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Mobile Fidelity Surface Noise

Recently bought my first two MoFis in a few years - 'Sinatra in Paris' and 'The Cars.' Cleaned both on a VPI 16.5 w/ the VPI fluid. Both have an unacceptable level of (the same) background noise - kind of a shushing sound with the occasional tick. Played some other LPs after for comparison, inc. a vintage MoFi and some regular issue stuff. The noise was not there, eliminating a set-up issue. Has anyone else had this problem with the new issues? Is it mold-release compound, or the old saw they used back in the day ('i.e. "MoFi does not de-horn its masters, so you my hear the occasional tick or pop until the record is played a few times..."), or just lousy QC? Disappointing, to say the least.
radiodaddy
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
Noisy vinyl serves no pleasure. When you can send them back and don't try any MSFL or other reissues. I stopped buying reissues 2 years ago. The only real top class reissues are those from Acoustic Sounds. The Kleos is quieter than other cartridges because it simply can't reproduce higher frequencies. A very good cartridge for those problematic reissues.
robob's avatar
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robob
202 posts
 
"The Kleos is quieter than other cartridges because it simply can't reproduce higher frequencies."

LOL

Perhaps you heard a bad sample? Or a system mismatch? Your Olympos may be hotter, I don't know as I have not heard one, but the Kleos is perfectly capable of retrieving high frequencies.

Or maybe you have it confused with something else?

Again, the Kleos is quieter than many due to the line contact stylus.

Y'all be cool,
Robert
kipdent
65 posts
 
Syntax wrote:
"The only real top class reissues are those from Acoustic Sounds."

While I agree many of those are wonderful, I have to say for consistently spectacular sound and high-quality (low-noise) vinyl, the Music Matters Blue Note reissues have been even better. The latest one I just received, and one of the few truly mono ones Music Matters has produced, is Louis Smith's "Smithville." It is jaw dropping.
taters
1,149 posts
 
I have recently bought some reissues from Mobile Fidelity and the sound quality is disappointing. You would think they would do a better job considering their owned by Music Direct. Jim Davis I hope you are reading this.
roblanger
117 posts
 
I've also found them to be hit or miss on the pressing quality. Music Direct has been good about returns. Sometimes the replacement has been better, but a bad pressing run is just that.
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