Ralf11 Report post #1 Posted January 30, 2019 Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs, MFSL or MoFi, has remastered a number of significant recordings using such devices as the Gain System and a "high precision downconversion" from SAC to Redbook. Yet, some MFSL CDs are said to not be as high a SQ as regular CD releases. In one case the original tapes were unknown to MFSL, but there seem to be other examples of lower SQ. I am curious as to which MFSL discs seem to you to be lower in SQ than the regular CDs and any info you have as to why that may have happened. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diecaster Report post #2 Posted January 30, 2019 I’ll take the West German Harvest release of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” over the MFSL gold CD every time. Why? The EQ choices made by Krieg Wunderlich, the mastering engineer at MFSL, were all wrong. Basically a smiley face EQ. By by the way, I own both masterings plus a couple more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ralf11 Report post #3 Posted January 30, 2019 Is that the 1985 'Harvest' release in W. Germany? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diecaster Report post #4 Posted January 30, 2019 18 minutes ago, Ralf11 said: Is that the 1985 'Harvest' release in W. Germany? Yes. I am listening to it right now. It’s sublime! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ralf11 Report post #5 Posted January 30, 2019 okay! I have both & will allow your comments to bias my listening enjoyment... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diecaster Report post #6 Posted January 30, 2019 I was using a little too much hyperbole when I said the MFSL mastering engineer’s “choices were all wrong”. Most people seem to like the WG Harvest release the best. I certainly do! But, you should go with the mastering that sounds best to you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doak Report post #7 Posted January 30, 2019 My experience with MoFi SACD releases has been off putting - many more misses than hits IMO. Doak's Audio System Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allan F Report post #8 Posted April 9, 2019 On 1/30/2019 at 7:42 AM, Doak said: My experience with MoFi SACD releases has been off putting - many more misses than hits IMO. From my experience, I can't say that there are "many more misses than hits", but I certainly agree that MFSL's releases are inconsistent in terms of SQ. "Relax, it's only hi-fi. There's never been a hi-fi emergency." - Roy Hall "Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted"- William Bruce Cameron Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ralf11 Report post #9 Posted April 9, 2019 how about some specifics? 1 CatManDo reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CatManDo Report post #10 Posted April 10, 2019 It's not a bad sounding disc, but I think the sound quality of the 2003 MFSL SACD of John Coltrane "Soultrane" has been surpassed by the 2014 Analogue Productions SACD. MFSL seems to have boosted the upper treble and bass a bit. The AP SACD has a dryer sound with more pronounced midrange, which in my experience is closer to how those late 1950's Prestige recordings sound https://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=901 https://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=993 On the other hand, the MFSL Bob Dylan SACDs sound more natural than the earlier Sony SACDs of the same title. The MFSL Miles Davis SACD are also an improvement over the earlier Sony SACDs. Sometimes subtle, sometimes vast. I can add more specific info on those, if needed. Claude Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ralf11 Report post #11 Posted April 10, 2019 sure - more specifics would be great! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
semente Report post #12 Posted February 1 On 1/30/2019 at 2:20 AM, Ralf11 said: I am curious as to which MFSL discs seem to you to be lower in SQ than the regular CDs and any info you have as to why that may have happened. Have you tried the Steve Hoffman forum? "Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira de Pascoaes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
