MoFi quality control

[mackat]

All things I've gotten from them were noisier than expected first play. Now I replace my broken Madeleine Peyroux. I get an album that has a soft click in the right channel every 3 seconds. It's probably the most annoying phenomena I've ever come across on an album. I have contacted MoFi in the PST, but they say it's not their fiscal responsibility to replace it. I just feel really bad taking something back to my mom & pop stereo store (stereo ultd.). I guess I'll just have to start buying MoFi from them directly, so I don't feel bad when I get something severely lacking in QC.

/rant


Ben aka MacKat

 

[WntrMute2]

MacKat, does anything ever go right for you? Seriously, maybe this hobby's not for you.

 

[Edriz]

Ben, take the LP back where you bought it. No need to feel bad about it. Bad records happen and the store owners know this. They will in turn, send it back to their supplier and get full credit for it.

And by the way, this "hobby" is for everybody!!
Enjoy the music.

 

[WntrMute2]

Perhaps I was a bit harsh in my commemts to Ben. On the other hand, I've followed his multiple threads in the diy, turntable, tol forums. Read his thread concerning repairing a WTT arm and so on. Ben seems to have more than his share of frustration especially in the more diy aspects. No insult intended but I apologize.

 

[JohnVF]

I'm with WntrMute2 to some extent....maybe you could take a break and investigate a really good DAC and high resolution digital? It is far less tweaky and can sound as good. On headphones I actually prefer it to vinyl. I'm not saying give vinyl up, but half the forum is you having problems with something and it must be frustrating. Music should be relaxing and Hi Res digital is pretty painless.

 

[mackat]

Perhaps I was a bit harsh in my commemts to Ben. On the other hand, I've followed his multiple threads in the diy, turntable, tol forums. Read his thread concerning repairing a WTT arm and so on. Ben seems to have more than his share of frustration especially in the more diy aspects. No insult intended but I apologize.

I understand, lately I've been having too many problems, but I think I'm almost done

It was a Black Widow, BTW.


Ben aka MacKat

 

[GreatTone]

Don't feel bad. I have been buying "audiophile" vinyl for years now, and my return rate is a solid 30%. That means 1 out of 3 albums is defective in some way -- warped, scratched, noisy, etc. It's not you. I just received 5 albums last week, and 2 of them had to be returned. I have bought hundreds of these types of records, and regardless of the label, the return rate is at least 30% (sometimes more on certain labels).

It's true that this particular part of the hobby is not for the faint of heart or impatient. It can be very frustrating, esp if you're on your 3rd or 4th copy of something you really want.

I would buy from an online dealer like acoustic sounds, elusive disc, music direct or soundstage direct. You can return the items for replacement, and they won't give you a hard time. You do have to pay return shipping. But you can send it media mail, which is just a few bucks. They ship it back for free. You just have to call them to get a return authorization number.

MoFi is just as susceptible to quality problems as anyone else. Maybe a tiny bit better. But it's the nature of today's vinyl. It's always been that way to some extent.

 

[JohnVF]

BTW, if you buy from Music Direct, you're basically buying from Mobile Fidelity. Music Direct owns MFSL.

 

[andyecon]

I'm wondering if it is because you listen on headphones. Surface noise is just much more apparent when I listen on my headphones (Sennheiser HD 580) than through speakers.

I have all of the Elvis Costello MOFI pressings so far. I also have all of these from early pressings and would say that the MOFI's are better overall. That said, I usually DO hear more surface noise between tracks on the MOFI pressings, so I imagine that if I did an A/B with headphones I would hear more surface noise. I think the cause might be that they seem to be mastered at a lower volume, so I have to turn the amp up a bit in order to listen.

 

[mackat]

I'm wondering if it is because you listen on headphones. Surface noise is just much more apparent when I listen on my headphones (Sennheiser HD 580) than through speakers.

I have all of the Elvis Costello MOFI pressings so far. I also have all of these from early pressings and would say that the MOFI's are better overall. That said, I usually DO hear more surface noise between tracks on the MOFI pressings, so I imagine that if I did an A/B with headphones I would hear more surface noise. I think the cause might be that they seem to be mastered at a lower volume, so I have to turn the amp up a bit in order to listen.

Most likely, bus still no excuse for them. I guess I'm just not much of a speakers guy. This, however, is during the tracks, and it's very subtle, which makes it far more annoying.


Ben aka MacKat

 

[JohnVF]

I can not listen to vinyl on headphones. I lose all of what I like about it, plus put a spotlight on everything I don't. I don't know how you do it, Ben, but carry on.

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

MacKat, does anything ever go right for you? Seriously, maybe this hobby's not for you.

Isn’t the purpose of this forum to emotionally support other members and even live vicariously through their triumphs and losses? Is it so wrong to weep with others when a record is scratched or an annoying click is heard? Is it wrong to share in the euphoria of a Goodwill scroe or the sight of an adorable kitten playfully pawing at your $1,000 cartridge? Of course not! This is fine entertainment and I, for one, LOVE it!

 

[mackat]

I can not listen to vinyl on headphones. I lose all of what I like about it, plus put a spotlight on everything I don't. I don't know how you do it, Ben, but carry on.

Try some Sennheiser and some Toobey goodness! I agree, 99% of headphones I absolutely hate! These, however, I love more than many speakers!


Ben aka MacKat

 

[mackat]

Isn’t the purpose of this forum to emotionally support other members and even live vicariously through their triumphs and losses? Is it so wrong to weep with others when a record is scratched or an annoying click is heard? Is it wrong to share in the euphoria of a Goodwill scroe or the sight of an adorable kitten playfully pawing at your $1,000 cartridge? Of course not! This is fine entertainment and I, for one, LOVE it!

Yes, but I can understand his point. I'm not the most careful person in the world. Far from the most careless, but I've had my fair share of annoying problems.


Ben aka MacKat

 

[JohnVF]

Try some Sennheiser and some Toobey goodness! I agree, 99% of headphones I absolutely hate! These, however, I love more than many speakers!


Ben aka MacKat

I love headphones (I use AKGs and ATs) I just do not like how they spot light the flaws of vinyl while not having what I like outside of a representation of natural timbre.

 

[mackat]

I dunno about the AT's (I like m50's), but if the AKGS are 701/2's, I see why you don't like the, on vinyl! For me, on digital they're earsplitting! I used to have a pair, but I sold them and got these.


Ben aka MacKat

 

[WntrMute2]

Isn’t the purpose of this forum to emotionally support other members and even live vicariously through their triumphs and losses? Is it so wrong to weep with others when a record is scratched or an annoying click is heard? Is it wrong to share in the euphoria of a Goodwill scroe or the sight of an adorable kitten playfully pawing at your $1,000 cartridge? Of course not! This is fine entertainment and I, for one, LOVE it!

I have to say I am not here to emotionally support anyone. I do often commiserate when misfortune falls on others but when I see cries for help every ten minutes when working on a piece of delicate audio equipment (yes, as frequent as that), over and over, maybe emotional support is not in that persons best interest. A little nudge towards something a bit less fiddly than a Black Widow tonearm repair such as a good digital player at a fraction of the cost of good vinyl playback may be not what the OP wants to hear but nonetheless correct. And if Ben walked away from this forum enjoying more music more often, we all could probably agree, that would be a good thing.

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

And if Ben walked away from this forum enjoying more music more often, we all could probably agree, that would be a good thing.

And isn't that the ultimate ironic inversion......perhaps for all of us?

We love to play records - but then we love to read about other people playing records even more!

 

[GreatTone]

I have Sennheiser HD555s which I love -- did the mod, and they sound great. My first good 'phones were Sennheisers with yellow foam pads that I got in 1977. That said, I don't like vinyl through headphones either. Mostly a surface noise issue. If the album is not absolutely perfect (and few are), then it's annoying.

 

[mackat]

I have Sennheiser HD555s which I love -- did the mod, and they sound great. My first good 'phones were Sennheisers with yellow foam pads that I got in 1977. That said, I don't like vinyl through headphones either. Mostly a surface noise issue. If the album is not absolutely perfect (and few are), then it's annoying.

Ahh...yes, I have a pair of the anniversary 414's from the 90's. The pads are on my Grados, but I didn't much like the sound of the 414's. Little life. They were a big technical revelation back in the 60's, though!

I can live with a good amount of surface noise, I just don't like really subtle pops or noise in one channel, or really abnormal noise. Yes, I mostly buy new records, because I don't like trying to determine the condition of the record by looking at it, which, IMO, rarely works. The three record stores I really like for used are :

Record Surplus in LA

Amoeba Records in LA

and Record City in San Diego

Amazing record stores!


Ben aka MacKat