This is a great overview, and I'm glad you got the chance to do some mini reviews of the older LPs. Many people pan the old titles in a blanket fashion as being badly EQ'd, in some cases I think that's true, but many of those records sound great! I agree with you, I think the two best catalogs modern mofi has done, has been Elvis Costello and Miles Davis.
Beck's Sea Change is one of my favorite albums, period, and the MoFi is spectacular. I have a few of the earlier MoFi classical issues (Rite of Spring - Muti, Elgar Falstaff - Boult) which I think are great.There's also a very unusual triple LP of film music conducted by the great (but lesser-known) film composer Roy Budd - he actually paid for the sessions himself (and lost quite a bit of money in the process). Also very partial to the MoFi Herrmann records (though the new remasterings in the Herrmann/Decca CD box set gives even original pressings a run for their money! )
@@poetryonplastic I think I might prefer the recent Japanese reissues. I can’t get any info on what tapes were used and if it’s digital, but pressed at the new Sony plant. A lot cheaper than the mofi and sound great
@@trackingangle929 my very first promo album was from the Warner Brothers rep in San Francisco when I just started my first record store job in 1973: Grateful Dead Bears Choice. My second was the US Vertigo of Kraftwerk’s Autobahn ✌🏼
In the Mike (InGroove) video, the MoFi engineers stated that they were making digital Lps even in 2008... as they stated that the first Abraxas of 2008 was DSD sourced.... I think it would be much easier for them to list the 100% analog records they have made... it may be a very short list.
The thing I found hilarious was that in his follow up video Mike talked about all of the 'stuff' they have around including prototype Beatles boxes, and basically the entire physical history. You'd think they'd have meticulous mastering records. I was once at Rudy Van Gelder's and a guy took out the logs and read off every artist that recorded that particular day through the many years the studio was open.
Well put. The very term "ULTRA Analog" implies....what exactly? ANALOG, that's what! And that's what everyone expected. I *did* find the term a bit funny to begin with, but.....all illusions are soon shattered.
This is the best suggestion I've heard in the midst of all of this.. in fact this is the one record I would buy with the words DSD imprinted on Beck's forehead.
Michael Congratulations on your new channel. Looking forward to it. You don’t have to defend yourself on promo records. You don’t have to defend yourself on anything I really thought the MoFi Elvis Costello releases didn’t have any air. They sounded analog - no shimmer on the cymbals, closed in presentation The UK originals are very lively
They should because how they handled the initial MoFi news was awful. They sent a rude and dismissive tweet and never properly acknowledged it afterwards or apologized. This video is supposed to be that acknowledgement but it isn't. They're playing it off as if they did nothing wrong.
When you pulled that Nuggets album out.. every record you show us has a history to it... well...who can do that? To me as a record buyer since 1980... you are the guy i like to listen to... your records tell a story... a great story. Thx!
Thanks Mikey, you really are the man! YOU are part of the reason some of us enjoy this hobby so much. Where else are we gonna get this? Please carry on, we need you!
The record Store I worked in in Queens called Records spectacular we had an inside and actually had a 18 wheeler full of the white album a week before it was even released, you could say it was hot off the presses. I still have my LP out of that batch, back then I got paid in records.
In the beginning, I collected cassette tapes to learn how to play certain songs by ear (before learning to read charts and use fake-books). Great albums on worn out cassettes turned into CDs. Great CDs turned into MoFi, DCC, and other's 'Gold'-CDs'. Those same albums over the decades turned into SACD's, including classical and opera (thanks, Esoteric). The vinyl collecting was a coincidental result of doing business with companies like 'Acoustic Sounds', Music Direct', and 'The Elusive Disc'. I became an investor losing the motivation to play like John Coltrane or Herbie Hancock. I'll never play as well as Martha Argerich or Janos Starker, but I appreciate being exposed to them by the audiophile companies like MoFi and Acoustic Sounds. Nowadays, I have to curtail my vinyl box-set spending because I need to pay for my new 'Rhodes mk8'. Hopefully, no one will release Steely Dan's "Aja" before then. Mr. Fremmer, keep up the great work. Cheers.
Michael. For all the rolls you speak of. You should know the vast majority respect you, and admire your knowledge, sense of humour and exceptional intellect.
Argo released tons of train records here in the UK. Their classical recordings pressings are fantastic as well as all of the Shakespeare plays they released back in the late 50's early 60's.
I actually have the UHQR of “Dark Side Of The Moon”, which I bought at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo for (I think, $29.88 - the tag is faded) while I was in college. I’ve never played it. It’s still sealed, which I know is a little insane.
On these analog pressings that turned out to be party digital, they all apparently were Direct Stream Digital, a format I love, at 4 times the usual 2.8 Million oversample used on all Super audio CDs, so it is easily to argue that even a extremely experienced music lover, scholar and critic cold mistake bad analog for DSD. No one is saying this. Excellent video!
Very interesting, although I would say the whining about being criticized in every video that I've watched (admittedly only 3) might get old if it continues.
@@gonzaljevic Well of course no one's forcing you to watch. But read the comment above from "Chris" who tells me I've lost the plot in my own life in part because he wrongly believes I get all of the costly audio gear I have here for free. How would you react over time to get lies about yourself thrown in your face? Things like "you are a crook", "you are corrupt" etc. I really don't care if people disagree with my opinions but the other stuff is something else and over time it can get to you....
@@trackingangle929 there are so many positive comments here and these people are not getting a reply while you're wasting your time with haters. I can only imagine how it feels but just let it go and save your precious time for those who care. Haters gonna hate... Thank you for all your reviews, videos and for so many things I've learned from you.
Hey Michael! Great stuff here. Train recordings huh? The more you know. Very happy to see you up and running on the new channel. Very interested in seeing what you come up with as regards the "one step" process. We'll be tuning in! 😊👍
Dear Michael Fremer, I'm a 24y old music lover from switzerland and i can tell you this - its always about hype. What happened in the fitness industry with all the hipsters trying to sell and rip-off newcomers to the industry, will also happen to all the hipsters that make hate comments under your channel/videos - they try so hard to have a voice in the industry and they want to make themselfs more important than they are (but they will always disappear after a certain time). So if you read again that someone is accusing you for getting promo records, then you know its just a jealous person that wants to be in your position. Thanks for making your own channel (again) where you say your honest thoughts.
Great first phase of your Mobile Fidelity history Michael - what should also be highlighted is that now we know that MoFi actually either captured the Master Tapes used for their 'One Steps' either by use of a Studer Tape copy or 4XDSD digital copy which means their lacquer cutting source was 2nd Generation and adds a further 'step' - they should all now be accurately named 'Two Steps'....I suspect that the more wealthy audiophile vinyl collectors in the world are considering a class action lawsuit against MoFi on this basis of them mis-selling and mis-representing their products - I think they'll have a pretty strong case.....
Hi! I thought that I heard on their video that they use the studer and then transfer to DSD file which means 2 additional steps. I could be be wrong as Im not native english speaker.
@@andresypaolaguzman202 They say if the release is for their vinyl, a Studer Tape copy of the OMT is made and for their SACDs they copy it digitally at 4XDSD (so potentially they do both at the same time if the title has both format releases - which be where you might have been confused )
I understand that folks like their vinyl systems and have invested a lot, but I would rather have the DSD file made from the analog tape than to have these records. It would be closer to the source and potentially sound better... Not to upset anyone here, but that is my sincere feeling. I spent double on my vinyl setup than my digital setup but it is still unable to compete with the digital setup. Wish MoFi could offer the DSD files for those of use that don't have top of the line vinyl playback systems.
I love that! The stories behind and all about quality without religous beliving in analog. All the presented records from analog master tape are before or at 1980, and I know why. From there on mastering has been done digital at all major lables because of cost and no loss at copying. To reissue recordings of the 1950s, like the Miles Davis recordings, you will discover that analog tape is aging, the gear is aging, and playing tape for copying made it worse. To use high quality, remastered digital transfers for cutting the laquer is maybe the only possibility to get the quality expected today. Your opinion on this releases supports that assessment.
I am glad I watched this video because I was wondering what you are thinking about how the best DSD copy holds up vs. analog master copy. Please do the comparison if possible. Thanks for your dedication to attaining the highest fidelity possible.
I definitely agree about the Little Feat mofis. I was lucky to find a nearly mint copy (still in original outer sleeve with hype sticker and all inserts included) of the earlier Waiting For Columbus for a paltry $40 and it sounds fantastic. But I was incredibly disappointed in my newer MOFI copy of Dixie Chicken.
The first MFSL LPs I bought were the classical releases of the 500 series. Some of them were good, some were very good. But the pressing quality (Japanese super vinyl) was always excellent, no clicks, pops and other noises at all, which set them really apart from most of the standard LPs in these days. A pity that they stopped re-releasing classical music when they resumed LP production in 1994.
I bought the MoFi "Katy Lied" also. I feel it made the DBX processing on that recording sound even worse than on the "common" LP. Also bought half-speed AJA (around the same time) which I like a lot.
Great video. Keep up the good work. I’m still kicking myself I didn’t pick up a copy of Elvis Costello and Bacharach when I got the Desire super vinyl. I agree on Forever changes as well, I picked that up and never play it.
@@trackingangle929 It is documented that my friend(professional musician and phenomenal guitar player himself) who has a vinyl UA-cam channel, discussed this back when we both first got our Mofi One Step Couldn't Stand the Weather. I think our chief complaint of the entire album was how SRV's guitar was no longer the star of the show, but was somehow "muddied" in the mix. I was comparing the Mofi then to Spotify streaming of the original :( . I searched and found an original pressing after that. Just now, listening back to back, this is my synopsis: I played both albums without adjusting anything, ,except the turntable speed. In the original pressing, the bass guitar is right where it is supposed to be, under the rest of the music. The rim shots of the snare drum are crisp and piercing. The cymbals sparkle and sizzle. When SRV comes in on vocals, his voice is characteristically rough, but there is a pure tone in the center of it. His voice is dead center and in front of his guitar amp that is slightly above and to his right. The drum kit is behind and slightly to his left. A point of reference to me was the "pick rake" right after the lyrics "two by four"... I involuntarily visualized a zoom in shot of his hand holding the pick and raking the strings. It even evoked a visualization of SRV's trademark grimace on his face. I did in fact jump a bit at the "I heard a pistol shoot..." spot. Couldn't help it. There was space and live air in the song, and unmistakable soundstage. The first thing that struck me when the Mofi One Step started spinning was the overpowering low frequencies. The ever-so-slightly off tune bass guitar was relegated to the Star of the Show throughout the entire track. What is it called when the bass rumbles too much? That's what it did, and it seemed to have to0 much reverb or a bit of echo, leaving one tone to linger into the next. The track was impressively silent, as in zero vinyl noise, no ticks, no clicks, no pops. Also, no feeling of air moving around in space. The bass, to me was a distraction. I could have turned down the sub, but I wanted to listen with identical settings, and with myself positioned in exactly the same place in the room. When SRV came in with his lyrics I was shocked. His voice was not the same. The EQ was changed from the original, significantly. His voice also lacked the inner pure tone that is actually dominant in the original pressing, as opposed to the fuzzy overtones and undertones that the Mofi overplayed. His voice was pushed back into a small space in the mix, feeling and spatially "appearing" unnatural. The soundstage in the One Step is large, surrounded by the bass guitar booming off the walls of a square room, and everything else, including the supposed star, the guitar which is pushed too far back and squeezed. The cymbals lacked the high frequency sizzle. There was no air to breath in the One Step. Suffocating. I did not jump at the same places the Original Pressing made me jump. I was not enthralled as I was hearing the original pressing. I actually have had the original pressing for several months, but played it the first time just now, as part of this comparison. I am spinning it now again, just to enjoy. :)
Thanks, I have the Sgt. Peppers, not the DSOTM , UHQRs , hahaha. Started buying MoFi 80 's and still today regardless of constrovery but not exclusively. Aloha, great video ,,,,
Geez, Michael-why didn’t you insist that King of America be cut at 45 rpm over 2 sides along with Get Happy!! Kidding, of course-but KOA has some seriously long album sides as well, and while the MFSL is no doubt the best sounding version of my personal favorite EC album, it’s a missed opportunity.
I have an 80's Capitol pressing of DSOTM with capitol rainbow labels but side 1 is the Quad mix and side 2 is the regular mix as it should be. To be honest i really like the quad mix on side 1 ,perhaps after hearing the regular mix for so, so long both at home, in the car, and on the radio it will become common place after decades of listening to the same mix. i could certainly tell there were differences when i first heard that side 1 long ago. I have never seen to many in the wild or anywhere else really, i'ld like to know how many were pressed by mistake that way. there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of reference material out there on it, unless i just haven't looked hard enough.. i enjoy having this error pressing in my collection. does anyone have much info on it? there's not much stated about it even on discogs.
Mikey, have followed all your previous endeavors for years and will continue to do so as I enjoy and respect your views and opinions. However, I agree with Krogg in a previous comment, please stop with the continuing defensive plays on negativity. You have fallen into a bad habit of getting very preoccupied with all of this, and it is not a recent development. It spoils your videos and detracts from your message.
If you saw my inbox, never mind what's here from "Chris" you'd better understand. I agree it detracts but being called "fraud", "crook", etc. is really never pleasant. I do my best to be an honest broker of facts. I buy all the gear in my system and get accused of getting it free and it really is annoying as you can imagine.....
@@trackingangle929 Understandable. No one likes fingerpointing. They don't know you. I don't know you. Keep up the good work and ignore all comments. Mine included.
@@trackingangle929 Michael, this is the nature of the Internet. Sadly. I personally don’t feel you deserve to be accused of any suspicious activities. You’ve always been very entertaining and have the best stories. You will NEVER not have detractors. But you have us. And we outnumber the a-holes. Continue putting your best foot forward and we will continue to listen and read.
"ULTRA ANALOG" made me laugh - they might as well have put "TURBO ANALOG" as if there are degrees of analog. Completely meaningless - it either is or it isn't. Reminds of shampoo ads: New Ultra Pro-Bio Hydrodermalodic Pro-Active, improves the appearance of baldness (does 'improve' mean it makes you look less or more bald?).
I enjoyed this history and am looking forward to the next part. Now on to what really matters... it is time to stop using the terms "analog and digital." It is time to just say "I prefer this mastering and pressing over this mastering and pressing." Truth be told, the mastering choices seem to matter the most in my opinion. Thanks!
No matter what people say, I still prefer vinyl records and tapes over any digital format including DSD. I like what I hear and feel when I play records, tapes and CDs. Having said that, AAD cds are not bad. They retain a portion of that analogue sound and feel. Listening to music using the analogue medium does involve a bit of cleaning and subtle adjustments of the equipment. I enjoy that.
Yes! He has been around since the beginning instead of us whippersnappers. And yes he “covered for them” unlike the rest of us! And even through he has a slew of ultraHiFI gear he couldn’t tell the difference when the discs became digitally source. He just didn’t want to hammer them on the issue. I can only wonder why?! Sadly my comment based in reality will upset Mikey!
@@arize84 No, I didn't. However, I do subscribe to Michael Fremer and it's more than fair to say that Michael has difficulty discerning that he is not necessarily a consumer in the traditional sense. He is a decades-long reviewer of both vinyl and HiFi equipment. His resume speaks for itself and I can understand WHY he gets upset when his integrity has come into question. Only an idiot would think that Michael is not a bonafide journalist. Only an idiot would think his lifelong experience in this community can be usurped by someone who is just consuming products on generic gear. And a part of his story is that he stood on an island by himself, waving the flag for vinyl when it was absolutely counted as dead. But Mike can't have it both ways. And that's where Mike has lost the plot in his own life. He can't get all the latest and greatest gear for free to review and get records for free to review and not think some form of bias will creep in. He wants the everyday consumer (like myself) to empathize. It's not going to happen. My choices on where I spend my money in this space are bound by many different decisions including budget. Michael does not have those types of concerns. His access to gear and records is unparalleled. If he was confident in his standing in this community he wouldn't be bothered with every single comment that comes his way. But his confidence and now his schtick is of someone who is not sure of who he is on...UA-cam. He seemingly wants to go back to preUA-cam days when his reality didn't get immediately crisscrossed with perception. His last video with 45RPM Audiophile speaking of MoFi, "I'm sick of covering for them." Mike45 didn't stop Fremer to say what in the world are you implying. And that's because Mike45 is not a journalist. But anyone with a brain knows what Fremer was alluding to. Peace to you and everyone else. The tonality of internet comments gets misconstrued. I happen to dig Michael Fremer but he is on a whining streak about things he can't control.
You are the same clown who posted on TAS's site that I'm a "dimwit'. Yes. That's why Quincy Jones hired me as an expert witness in his suit against the estate of Michael Jackson and why I supervised the soundtrack to an Academy Award nominated (for sound) motion picture.Because I'm a "dimwit". Gotcha! So how could you possibly upset me? I didn't "hammer" Mo-FI based on a rumor. I waited until it was fact-based and we all thank Mike Esposito for finally getting that out of them, don't we? And then I hammered them. On AnalogPlanet I called out Mo-Fi for using copies of masters and not masters and I've given them as many bad as good reviews but how would you know that since you are a troll who never read AnalogPlanet?.And if you did read it you read the site without comprehension. Who else called them out for that? (Answer: no one). So after you post that lie, you add the "I can only wonder why?" innuendo, which is your pathetic way of saying "Because he gets promo records". You are pitiful.
@@ChrisGiarratano You do not know the plot in my life. What a presumptuous troll you are! I bought all of the gear in my system. I didn't get it free. I buy a lot of records. I get some promos too. Did you read my review of the "All Things Must Pass" box set? UMe sent me the second from the top box, the one just below the one where you get a piece of George's hair. I gave it a very bad review because it was not a good sounding set. I've given many Mo-Fi's bad reviews. You are a creep with bias.
@@trackingangle929 Michael, I can assure you I am not the same clown that called you a dimwit. Never did such a thing. However, you are making my point about getting predictably upset. It would behoove you to understand you're a public figure. You're not the cause of the controversy. No one is even implying that. I ask you kindly to go back and read what I wrote. I stand behind it. Your responses are embarrassing. Anyone can give MoFi a bad review but you (specifically you) recently said, "I'm sick of covering for them." In context to this controversy, that is a loaded statement. You can't comprehend that you are not just a consumer is mindboggling. I have videos of you comparing ungodly expensive speaker wires that were given to you for the very purpose of comparing them. I mean take a step back my brother. I'm actually a fan of your work.
All this stuff about mobile Fidelity is giving me a headache😦 I pretty much have had enough I'm just going to my local record store or eBay or Amazon and I'm just buying records and if I get a really good quality sound I'll be thankful for it, but I'm through with hunting down the best sounding pressing in fact I actually started buying CDs again because it's so cheap and some of them sounds so wonderful✌
Good to Hear your insight of the History of Mo Fi Mike. Look forward to Part 2, its like books Don't Judge a Book by its Cover, close inspection required on the Record Sleeve Etc..& miss leading information, like much in History, check the sources
We can never know if the digital conversion made the product good or bad, or if they were just given a project that was doomed from the start because of many varying factors. The printing process/quality could in they also have been changed slightly throughout the years.
You have to love how In Groove Mike stirred shit up enough to bring the vinyl/audio community to this point. He is probably watching this video and polishing his head saying "Yesss, yesss". LOL!! Just kidding Mike(s), I love the scrutiny the hobby is being put under solely for the love of the sound.
Very nice vid. Thanks. With no intent to dismiss legitimate concerns about the “marketing” of recent mofis…. Even if mofi cut “all analog” it’s entirely possible one may still prefer a different version. For example take the SRV example of the gunshot. That likely is nothing to do with the DSD transfer and all to do with the mastering choices. I for one much prefer the AP 2x45 of Folk Singer over the OneStep, I can’t articulate why but there’s something “damp” about the onestep and yeah, I consider that a miss. I like you, would very much like to be able to compare all analog versions of the miles stuff (which is why I got into these “high end” records in the first place. But I have a sneaky suspicion I might like them because of the choices made by Kevin Gray or whomever would do them. In one of the follow ups from the mofi debacle, it’s mentioned that KW a at mofi is choosing to diverge from the thriller originals compression. That could be a master stroke or a COMPLETE disaster. If Bruce Sweden and BG made choices back in 82 (after the initial tests were rejected by the producers) I’m here to say those were probably the right choices. It’s not like that record is being put on 45 (which it really should be).
I agree people who said bad things about you or pressings are just dumb I believe you I learned a lot from you thanks for doing this keeps me inspired maybe those people who talk about bad things should get a Crosley
I hang on every word Michael, screw the wannabe’s, your collection should to go to a museum at some point. The only Mofi I have is a 1984 Beatles Rubber Soul. Bought it new back then so ya I’m older as well. Haven’t played it in ages but after all this talk it’s going for a spin soon. Love your passion. Thanks 🙏 😎
I'm really glad you made this video. It's fair to say that some of your comments in the videos made with the other Michael as a reaction to this breaking story were unnecessarily harsh on Mike Eposito. Your objectivity in this video towards Mike, and the whole debacle in gneral (rather than the name calling) shows what a great journalist and commentator you are and what you bring to this community. Bravo.
MOFI was deceitful, end of story. Re: Elvis Costello and some of the more exciting stuff they did around that time, it was too early in the vinyl revival for those releases to do as well as they might do today (pre DSD sourcing announcement). The market for vinyl is very different now, and especially audiophile vinyl than it was 10+ years ago. IMHO that's even more of a reason for MOFI to cut the B.S. and be truthful about how each release was sourced and cut. Of course MOFI is happy to charge extortionate prices for Elvis Costello releases they have as warehouse backstock. Wonder how many they can sell at those prices now after MOFI-digi-gate???!!!
THIS MOFI BS: Mike, first off - out of ALL the sources i spend countless hours listening to,reading and watching ,the years have proven to me you have total integrity and i'm sick of the simpletons that don't realize that any promo you get is a small perk of the profession,as most professions(epsecially retail and sales) have in one form or another and i've NEVER thought in the slightest it effects your integrity and hope it never would. Secondly, people need to get off of their cancel culture/un-educated side taking asses and do a little research and learn that ALL natural sound IS analog and our hearing is naturally analog. When folks try to explain, or actually can't explain, that special musical magic sound we experience with vinyl, it's some of the little imperfections like certain distortions that create that magic-in my opinion. Some distortions can be positive and others negative to our human analog hearing. Let's all not forget that digital is 100% (processed and processing technology) that is ATTEMPTING to capture natural analog sound, just another reason why the analog chain is best for capturing analog sound-is this not clearly evident to people? In it's highest form and resolution i think it's been proven that some digital has reached a level where when done correctly and by the masters such as Bernie, Gray and others can inhance the analog chain when the original analog capture wasn't that great to begin with. to reiterate for the idiots, our hearing is naturally analog and the analog chain is capturing analog sound-it's a marriage. and as you have said many times-neither format is perfect as anything else in this world,but i personally want a total analog chain capturing analog sound and if the best forms of digital can help at this point in it's technilogical time-then great, as i think we all have conceded that when done the best it can be by the best mastering engineers. We all hear things slightly and sometimes greatly different from one another and it comes down to what appeals to the individuals personal taste. When cd's hit in the 80's it still blows my mind how fast people bought into the corporate marketing machine's bullshit of the ("perfect" crystal clear sound) line that was feed to them as i could quickly tell digital fatigue was a real issue with the format-but that's me. And look at today- the total corporate marketing machine(and including todays Algorithm) horseshit that controls so,so much of our everyday corporate marketing programmed lives-wake up people!! and lastly, the in-groove Mike meeting with MoFi was about as vague as it could have been in my opinion, although VERY minimally revealing, he's a retailer and i never seen really any hard-hitting "we'ld like to know" pressure that all of us consumers want and deserve based on Mofi's marketing lies, all the more reason a professional journalistic presence should have been involved instead of a single retailer that partly kissed thier asses and never pressed the questions when those gentlemen more or less just brushed the issue off over and over and over and did a great job with thier avoidence which i found very evident regardless of the small amount of info he could pry out of them while giving them a fan-boy handjob at the same time-lol, total bullshit... Sorry to be longwinded, but this is my opinion on the issue from just an everyday hard working American that loves music, will i ever have the means to have a system as nice as yours? no sir, but i am an audiophile never the less and happily spent 125 bucks for AP's UHQR of Miles' Kind of Blue for my collection and play on one of my Akia or Technics 70's era tables or my Realistic LAB-440 table(Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge) through an earlier Sony ES reciever into 80's era Polk Audio SDA 1A's, and all mostly used gear i searched out for and could afford over the years that appeals to my hearing tastes-nothing fancy but certainly better than entry level (marketed)junk from Crosly and even with my modest gear i can tell the differences and most others could experience as well if they only put a little effort and research into it -for their love for music, instead of just picking a side for todays sorry ass side picking sake, AND THAT'S the easiest bullshit to tell the difference between as far as i'm concerned. thanks as always for being the professional champion with true integrity Mike, it is appreciated, Jerry in Indiana
@22:16 that is something we need, sadly reel to reel never took off and never took advantage on the scale of economy. A question for micahel is why dont he show off his reel to reel in his collection. We would love to have a deeper understand his 30+ years of audio experience
You should do a mobile fidelity factory tour 😁 I wish they or music direct would open a distribution centre in the uk or somewhere in Europe the price to get shipped to the UK is getting as dear as the record itself, worth it though dire straits sound fantastic just got brothers in arms last Tuesday and have still to clean and play it 😀 we've been having freaky hot weather here in usually constantly raining Scotland and don't want to take the chance with the vinyl in extreme heat 😀 anyway great video and please stay safe 😀
I lived through Mobile Fidelity in the '70s. A couple of things - 1) A bunch of us, including Rob Doorack, a reviewer from no longer published Listener Magazine, convened at Sounds Of Silence in Nashua, NH, to do a shootout between DSOTM pressings, including a CD, an original UK Harvest, an original US, a standalone MoFi, and the 25th Anniversary. The original UK Harvest was easily the winner. The MoFi came in low in the poll of those in the room. It sounded hyper-detail, yes, well-pressed, but stiff, lifeless. The UK was airier, more transparent, and sounded more real. 2) The test pressing of that Doug Sax-mastered reissue was the 25th Anniversary. The test pressings WERE done at RTI and reportedly sounded great (I have a reviewer friend who got one). But the commercial pressings were done at a facility in Holland, and, unfortunately, didn't sound nearly as good (according to my reviewer friend).
I'll add that I agree that while it's ultimately about the sound, truth in advertising is important. Otherwise there's a bit of mistrust between the company and the consumer, and that's not good.
A bit of a tangent, but I hesitated to buy the MoFi Miles Davis catalogue because I already had the Mosaic box sets on vinyl. Would you care to comment on how the Mosaic records sound compared to the MoFi? (At the time they were released, the general consensus was that the Mosaic sets were the new benchmark).
I have to go back and compare. Of course those Mosaics present the music in "running order" not album order but when I have time I'll compare some tracks. Those are all analog too so.....
@@trackingangle929 I did exactly this recently. The Mosaic Milestones destroys the Mofi and a ton of alternatives (Grundman, Absolute Analogue, Kevin Gray versions, RK Smith Mono, even the Mosaic) sound better than the Mofi KOB, but all other Miles are superior from Mofi.
@@trackingangle929 I would love to hear your thoughts. (Maybe an article/series of videos....?) I treasure those sets - which I got when they were issued. I remember you doing an in-depth comparison of the CD and vinyl versions of the Live at the Plugged Nickel (not in CD's favor), but as the MoFis came out you demurred because the Mosaics were out-of-print and already very expensive. BTW so excited about the new venture (I still own all my original Tracking Angle magazines).
Thanks for always giving us an honest impression when reviewing these, and not going back and revising your impressions. After all the crap hit the fan, I sat down with some of my Mofi records and compared them to other versions that are known to be analogue cuts. We now know the Dire Straits catalog is from DXD transfers, so it is interesting to compare them to the Bernie Grundman cuts done a few years earlier. They do sound quite different! The Mofi records have much greater sense of ambience and space between all the layers, where as the Grundman's have a softer tonality with more sweetness on the top end. They also have a lot more tape hiss, and a sort of congealed quality (sounds blending together) that makes me wonder if they were actually cut from second generation tapes. Overall, I must say I preferred the Mofi 45's, and they will continue to be the versions I play.
A question please, to anybody… I don’t know these whole catalogues, or different periods of catalogues, like you guys do. But I did revisit my Sony $30 copy of Bitches Brew, and liked it way more than I remembered. Then as luck would have it I got the “Gain 2 Ultra Analogue” version, and it has blown me away. There’s so much happening all at the same time, and yet the sounds are all clear and distinct and musical and I can pick whatever instrument in my mind at any point and follow the lines along perfectly clearly. I love it! So, my first question, what am I listening to? Is it Ultra ANALOGUE, or from DSD? Then I saw Music Direct announce BB coming in One-Step, but that was ages ago. I’ve called MD several times, spoke to different people who answered, and this last time I was told it will be a long LONG very very long time before that comes out. It almost sounded like he was saying it’s a ploy of some kind and that that version will never come out. Or is this me being impatient? Thanks in advance for anyone who can fill me in a bit here!
Little Feat ,I have the MSFL of the 1st album and Sailing Shoes that came around 07 08 ,I think they are good but I don't have a Warner Bros issue to compare it to.. I was thinking that the Live album probably was the best on the Warner pressing and then you said it...Warner records always had a great quality sound ..I have a couple of Jesse Colin Young albums on Warner and I don't think MSFL can improve on it either because they are that good..
Mike congratulation on the new channel. Much success. Subscribed.we need someone who knows what they are talking about. No one can give a history on mofi like you.keep up the good work.glad your back. Enjoy the music
Michael…Michael…please give up on the “I’m being tortured by people thinking I am corrupt taking industry promos and gifts” schtick - your reputation proceeds you - rise above it and keep on making it happen
Michael, I sense the Beatles outer sleeves in the box set having the same tape printed shows the profound cost cutting in printing .. if anything it would have made sense to have the actual sleeve art work. Doesn't seem to be much to extract from that in terms of provenance - PS, wish I could see you at the Pacific Audio .. saw you at the last Rocky Mountain at PS Audio booth.. loved listening to the analog/digital vinyl comparisons!
Talking about Carole King's "Tapestry". I had always preferred the original Columbia, Santa Maria pressing, then Classic Records did both a 33 1/3 rpm version and a 45 rpm version. I wasn't impressed with the 33 1/3 rpm version but felt the 45 rpm version equaled the Santa Maria pressing. In 2012, ORG did a 45rpm version and I was disappointed with it. In 2013, Mofi Did their 33 1/3rpm version , MFSL 1-414, this was the best version I've ever heard and consider it to be the reference version. Then, Mofi released UD1S-2-030. It didn't sound good to me and not even close to their 2013 version. What happened?
I have a quite a few mofi records that all have great sound and that I enjoy. I will continue to enjoy these records. Mofi however are finished.
29-minutes and not a single ad. Fantastic
This is a great overview, and I'm glad you got the chance to do some mini reviews of the older LPs. Many people pan the old titles in a blanket fashion as being badly EQ'd, in some cases I think that's true, but many of those records sound great! I agree with you, I think the two best catalogs modern mofi has done, has been Elvis Costello and Miles Davis.
and Dylan .....
@@mazzysmusic Yep, Highway 61 is out of this world
Beck's Sea Change is one of my favorite albums, period, and the MoFi is spectacular. I have a few of the earlier MoFi classical issues (Rite of Spring - Muti, Elgar Falstaff - Boult) which I think are great.There's also a very unusual triple LP of film music conducted by the great (but lesser-known) film composer Roy Budd - he actually paid for the sessions himself (and lost quite a bit of money in the process). Also very partial to the MoFi Herrmann records (though the new remasterings in the Herrmann/Decca CD box set gives even original pressings a run for their money! )
@@poetryonplastic I think I might prefer the recent Japanese reissues. I can’t get any info on what tapes were used and if it’s digital, but pressed at the new Sony plant. A lot cheaper than the mofi and sound great
Thank you Michael. Enjoyed this immensely. Looking forward to meeting you next week in Seattle. Don't embarrass me ;-)
lol. how would I do that? Accuse you of getting promo records?
@@trackingangle929 my very first promo album was from the Warner Brothers rep in San Francisco when I just started my first record store job in 1973: Grateful Dead Bears Choice. My second was the US Vertigo of Kraftwerk’s Autobahn ✌🏼
In the Mike (InGroove) video, the MoFi engineers stated that they were making digital Lps even in 2008... as they stated that the first Abraxas of 2008 was DSD sourced....
I think it would be much easier for them to list the 100% analog records they have made... it may be a very short list.
The thing I found hilarious was that in his follow up video Mike talked about all of the 'stuff' they have around including prototype Beatles boxes, and basically the entire physical history. You'd think they'd have meticulous mastering records. I was once at Rudy Van Gelder's and a guy took out the logs and read off every artist that recorded that particular day through the many years the studio was open.
Looking forward to Part 2, thanks for showing us some of the history of Mobile Fidelity.
One word…the history, the video with Esposito, ….transparency…plain and simple
Great videos, Mike..thank you
Well put. The very term "ULTRA Analog" implies....what exactly? ANALOG, that's what! And that's what everyone expected. I *did* find the term a bit funny to begin with, but.....all illusions are soon shattered.
There is no definition to “ultra analog”. It’s a marketing term.
As a make up for their abuse of transparency they should put out Beck’s Sea Change again.
This is the best suggestion I've heard in the midst of all of this.. in fact this is the one record I would buy with the words DSD imprinted on Beck's forehead.
Michael
Congratulations on your new channel. Looking forward to it.
You don’t have to defend yourself on promo records.
You don’t have to defend yourself on anything
I really thought the MoFi Elvis Costello releases didn’t have any air.
They sounded analog - no shimmer on the cymbals, closed in presentation
The UK originals are very lively
They should because how they handled the initial MoFi news was awful. They sent a rude and dismissive tweet and never properly acknowledged it afterwards or apologized. This video is supposed to be that acknowledgement but it isn't. They're playing it off as if they did nothing wrong.
When you pulled that Nuggets album out.. every record you show us has a history to it... well...who can do that? To me as a record buyer since 1980... you are the guy i like to listen to... your records tell a story... a great story. Thx!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, very much appreciated.
Thanks Mikey, you really are the man! YOU are part of the reason some of us enjoy this hobby so much. Where else are we gonna get this? Please carry on, we need you!
The record Store I worked in in Queens called Records spectacular we had an inside and actually had a 18 wheeler full of the white album a week before it was even released, you could say it was hot off the presses. I still have my LP out of that batch, back then I got paid in records.
Amazing collection. Thanks for such a detailed information.
Great video Michael! So glad you are back 👍
In the beginning, I collected cassette tapes to learn how to play certain songs by ear (before learning to read charts and use fake-books). Great albums on worn out cassettes turned into CDs. Great CDs turned into MoFi, DCC, and other's 'Gold'-CDs'. Those same albums over the decades turned into SACD's, including classical and opera (thanks, Esoteric). The vinyl collecting was a coincidental result of doing business with companies like 'Acoustic Sounds', Music Direct', and 'The Elusive Disc'. I became an investor losing the motivation to play like John Coltrane or Herbie Hancock. I'll never play as well as Martha Argerich or Janos Starker, but I appreciate being exposed to them by the audiophile companies like MoFi and Acoustic Sounds. Nowadays, I have to curtail my vinyl box-set spending because I need to pay for my new 'Rhodes mk8'. Hopefully, no one will release Steely Dan's "Aja" before then. Mr. Fremmer, keep up the great work. Cheers.
Thanks man👍🔥pay little attention to anyone trying to steal your sunshine, continue with your work/fun like always.we need you
Michael. For all the rolls you speak of. You should know the vast majority respect you, and admire your knowledge, sense of humour and exceptional intellect.
Can you find those criticisms y’all are talking about? Maybe they’re on another video?
Excellent as always, thank you Michael!
Great video, I think we all agree MOFI records for the most part sound great and we at least we will now have transparency.
Argo released tons of train records here in the UK. Their classical recordings pressings are fantastic as well as all of the Shakespeare plays they released back in the late 50's early 60's.
I actually have the UHQR of “Dark Side Of The Moon”, which I bought at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo for (I think, $29.88 - the tag is faded) while I was in college. I’ve never played it. It’s still sealed, which I know is a little insane.
You want to sell it?
MoFi should change their name to "Mobile INfidelity Sound Lab"
Please get Kevin’s cut of Marvin Gaye, I’d love to see a video with your thoughts.
On these analog pressings that turned out to be party digital, they all apparently were Direct Stream Digital, a format I love, at 4 times the usual 2.8 Million oversample used on all Super audio CDs, so it is easily to argue that even a extremely experienced music lover, scholar and critic cold mistake bad analog for DSD. No one is saying this. Excellent video!
Very interesting, although I would say the whining about being criticized in every video that I've watched (admittedly only 3) might get old if it continues.
It already did
Put yourself in his position. Constantly having your integrity called into question would probably get old too.
@@gonzaljevic Well of course no one's forcing you to watch. But read the comment above from "Chris" who tells me I've lost the plot in my own life in part because he wrongly believes I get all of the costly audio gear I have here for free. How would you react over time to get lies about yourself thrown in your face? Things like "you are a crook", "you are corrupt" etc. I really don't care if people disagree with my opinions but the other stuff is something else and over time it can get to you....
@@trackingangle929 Funny how you throw in "audio equipment I have here" How about audio equipment you've acquired over the years?
@@trackingangle929 there are so many positive comments here and these people are not getting a reply while you're wasting your time with haters. I can only imagine how it feels but just let it go and save your precious time for those who care. Haters gonna hate... Thank you for all your reviews, videos and for so many things I've learned from you.
my record collection consists strictly of Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Dead Can Dance and David Sylvian. You can say they are all D-pressings
Hey Michael! Great stuff here. Train recordings huh? The more you know. Very happy to see you up and running on the new channel. Very interested in seeing what you come up with as regards the "one step" process. We'll be tuning in! 😊👍
Dear Michael Fremer, I'm a 24y old music lover from switzerland and i can tell you this - its always about hype. What happened in the fitness industry with all the hipsters trying to sell and rip-off newcomers to the industry, will also happen to all the hipsters that make hate comments under your channel/videos - they try so hard to have a voice in the industry and they want to make themselfs more important than they are (but they will always disappear after a certain time). So if you read again that someone is accusing you for getting promo records, then you know its just a jealous person that wants to be in your position. Thanks for making your own channel (again) where you say your honest thoughts.
One Stormy Night is one of my all time favorites. It started my infatuation with MoFi.
Great first phase of your Mobile Fidelity history Michael - what should also be highlighted is that now we know that MoFi actually either captured the Master Tapes used for their 'One Steps' either by use of a Studer Tape copy or 4XDSD digital copy which means their lacquer cutting source was 2nd Generation and adds a further 'step' - they should all now be accurately named 'Two Steps'....I suspect that the more wealthy audiophile vinyl collectors in the world are considering a class action lawsuit against MoFi on this basis of them mis-selling and mis-representing their products - I think they'll have a pretty strong case.....
Hi! I thought that I heard on their video that they use the studer and then transfer to DSD file which means 2 additional steps. I could be be wrong as Im not native english speaker.
You must be joking.
@@andresypaolaguzman202 They say if the release is for their vinyl, a Studer Tape copy of the OMT is made and for their SACDs they copy it digitally at 4XDSD (so potentially they do both at the same time if the title has both format releases - which be where you might have been confused )
I understand that folks like their vinyl systems and have invested a lot, but I would rather have the DSD file made from the analog tape than to have these records. It would be closer to the source and potentially sound better...
Not to upset anyone here, but that is my sincere feeling. I spent double on my vinyl setup than my digital setup but it is still unable to compete with the digital setup. Wish MoFi could offer the DSD files for those of use that don't have top of the line vinyl playback systems.
Sincerity is good! However i still prefer vinyl to SACDs. I'll come over and set up your turntable....
I love that! The stories behind and all about quality without religous beliving in analog. All the presented records from analog master tape are before or at 1980, and I know why. From there on mastering has been done digital at all major lables because of cost and no loss at copying. To reissue recordings of the 1950s, like the Miles Davis recordings, you will discover that analog tape is aging, the gear is aging, and playing tape for copying made it worse. To use high quality, remastered digital transfers for cutting the laquer is maybe the only possibility to get the quality expected today. Your opinion on this releases supports that assessment.
I hope to hear that demo at Pacific Audio Fest
Digital does sound great. Analog purists are just wrong about that.
MoFi said in the interview that their 2008 Abraxas was a digital, so I don't trust anything after 2008 to be purely analog.
Really interesting video. Thanks for the level of detail here Michael. Enjoyed the additional Beatles information. 👍🏻👍🏻
I am glad I watched this video because I was wondering what you are thinking about how the best DSD copy holds up vs. analog master copy. Please do the comparison if possible. Thanks for your dedication to attaining the highest fidelity possible.
for an audiophile, you'd think he'd filter out all the lousy dog barking. I keep thinking it's my neighbour unable to control her dog again
Why react so defensively? You certainly don't need to justify yourself to anyone. You are the vinyl hero! 😁
i'll send you my inbox. True plenty of compliments but when you get called a "crook" and "corrupt" it's ......
Great video, Michael! Do you have any insight on how Mo Fi selects albums to reissue, then and now? Thx in advance!
Thanks Massy, for the head's up on Mikey's new channel.
I definitely agree about the Little Feat mofis. I was lucky to find a nearly mint copy (still in original outer sleeve with hype sticker and all inserts included) of the earlier Waiting For Columbus for a paltry $40 and it sounds fantastic. But I was incredibly disappointed in my newer MOFI copy of Dixie Chicken.
The first MFSL LPs I bought were the classical releases of the 500 series. Some of them were good, some were very good. But the pressing quality (Japanese super vinyl) was always excellent, no clicks, pops and other noises at all, which set them really apart from most of the standard LPs in these days. A pity that they stopped re-releasing classical music when they resumed LP production in 1994.
Michael you are the GOAT of the vinyl community! Congrats on the new channel! Well done as always, cheers!
Lovely job as usual mate! I have the AP SRV and yep, it is frigg'n *STELLAR!* 👍
Remember hearing the Trains
On the big Dunleavy Speakers?
I think I hear the wife calling
You
I bought the MoFi "Katy Lied" also. I feel it made the DBX processing on that recording sound even worse than on the "common" LP. Also bought half-speed AJA (around the same time) which I like a lot.
Just wait until the MOFI "Cassette Scandal" breaks.... If thoses hubs could talk!
Great overview on MoFi history. Curious to hear how the SRV comparison goes.
Great video. Keep up the good work.
I’m still kicking myself I didn’t pick up a copy of Elvis Costello and Bacharach when I got the Desire super vinyl.
I agree on Forever changes as well, I picked that up and never play it.
Great video. Michael - you are the best. Thank you for doing this.
I'm about to play the 1st original pressing of Tin Pan Alley and the One Step back to back. Thanks for the idea.
Please report back! Especially about the frequency balance....
@@trackingangle929 It is documented that my friend(professional musician and phenomenal guitar player himself) who has a vinyl UA-cam channel, discussed this back when we both first got our Mofi One Step Couldn't Stand the Weather. I think our chief complaint of the entire album was how SRV's guitar was no longer the star of the show, but was somehow "muddied" in the mix. I was comparing the Mofi then to Spotify streaming of the original :( . I searched and found an original pressing after that. Just now, listening back to back, this is my synopsis: I played both albums without adjusting anything, ,except the turntable speed. In the original pressing, the bass guitar is right where it is supposed to be, under the rest of the music. The rim shots of the snare drum are crisp and piercing. The cymbals sparkle and sizzle. When SRV comes in on vocals, his voice is characteristically rough, but there is a pure tone in the center of it. His voice is dead center and in front of his guitar amp that is slightly above and to his right. The drum kit is behind and slightly to his left. A point of reference to me was the "pick rake" right after the lyrics "two by four"... I involuntarily visualized a zoom in shot of his hand holding the pick and raking the strings. It even evoked a visualization of SRV's trademark grimace on his face. I did in fact jump a bit at the "I heard a pistol shoot..." spot. Couldn't help it. There was space and live air in the song, and unmistakable soundstage. The first thing that struck me when the Mofi One Step started spinning was the overpowering low frequencies. The ever-so-slightly off tune bass guitar was relegated to the Star of the Show throughout the entire track. What is it called when the bass rumbles too much? That's what it did, and it seemed to have to0 much reverb or a bit of echo, leaving one tone to linger into the next. The track was impressively silent, as in zero vinyl noise, no ticks, no clicks, no pops. Also, no feeling of air moving around in space. The bass, to me was a distraction. I could have turned down the sub, but I wanted to listen with identical settings, and with myself positioned in exactly the same place in the room. When SRV came in with his lyrics I was shocked. His voice was not the same. The EQ was changed from the original, significantly. His voice also lacked the inner pure tone that is actually dominant in the original pressing, as opposed to the fuzzy overtones and undertones that the Mofi overplayed. His voice was pushed back into a small space in the mix, feeling and spatially "appearing" unnatural. The soundstage in the One Step is large, surrounded by the bass guitar booming off the walls of a square room, and everything else, including the supposed star, the guitar which is pushed too far back and squeezed. The cymbals lacked the high frequency sizzle. There was no air to breath in the One Step. Suffocating. I did not jump at the same places the Original Pressing made me jump. I was not enthralled as I was hearing the original pressing. I actually have had the original pressing for several months, but played it the first time just now, as part of this comparison. I am spinning it now again, just to enjoy. :)
When Sgt Pepper's was re released and digitized the original producer who resides in Sydney was horrified at the fidelity losses in the recording
Excellent video! Thanks for posting.
Mike have listened to MofoFi’s Billy Joel’s Songs in the Attic 45 rpm pressing? It’s my 1st Mofi purchase
I had to take a master out of the UK once. It was just like the movies. I had to check in and take a suitcase that was handcuffed to me.
Thanks, I have the Sgt. Peppers, not the DSOTM , UHQRs , hahaha. Started buying MoFi 80 's and still today regardless of constrovery but not exclusively. Aloha, great video ,,,,
Jerry Spinger is a Vinyl expert, too?
All Jews look alike
@@trackingangle929 Is Fremer Jewish?
@@jn3750 He is.Though he looks Afro-American
😂😂😂😂
Geez, Michael-why didn’t you insist that King of America be cut at 45 rpm over 2 sides along with Get Happy!! Kidding, of course-but KOA has some seriously long album sides as well, and while the MFSL is no doubt the best sounding version of my personal favorite EC album, it’s a missed opportunity.
I have an 80's Capitol pressing of DSOTM with capitol rainbow labels but side 1 is the Quad mix and side 2 is the regular mix as it should be. To be honest i really like the quad mix on side 1 ,perhaps after hearing the regular mix for so, so long both at home, in the car, and on the radio it will become common place after decades of listening to the same mix. i could certainly tell there were differences when i first heard that side 1 long ago. I have never seen to many in the wild or anywhere else really, i'ld like to know how many were pressed by mistake that way. there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of reference material out there on it, unless i just haven't looked hard enough.. i enjoy having this error pressing in my collection. does anyone have much info on it? there's not much stated about it even on discogs.
Mikey, have followed all your previous endeavors for years and will continue to do so as I enjoy and respect your views and opinions. However, I agree with Krogg in a previous comment, please stop with the continuing defensive plays on negativity.
You have fallen into a bad habit of getting very preoccupied with all of this, and it is not a recent development. It spoils your videos and detracts from your message.
ditto! and thanks for the great content michael.
If you saw my inbox, never mind what's here from "Chris" you'd better understand. I agree it detracts but being called "fraud", "crook", etc. is really never pleasant. I do my best to be an honest broker of facts. I buy all the gear in my system and get accused of getting it free and it really is annoying as you can imagine.....
Best comment on this channel! No one likes a grumpy old man.
@@trackingangle929 Understandable. No one likes fingerpointing. They don't know you. I don't know you. Keep up the good work and ignore all comments. Mine included.
@@trackingangle929 Michael, this is the nature of the Internet. Sadly. I personally don’t feel you deserve to be accused of any suspicious activities. You’ve always been very entertaining and have the best stories.
You will NEVER not have detractors. But you have us. And we outnumber the a-holes.
Continue putting your best foot forward and we will continue to listen and read.
"ULTRA ANALOG" made me laugh - they might as well have put "TURBO ANALOG" as if there are degrees of analog. Completely meaningless - it either is or it isn't. Reminds of shampoo ads: New Ultra Pro-Bio Hydrodermalodic Pro-Active, improves the appearance of baldness (does 'improve' mean it makes you look less or more bald?).
It's all marketing bullshit, and everyone knows it....
I enjoyed this history and am looking forward to the next part. Now on to what really matters... it is time to stop using the terms "analog and digital." It is time to just say "I prefer this mastering and pressing over this mastering and pressing." Truth be told, the mastering choices seem to matter the most in my opinion. Thanks!
No matter what people say, I still prefer vinyl records and tapes over any digital format including DSD. I like what I hear and feel when I play records, tapes and CDs. Having said that, AAD cds are not bad. They retain a portion of that analogue sound and feel. Listening to music using the analogue medium does involve a bit of cleaning and subtle adjustments of the equipment. I enjoy that.
Yes! He has been around since the beginning instead of us whippersnappers. And yes he “covered for them” unlike the rest of us! And even through he has a slew of ultraHiFI gear he couldn’t tell the difference when the discs became digitally source. He just didn’t want to hammer them on the issue. I can only wonder why?! Sadly my comment based in reality will upset Mikey!
Yet, you watched the whole video. 🤷🏾♂️
@@arize84 No, I didn't. However, I do subscribe to Michael Fremer and it's more than fair to say that Michael has difficulty discerning that he is not necessarily a consumer in the traditional sense. He is a decades-long reviewer of both vinyl and HiFi equipment. His resume speaks for itself and I can understand WHY he gets upset when his integrity has come into question. Only an idiot would think that Michael is not a bonafide journalist. Only an idiot would think his lifelong experience in this community can be usurped by someone who is just consuming products on generic gear. And a part of his story is that he stood on an island by himself, waving the flag for vinyl when it was absolutely counted as dead. But Mike can't have it both ways. And that's where Mike has lost the plot in his own life. He can't get all the latest and greatest gear for free to review and get records for free to review and not think some form of bias will creep in. He wants the everyday consumer (like myself) to empathize. It's not going to happen. My choices on where I spend my money in this space are bound by many different decisions including budget. Michael does not have those types of concerns. His access to gear and records is unparalleled. If he was confident in his standing in this community he wouldn't be bothered with every single comment that comes his way. But his confidence and now his schtick is of someone who is not sure of who he is on...UA-cam. He seemingly wants to go back to preUA-cam days when his reality didn't get immediately crisscrossed with perception. His last video with 45RPM Audiophile speaking of MoFi, "I'm sick of covering for them." Mike45 didn't stop Fremer to say what in the world are you implying. And that's because Mike45 is not a journalist. But anyone with a brain knows what Fremer was alluding to. Peace to you and everyone else. The tonality of internet comments gets misconstrued. I happen to dig Michael Fremer but he is on a whining streak about things he can't control.
You are the same clown who posted on TAS's site that I'm a "dimwit'. Yes. That's why Quincy Jones hired me as an expert witness in his suit against the estate of Michael Jackson and why I supervised the soundtrack to an Academy Award nominated (for sound) motion picture.Because I'm a "dimwit". Gotcha! So how could you possibly upset me? I didn't "hammer" Mo-FI based on a rumor. I waited until it was fact-based and we all thank Mike Esposito for finally getting that out of them, don't we? And then I hammered them. On AnalogPlanet I called out Mo-Fi for using copies of masters and not masters and I've given them as many bad as good reviews but how would you know that since you are a troll who never read AnalogPlanet?.And if you did read it you read the site without comprehension. Who else called them out for that? (Answer: no one). So after you post that lie, you add the "I can only wonder why?" innuendo, which is your pathetic way of saying "Because he gets promo records". You are pitiful.
@@ChrisGiarratano You do not know the plot in my life. What a presumptuous troll you are! I bought all of the gear in my system. I didn't get it free. I buy a lot of records. I get some promos too. Did you read my review of the "All Things Must Pass" box set? UMe sent me the second from the top box, the one just below the one where you get a piece of George's hair. I gave it a very bad review because it was not a good sounding set. I've given many Mo-Fi's bad reviews. You are a creep with bias.
@@trackingangle929 Michael, I can assure you I am not the same clown that called you a dimwit. Never did such a thing. However, you are making my point about getting predictably upset. It would behoove you to understand you're a public figure. You're not the cause of the controversy. No one is even implying that. I ask you kindly to go back and read what I wrote. I stand behind it. Your responses are embarrassing. Anyone can give MoFi a bad review but you (specifically you) recently said, "I'm sick of covering for them." In context to this controversy, that is a loaded statement. You can't comprehend that you are not just a consumer is mindboggling. I have videos of you comparing ungodly expensive speaker wires that were given to you for the very purpose of comparing them. I mean take a step back my brother. I'm actually a fan of your work.
All this stuff about mobile Fidelity is giving me a headache😦 I pretty much have had enough I'm just going to my local record store or eBay or Amazon and I'm just buying records and if I get a really good quality sound I'll be thankful for it, but I'm through with hunting down the best sounding pressing in fact I actually started buying CDs again because it's so cheap and some of them sounds so wonderful✌
The Vinyl Community says that the best ones were done in Australia.
Good to Hear your insight of the History of Mo Fi Mike. Look forward to Part 2, its like books Don't Judge a Book by its Cover, close inspection required on the Record Sleeve Etc..& miss leading information, like much in History, check the sources
Everyone can go be upset about current MoFi events. I'll be here just enjoying my collection as usual.
We can never know if the digital conversion made the product good or bad, or if they were just given a project that was doomed from the start because of many varying factors.
The printing process/quality could in they also have been changed slightly throughout the years.
Thanks a lot. There’s so much confusion out there, I appreciate your views. You’re my go-to guy & always will be.
You have to love how In Groove Mike stirred shit up enough to bring the vinyl/audio community to this point. He is probably watching this video and polishing his head saying "Yesss, yesss". LOL!! Just kidding Mike(s), I love the scrutiny the hobby is being put under solely for the love of the sound.
Very nice vid. Thanks. With no intent to dismiss legitimate concerns about the “marketing” of recent mofis…. Even if mofi cut “all analog” it’s entirely possible one may still prefer a different version. For example take the SRV example of the gunshot. That likely is nothing to do with the DSD transfer and all to do with the mastering choices. I for one much prefer the AP 2x45 of Folk Singer over the OneStep, I can’t articulate why but there’s something “damp” about the onestep and yeah, I consider that a miss. I like you, would very much like to be able to compare all analog versions of the miles stuff (which is why I got into these “high end” records in the first place. But I have a sneaky suspicion I might like them because of the choices made by Kevin Gray or whomever would do them. In one of the follow ups from the mofi debacle, it’s mentioned that KW a at mofi is choosing to diverge from the thriller originals compression. That could be a master stroke or a COMPLETE disaster. If Bruce Sweden and BG made choices back in 82 (after the initial tests were rejected by the producers) I’m here to say those were probably the right choices. It’s not like that record is being put on 45 (which it really should be).
I agree people who said bad things about you or pressings are just dumb I believe you I learned a lot from you thanks for doing this keeps me inspired maybe those people who talk about bad things should get a Crosley
Fantastic video by the way. Thanks, Fremer.
Gahhh! I want that Katy Lied so bad.. I must score a copy! One of my favorite Steely Dan albums. 👍
I hang on every word Michael, screw the wannabe’s, your collection should to go to a museum at some point. The only Mofi I have is a 1984 Beatles Rubber Soul.
Bought it new back then so ya I’m older as well. Haven’t played it in ages but after all this talk it’s going for a spin soon. Love your passion. Thanks 🙏 😎
You really shouldn’t hang onto anyone’s every word. Michael’s or anyone else’s
Mike, thanks for what you do. The exciting thing about vinyl is the discovery of gems from the past. I am constantly learning something new. Rich
I'm really glad you made this video. It's fair to say that some of your comments in the videos made with the other Michael as a reaction to this breaking story were unnecessarily harsh on Mike Eposito. Your objectivity in this video towards Mike, and the whole debacle in gneral (rather than the name calling) shows what a great journalist and commentator you are and what you bring to this community. Bravo.
Thank you. Yet the hate comments continue arriving. Part of the deal I guess.
MOFI was deceitful, end of story. Re: Elvis Costello and some of the more exciting stuff they did around that time, it was too early in the vinyl revival for those releases to do as well as they might do today (pre DSD sourcing announcement).
The market for vinyl is very different now, and especially audiophile vinyl than it was 10+ years ago. IMHO that's even more of a reason for MOFI to cut the B.S. and be truthful about how each release was sourced and cut.
Of course MOFI is happy to charge extortionate prices for Elvis Costello releases they have as warehouse backstock. Wonder how many they can sell at those prices now after MOFI-digi-gate???!!!
THIS MOFI BS: Mike, first off - out of ALL the sources i spend countless hours listening to,reading and watching ,the years have proven to me you have total integrity and i'm sick of the simpletons that don't realize that any promo you get is a small perk of the profession,as most professions(epsecially retail and sales) have in one form or another and i've NEVER thought in the slightest it effects your integrity and hope it never would. Secondly, people need to get off of their cancel culture/un-educated side taking asses and do a little research and learn that ALL natural sound IS analog and our hearing is naturally analog. When folks try to explain, or actually can't explain, that special musical magic sound we experience with vinyl, it's some of the little imperfections like certain distortions that create that magic-in my opinion. Some distortions can be positive and others negative to our human analog hearing. Let's all not forget that digital is 100% (processed and processing technology) that is ATTEMPTING to capture natural analog sound, just another reason why the analog chain is best for capturing analog sound-is this not clearly evident to people? In it's highest form and resolution i think it's been proven that some digital has reached a level where when done correctly and by the masters such as Bernie, Gray and others can inhance the analog chain when the original analog capture wasn't that great to begin with. to reiterate for the idiots, our hearing is naturally analog and the analog chain is capturing analog sound-it's a marriage. and as you have said many times-neither format is perfect as anything else in this world,but i personally want a total analog chain capturing analog sound and if the best forms of digital can help at this point in it's technilogical time-then great, as i think we all have conceded that when done the best it can be by the best mastering engineers. We all hear things slightly and sometimes greatly different from one another and it comes down to what appeals to the individuals personal taste. When cd's hit in the 80's it still blows my mind how fast people bought into the corporate marketing machine's bullshit of the ("perfect" crystal clear sound) line that was feed to them as i could quickly tell digital fatigue was a real issue with the format-but that's me. And look at today- the total corporate marketing machine(and including todays Algorithm) horseshit that controls so,so much of our everyday corporate marketing programmed lives-wake up people!! and lastly, the in-groove Mike meeting with MoFi was about as vague as it could have been in my opinion, although VERY minimally revealing, he's a retailer and i never seen really any hard-hitting "we'ld like to know" pressure that all of us consumers want and deserve based on Mofi's marketing lies, all the more reason a professional journalistic presence should have been involved instead of a single retailer that partly kissed thier asses and never pressed the questions when those gentlemen more or less just brushed the issue off over and over and over and did a great job with thier avoidence which i found very evident regardless of the small amount of info he could pry out of them while giving them a fan-boy handjob at the same time-lol, total bullshit... Sorry to be longwinded, but this is my opinion on the issue from just an everyday hard working American that loves music, will i ever have the means to have a system as nice as yours? no sir, but i am an audiophile never the less and happily spent 125 bucks for AP's UHQR of Miles' Kind of Blue for my collection and play on one of my Akia or Technics 70's era tables or my Realistic LAB-440 table(Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge) through an earlier Sony ES reciever into 80's era Polk Audio SDA 1A's, and all mostly used gear i searched out for and could afford over the years that appeals to my hearing tastes-nothing fancy but certainly better than entry level (marketed)junk from Crosly and even with my modest gear i can tell the differences and most others could experience as well if they only put a little effort and research into it -for their love for music, instead of just picking a side for todays sorry ass side picking sake, AND THAT'S the easiest bullshit to tell the difference between as far as i'm concerned. thanks as always for being the professional champion with true integrity Mike, it is appreciated, Jerry in Indiana
I still have no idea what mobile fidelity is other than a record label.
@22:16 that is something we need, sadly reel to reel never took off and never took advantage on the scale of economy. A question for micahel is why dont he show off his reel to reel in his collection. We would love to have a deeper understand his 30+ years of audio experience
You should do a mobile fidelity factory tour 😁 I wish they or music direct would open a distribution centre in the uk or somewhere in Europe the price to get shipped to the UK is getting as dear as the record itself, worth it though dire straits sound fantastic just got brothers in arms last Tuesday and have still to clean and play it 😀 we've been having freaky hot weather here in usually constantly raining Scotland and don't want to take the chance with the vinyl in extreme heat 😀 anyway great video and please stay safe 😀
I lived through Mobile Fidelity in the '70s. A couple of things -
1) A bunch of us, including Rob Doorack, a reviewer from no longer published Listener Magazine, convened at Sounds Of Silence in Nashua, NH, to do a shootout between DSOTM pressings, including a CD, an original UK Harvest, an original US, a standalone MoFi, and the 25th Anniversary. The original UK Harvest was easily the winner. The MoFi came in low in the poll of those in the room. It sounded hyper-detail, yes, well-pressed, but stiff, lifeless. The UK was airier, more transparent, and sounded more real.
2) The test pressing of that Doug Sax-mastered reissue was the 25th Anniversary. The test pressings WERE done at RTI and reportedly sounded great (I have a reviewer friend who got one). But the commercial pressings were done at a facility in Holland, and, unfortunately, didn't sound nearly as good (according to my reviewer friend).
To each his own DSOTM!
That is correct. I too have one of those DSOTM RTI pressed Test Pressings and I can confirm it is amazing!
I'll add that I agree that while it's ultimately about the sound, truth in advertising is important. Otherwise there's a bit of mistrust between the company and the consumer, and that's not good.
I unironically want to hear that Steam Engines and thunderstorm record. Seems like a great mood setter.
A bit of a tangent, but I hesitated to buy the MoFi Miles Davis catalogue because I already had the Mosaic box sets on vinyl. Would you care to comment on how the Mosaic records sound compared to the MoFi? (At the time they were released, the general consensus was that the Mosaic sets were the new benchmark).
I have to go back and compare. Of course those Mosaics present the music in "running order" not album order but when I have time I'll compare some tracks. Those are all analog too so.....
@@trackingangle929 I did exactly this recently. The Mosaic Milestones destroys the Mofi and a ton of alternatives (Grundman, Absolute Analogue, Kevin Gray versions, RK Smith Mono, even the Mosaic) sound better than the Mofi KOB, but all other Miles are superior from Mofi.
@@trackingangle929 I forgot: the Sketches of Spain Mosaic and the Original and the Grundman are superior to the Mofi for me.
@@trackingangle929 I would love to hear your thoughts. (Maybe an article/series of videos....?) I treasure those sets - which I got when they were issued. I remember you doing an in-depth comparison of the CD and vinyl versions of the Live at the Plugged Nickel (not in CD's favor), but as the MoFis came out you demurred because the Mosaics were out-of-print and already very expensive. BTW so excited about the new venture (I still own all my original Tracking Angle magazines).
@@comeon9796 That is so interesting! I got a few of the MoFis of later electric Miles and the live gigs and was not disappointed.
Look at all them records bub. And my wife thinks I have a lot!!! Hardee har har.
My MOFI Rubber Soul is a favorite in stereo.
Thanks for always giving us an honest impression when reviewing these, and not going back and revising your impressions. After all the crap hit the fan, I sat down with some of my Mofi records and compared them to other versions that are known to be analogue cuts. We now know the Dire Straits catalog is from DXD transfers, so it is interesting to compare them to the Bernie Grundman cuts done a few years earlier. They do sound quite different! The Mofi records have much greater sense of ambience and space between all the layers, where as the Grundman's have a softer tonality with more sweetness on the top end. They also have a lot more tape hiss, and a sort of congealed quality (sounds blending together) that makes me wonder if they were actually cut from second generation tapes. Overall, I must say I preferred the Mofi 45's, and they will continue to be the versions I play.
And that's all that matters.
A question please, to anybody… I don’t know these whole catalogues, or different periods of catalogues, like you guys do. But I did revisit my Sony $30 copy of Bitches Brew, and liked it way more than I remembered. Then as luck would have it I got the “Gain 2 Ultra Analogue” version, and it has blown me away. There’s so much happening all at the same time, and yet the sounds are all clear and distinct and musical and I can pick whatever instrument in my mind at any point and follow the lines along perfectly clearly. I love it! So, my first question, what am I listening to? Is it Ultra ANALOGUE, or from DSD? Then I saw Music Direct announce BB coming in One-Step, but that was ages ago. I’ve called MD several times, spoke to different people who answered, and this last time I was told it will be a long LONG very very long time before that comes out. It almost sounded like he was saying it’s a ploy of some kind and that that version will never come out. Or is this me being impatient? Thanks in advance for anyone who can fill me in a bit here!
13 minutes until "gravy train" relapse! Much better!
Great video 🤘🏽👍🏽🤙🏽
Little Feat ,I have the MSFL of the 1st album and Sailing Shoes that came around 07 08 ,I think they are good but I don't have a Warner Bros issue to compare it to.. I was thinking that the Live album probably was the best on the Warner pressing and then you said it...Warner records always had a great quality sound ..I have a couple of Jesse Colin Young albums on Warner and I don't think MSFL can improve on it either because they are that good..
Mike congratulation on the new channel. Much success. Subscribed.we need someone who knows what they are talking about. No one can give a history on mofi like you.keep up the good work.glad your back. Enjoy the music
Michael…Michael…please give up on the “I’m being tortured by people thinking I am corrupt taking industry promos and gifts” schtick - your reputation proceeds you - rise above it and keep on making it happen
you haven't seen my inbox! But you are right.
Michael, I sense the Beatles outer sleeves in the box set having the same tape printed shows the profound cost cutting in printing .. if anything it would have made sense to have the actual sleeve art work. Doesn't seem to be much to extract from that in terms of provenance - PS, wish I could see you at the Pacific Audio .. saw you at the last Rocky Mountain at PS Audio booth.. loved listening to the analog/digital vinyl comparisons!
I'll be there next weekend!
Talking about Carole King's "Tapestry". I had always preferred the original Columbia, Santa Maria pressing, then Classic Records did both a 33 1/3 rpm version and a 45 rpm version. I wasn't impressed with the 33 1/3 rpm version but felt the 45 rpm version equaled the Santa Maria pressing. In 2012, ORG did a 45rpm version and I was disappointed with it. In 2013, Mofi Did their 33 1/3rpm version , MFSL 1-414, this was the best version I've ever heard and consider it to be the reference version. Then, Mofi released UD1S-2-030. It didn't sound good to me and not even close to their 2013 version. What happened?