t care less about.

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