Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs...Incredible

[JMT]

I just received two new LPs from TTV&HJ yesterday. John Lennon's "Imagine" and Isaac Hayes' "Hot Buttered Soul." Both are 200 gram original master pressings from Mobil Fidelity Sound Labs.

I don't think that I have ever heard anything sound so sweet. I constantly read comments in reviews of digital gear about how close to analog it sounds....this is the standard of comparison. It is CD quality in terms of noise (or the lack thereof), yet the dynamics are smooth, balanced, and natural. Keep in mind that this is listening through an entry level table too, I can only imagine (no pun intended) how wonderful it will sound once I decide on a new table upgrade.

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMT ....this is the standard of comparison. It is CD quality in terms of noise (or the lack thereof), yet the dynamics are smooth, balanced, and natural. Keep in mind that this is listening through an entry level table too,

That is precisely my experience a week or so ago on my new entry level table but my recording was 'Classic Records' 200 gram pressing of Led Zeppelin III.

Understand that having heard way too much Zep by 1980, I avoided their music like the plague. But of #III I remained fond, artistically and as the least pretentious. I've listened to it a few times a year every year, for 25 years in total, (in it's multiple remasters not to mention original LP & 8-track).

The 'Classic Records' pressing was a revelation. I heard it like never before. Every single musical element retain its distinct integrity without blending with another, smearing or sharing of information/energy. I was astonished.

 

[RickG]

eyeteeth, I've got Led Zeppelin's 1,2,3,4, and Physical Graffiti on the Classic heavy vinyl. Amazing stuff!

I also have a number of other Classic records pressings by various artist. These are really "spotty". They vary in quality from LP to LP (really dependent on the mastering). Some are wonderful and others are downright awful.

However, they definitely got the Led Zepp stuff right...

 

[Tuberoller]

there is so much more great audiophile vinyl to discover. Once you upgrade to a higer resolution analog rig you can really enjoy how amazing this music sounds.

 

[JMT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuberoller there is so much more great audiophile vinyl to discover. Once you upgrade to a higer resolution analog rig you can really enjoy how amazing this music sounds.

How about a SOTA Comet, Rega RB300 tonearm, and a Grado Sonata?

 

[RickG]

LOL, Fred...

I don't have nearly the number of LP's you have, but I have quite a bit. I've got a dedicated room for records/CDs with custom built shelving.

Now, I'm just waiting for Todd to ship my VPI HW-17 so I can clean a lot of this stuff up. I don't have the "best" analog rig, but it's no slouch.

I have enjoyed spinning my records since I was very young (about forty-five years now) and hopefully, I'll get to continue that in the future!

My first rig when I was five:

 

[RickG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMT How about a SOTA Comet, Rega RB300 tonearm, and a Grado Sonata?

Sounds like a fantastic TT rig to me, Jon!

 

[Davey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMT I constantly read comments in reviews of digital gear about how close to analog it sounds....this is the standard of comparison.

I agree, but the MFSL Lennon titles aren't a very good comparison since they're from Yoko's digital masters. She won't license the original analog tapes but Music Direct decided to go ahead and call it that anyway, even though they didn't really make it a secret that the LPs were mastered from the digital sources. You probably already knew this and I'm not saying they don't sound good, in fact I haven't even heard the "de-Spectored" CD let alone the LP, but just thought others might like to know that this isn't the "original" version of Imagine.

 

[JMT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey I agree, but the MFSL Lennon titles aren't a very good comparison since they're from Yoko's digital masters. She won't license the original analog tapes but Music Direct decided to go ahead and call it that anyway, even though they didn't really make it a secret that the LPs were mastered from the digital sources. You probably already knew this and I'm not saying they don't sound good, in fact I haven't even heard the "de-Spectored" CD let alone the LP, but just thought others might like to know that this isn't the "original" version of Imagine.

First she breaks up the Beatles....now this.

 

[grinch]

i'm pretty sure all of the new mfsl vinyl is mastered from digital sources though. their new mastering strategy involves dsd and i believe all the record come from that.

i'm sure that doesn't stop it from sounding great though.

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickG eyeteeth, I've got Led Zeppelin's 1,2,3,4, and Physical Graffiti on the Classic heavy vinyl. Amazing stuff!

Intrigued by the way Zep III dropped my jaw into my lap, I did immediately get Physical Graffiti which does have songs I still liked particularly on sides 3 & 4. (I like saying "side 3" or "side a"

).
In my very limited vinyl experience I'd give Physical Graffiti an A- while Zep III is an A+. I wondered if these superior sonic presentations could revive and redeem Zep IV, which I had not much interest in. But I'm afraid it's beyond redemption musically for me, I've been inoculated against it through over hearing it in my youth. And sonically it was good but not amazing like III or very good like Graffiti. I'd give IV a B or B+.

Yeah...I'll probably get the rest. With I & II first up.

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeteeth I heard it like never before. Every single musical element retain its distinct integrity without blending with another, smearing or sharing of information/energy. I was astonished.

I should explain this more clearly.

With CD there seems to be a ceiling on the amount of information available, and this is most apparent on busy rock music with many events happening. As if when one instrument takes center stage it sucks up some of the energy of surrounding instruments leaving them thinner, a little smeared or blended together. Often when a busy piece has a quiet acoustic moment, that acoustic instrument gains much greater fidelity. And when the band kicks in again the fidelity gets parceled out to the various members again.

What knocked me on my butt when I first played Zep III was that, in addition to there being extra information per instrument, when the band kicked in there was no deflation of fidelity of any of the instruments. All the various bodies in motion retained their full body weight. They remained intact entities fully independent of eachother, like dancers dancing together.

Astounding!!!

 

[hainss]

I just receive and try Tears for fears on Mobile Fidelity, and lp had a lot of back ground noise, but when music start I can't hear to much this back ground noise... I am very suprise by this low quality pressing, it's my first try with Mofi, maybe a end of serie pressing...

Mastering is good!