Mobile Fidelity Original Master Recordings

What exactly is an audiophile? Let’s start with the basics. An audiophile is, when you break the word down, someone who loves music. But the word has come to mean something a little more complicated over the years. Today, audiophile means someone who has a particular passion for high-quality audio and accurate music reproduction.

Audiophiles can spend years, and an extraordinary amount of money and time, putting together a system designed to reproduce music as faithfully as possible. The ultimate goal is pretty simple: to hear the recording the way the musicians, producers and engineers intended it to sound. Or, at least to get as close as humanly possible to what happened in that recording studio when the magic was happening.

The unfortunate reality is that most people will never hear a truly high-end audiophile system. And even fewer will ever own one. The cost of admission can be enormous.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need a $50,000 system to experience what an audiophile recording can offer. One of the easiest and most affordable ways to get closer to that experience is to start with the record itself.

An audiophile pressing applies that same pursuit of faithful music reproduction to the vinyl you’re putting on your turntable. Extraordinary attention is paid to the mastering, source material and pressing quality—all in an effort to get you closer to the original recording. This is where Mobile Fidelity (MoFi) comes in.

I was recently given the opportunity to listen to and compare a Mobile Fidelity Original Master Recording press of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band “Keep on Moving” with the version that I have in my collection. And the difference is remarkable. Released in 1969, “Keep on Moving” was a big departure in sound for the band, moving from Chigago-style blues to a more funky, R&B-influenced release with a large horn section that included a young David Sanborn on alto sax.

You can pick up this audiophile pressing for about $40 from MoFi or at your local record store. I looked on Discogs for a comparison price for earlier releases, and you’re looking at anywhere from $20 – $50. So the MoFi price is solidly in the middle. And this isn’t their only $40 album – they have a wide selection including jazz, alternative, funk and more. And if you can find it, grab Sisters of Mercy, Floodland for only $29.99. Currently sold out at MoFi, but I grabbed one from Invincible Vinyl here in Denver and it sounds incredible. You can also check their sister company, Music Direct, where you may find some out-of-print albums not available on the MoFi site.

Gear: I don’t have an audiophile system – nowhere near it. I’m listening on a Pioneer PL-50 turntable from 1972, a $500 Onkyo receiver, and a pair of Paradigm Monitor 9 v6 speakers that I bought used for $300 from a guy in Texas who’s wife hated how much space they took up (story old as time, and the reason I’ve gotten great deals on tower speakers throughout the years).

Thoughts: Even on this relatively basic system, the MoFi pressing made a noticeable difference between the two releases. The music seemed to open up with greater clarity, better separation between the instruments, and a more dynamic sound. The vocals were easier to hear, the individual instruments had more definition, and the whole recording just seemed to breathe a little more. It felt less like a collection of sounds coming out of two speakers and more like a performance taking place in front of you. I started noticing little things in greater detail—the sharpness of the guitar, the horns, and the room around the vocals and harmonica. And the quiet parts are QUIET, and that may be the noticable difference between the two.

And that’s really what I want from an audiophile pressing (or any pressing for that matter). I don’t want the record to sound different just for the sake of sounding different – I want it to highlight the music. The MoFi pressing didn’t suddenly make me hear a completely different record. Instead, it gave me more of what was already there. The packaging was nicer and sturdier than the original, and of course the 180g vinyl was heavier and more substantial. If I could only have one, I’d probably go with the MoFi over the original, but luckily I don’t need to make that choice.

MoFi Has Different Levels

One last thing to know: not all Mobile Fidelity records are priced the same. MoFi offers different levels of audiophile pressings, and that’s why you’ll see some records around $40 while others can cost $100 or more. And please don’t quote me on this…I’m not a MoFi expert, this is just what I gleaned from the site and other forums. If an audiophile out there notices something incorrect, please let me know.

Original Master Recording:
These are the more affordable MoFi releases, generally around $40–$50. They receive MoFi’s audiophile treatment and are an excellent way to get into high-quality vinyl without spending a fortune.

UltraDisc One-Step:
This is MoFi’s premium level. These are usually limited editions, often packaged as deluxe sets, and can cost $100 or more. Often 45 RPM over two albums instead of 33 1/3 over one disc.

FINAL THOUGHTS: You don’t have to spend a fortune to experience and audiophile album. A $40 Original Master Recording can deliver a seriously impressive listening experience. The more expensive releases take things another step further, with upgraded vinyl, mastering, packaging, inserts, artwork and other extras. And honestly, spending over $100 or $150 to have the absolute best version of your favorite album isn’t that bad of a deal!