Mythologies on MoFi - Something wrong? ?

Thanks for the clarification MoFi, as usual you da man on MoFi stuff. You're right, it's a Gain 2, my bad! Serial number 5330 so maybe the latter number explains why my copy isn't the greatest, I dont know. System it's played on is a TW Akustic Raven One with Ortofon 12 inch arm and a Dynavector cart to a Fosgate Signature phono pre via Synergistic Research Tricon Analog interconnect, then on to a Joule Electra LA-150 Mk2 pre via Purist Audio Venustas interconnect, then on to a Belles 350A amp via Acoustic Zen Zero Crystal interconnects, and thus to Unity Audio Signature 1 speakers (new Salk Soundscape 8's being made as I type)thru Acoustic Zen Satori shotgun cables.

I find most MFSL recordings even the early ones I had to turn my system volume up further than with mass produced recordings. Even with most current reissues that are not MFSL releases I find I turn the volume up more than with older originals. I think they are recording at lower volume to give more room for the hi's and lows in the recording also to minimize surface noise from the recording tape (less hiss) as MOFI did in the early days. Each recording has a volume point where it sounds best IMHO and if not at that volume the recording sounds flat and lifeless and if too load the recording sounds harsh. Just because the number on the dial is higher does not mean the volume is higher.

I own every MFSL released and some that were not and find all sound better when I get them to that point where they punch out of my speakers.
Do not get me wrong there are a few that sound like crap as all manufactures have.

I have had systems where to get to that volume the sound is too load and think it had more to do with the system being too large for the room. I like my system to have great energy at about 12 o'clock. This may be the old way but I myself am getting old also.

Enjoy

The best are japanese pressings sounds better than most MFSL.

My copy of Mythologies (#611) sounds a touch dull at low volume but I wouldn't call it compressed. Its dynamic range sounds natural. OTOH, my copy of Sinatra's Only the Lonely does sound a bit dull and compressed.

It's my second copy of Mythologies. The first one had a lot of right-channel surface noise so I returned it. This one's much quieter but still a little noisy. Great record.

Like Hevac1, I find many MFSL releases need turning up to really come to life. Milt Jackson's Invitation is a gorgeous exception. That record sounds phenomenal at any volume.

You can EQ any remaster disc, vinyl or CD, or down load and make it sound different, in the end it is what you like. All sound quality gets back to this basic, and no one holds the best all the time. I've been very disappoint in the SACD of Nat King Cole "After Midnight" SACD, it sounds good, but not like a recording of that era should. They made it more present, and cleaner, but it lost a lot of meat to the bone and the Soul, another person I know just loves it due to that sound.