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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
dnath's avatar
dnath
38 posts
 
Also there is lots of tape hiss on Van Gelder's 60s recordings. His equipment did not have the best SNR. On Joe Henderson's Page One and Grant Green's Idle Moments the tape hiss is present on every version I've heard including the original first pressings with Plastylite ear. It's made even more prominent on Idle Moments since the music on the title track is so quiet.

I will agree that RTI's pressing quality has gone way down hill. I had no problems with Music Matters 45 rpm reissues, but had several noisy pressings with their 33 rpm series.
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,866 posts
 
Dnath, actually I am talking about the Kenny Burrell Midnight Blue album.
The recording on this one is superb, BUT the pressing that I have is noisy.
casey33
260 posts
 
I bought the KB Midnight Blue Music Matters 45 and found it to be bliss.Also bought MoFi 45 RPM Blonde on Blonde really superb in all ways.
teeshot
123 posts
 
I agree with the OP. For example, I had bought MF Los Lobos By The Light of the Moon and found a $4 copy at a used record store that had much quieter surfaces. I now usually pull out original LP. It's too bad-- I live only about 1/2 mile from Music Direct and would buy them a lot if I thought the quality matched the price. I will also agree with other posters who say MF is no worse than others. I have had particularly bad luck with Friday Music releases and now avoid them. YMMV as always.
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