Maybe it’s not MoFi gate that’s slowing MoFi sales but the looming recession

Great discussion boys! Really a pleasant chat about our hobby, which is so refreshing. I hope you get together again soon! I will get into these Rhino releases too, and I can’t wait for my set of DG Original Sources to arrive. I really wish they offered tracking information, or at least an email to say it’s on its way.. always room to improve. Thanks again Steve, Michael

I enjoyed the conversation. I think Mike will be pleasantly surprised by the album cover of The Cars album. It's more like a Tone Poet than it is a Blue Note classic cover. Take care.

So entertaining to listen to the two of you with different views. Michael‘s interpretation of MoFi’s current standing in Germany is also what I am experiencing. So is his view of the new Original Source Series of Deutsche Grammofon - outstanding releases, esp. Stravinsky’s Sacre Printemps, whole nine yards. Your live stream content is getting really great, Steve. Kudos!

Michael's take is spot on in regards to MOFI and how many Americans look at what happened. It feels like we as a nation are welcoming of corruption and dishonesty. Moral decay in our country has been/is rampant.

Great stuff Steve. Always scoring the big interviews in the VC.

People need to realize that this Use of AI with the Beatles is NOT recreating John or any of the Beatles voices or music. It is techno that now will allow Lennon’s vocals to be isolated from the cassette. It what was used to isolate tracks on last years Revolver. The One Steps and UHQRs are over for the larger audience. They are back fir a very small view. But if and when MoFi releases different titles, they will sell ; Zevon, Run DMC, etc. but not a bunch of boxed Joni Mitchell and Van Halen. Good titles from MoFi and AP at $60 is their sweet spot.

These older guys who prided themselves on being critical listeners who prized analog had their egos bruised when it came out that MoFi had a digital step the whole time. They may never recover.

Hats off to you Steve for being able to balance your family with your hobby, family 👪 first of course! 😊

An enjoyable listen Steve, well done

57:44 - Rhino Vinyl already did a Kevin Gray Black Sabbath - Paranoid - in 2004 and again in 2006 and repressed AGAIN in 2104 for Vinyl Me Please (on Purple) I have that one - they are all AAA from the original master tapes. Rhino then released BS/MOR/Vol.4/Sab - all AAA from the original masters. Chris Bellman did the cuts for the Vol. 4 and Sabotage. Of course - they should do it again - and this time add those cool OBI's and I will but them all again!

Always enjoy the conversation, Steve. And the learning.

Marvellous, enjoyed the discussion 😊

Hey Steve And 45, interesting conversations. Quite pleasant. 😊🎼✌️🎵

Great commentary by Steve & Michael

Great Video as always Steve! I love seeing Michael 45’s passion. He’s a straight, No BS person.

Explain to me why I should take this guy seriously? He's an expert because......

The Rhino Cars packaging was quite well done for $40USD (as well as the sound excellence).

Speakers Corner has been / is a VERY GOOD reissue label. Was turned on to them about 10+ yrs ago. Own ~75 of their jazz, blues, rock, & some classical. Good stuff.

Many artists approved test pressings before mass production of the records. So their “stamp of approval” (no pun intended) was in the very essence of the first releases.

What Michael 45 is referring to at the beginning is that people in the US are accustomed to shady businesses and being lied to regularly and for that reason we tend to move on and accept things more readily. Where he is and in other European countries people expect integrity and when companies do not abide by this they let them know their displeasure through their wallet.

Excellent discussion and opinions. Not everyone is going to agree on music tastes.

It’s Ali vs. Frazier of the audiophile community!!

Hi Steve, really like your channel and the discussions you present here, so I was looking forward to this one. But when Michael-45 started his talk/rant about MoFi and mentioned his opinion about 'the germans', I was out. I mean, I'm a german myself, have a music channel and recently reviewed the new Warren Zevon 45rpm MoFi release of 'Excitable Boy'. I love what MoFi did (as did Mazzy and countless others) and I know a lot of people here in Germany that agree with me and so they bought the album because of the music and the fantastic job MoFi did with it - regardless of that DSD-step. The real problem here in Germany are the ridiculous high prices for audiophile vinyl (the Zevon costs approx. 90 Euros). THIS is preventing most music lovers from buying them. So be sure, there are no 'the germans' - everyone has his individual opinion, just like people in the US, Canada or elsewhere in the world. So maybe Michael-45 is talking about his loyal fanbase, but everyone who uses the term 'the germans' in discussions like this is definitely NOT speaking for the vast majority of people here. Keep up the good work, cheers from Germany.

Thanks for the great content again Steve. I have to agree with you on the Steely Dan, can't buy a thrill, my favourite also

Steve, thank you for this interview with one of the individuals who is highly respected in the VC. Michael 45 Audiophile has a channel that offers honest, heartfelt reviews with entertainment for individuals that Love Music.

Thank you Steve and Michael for this video. Was a fun watch! Of course my 2 'pfennig... To preface my post: Remember, I am mostly an original pressing kind of guy. I was part of the original, original buyers club for 35 yrs ;) and still am. Im not loyal to any company, only what sounds best. Given that.. Regarding the Mofi Eagles: "Why do we need another Hotel California"? Well, the real question is: "Why do we need a reissue of anything?" Answer: Because it might improve the sound. Why did I buy the Mofi mono "Surrealistic Pillow"? because it sounds really good and even bests the original. What if this Mofi Hotel California One Step, like the Abraxas One Step turns out to be the end all be all version? Guys, I get it. I get the disappointment. But sometimes we dont see the forrest for the trees. If its a "principle" issue, then so be it. Be all means on principle of being lied to boycot Mofi. But please dont give me this: "Why do we need another reissue of _____?" We mostly dont NEED any reissues. We want them because we strive for the next level of sound improvement. As far as the Mofi being another digital version of Joni Mitchells Blue,well, that isnt entirely true. The last step Mofi does is analogue. So this either a misunderstanding of the process or simply a jab at the company. Which is fine also. Therefore, again I ask: What if this Joni Mitchell Blue One Step turns out to be the best sounding version? Will the Mofi be justified then? Or will many stick to their guns on principle yet mascarade it as "well its digital, it cant be the best" even when it very well might be the best. Come on now. In ending, I would like to say I respect both of you gentlemen and value you as contributors to the world of listening and vinyl. But I cannot agree with this continual illogical stance. As one wise vinyl fellow once stated: Its case by case basis. And on a side note, and I debated whether to post this-- but its such a generality that I feel I should.. In the discussion about Mofi, Michael seems to infer that somehow german people have more integrity than americans. That we are somehow willing to accept a lie and german folks are not. Not cool. One visit to the long Mofilied thread at the Hoffman forums will attest to this. Bad form my friend. As far as the Beatles new song (and there have been 2 songs before this that used Lennons voice and technology to combine George, Paul and Ringo: Real Love and Free As A Bird) It isnt AI as in the sense of John Lennon is being computerized and some sort of cgi figure will be on stage eventually (though that probably will happen one day). Rather, it is the same technique that many loved (not me, I cant stand Giles remixes) which is called demixing. Its an extraction process used first on the "Get Back" film and then on the Revolver remix. So if you liked it on Revolver you will most likely enjoy this "new" Beatles song as far as the process. What I would be more cringed about is Paul's croaky voice and how many layers of processing it will take to make him sound decent and match John's younger voice. Who knows what George will be, if even included. Plus the song is not that good. There are articles on this new demixing technique on the internet. Id post links but youtube seems to frown on that now. PS: Trying to guess what the Beatles will do next as far as a big campaign is like trying to guess what is down the long and winding road. The Beatles camp rarely do what we expect. And march to their own drum that looks far into the future. Thanks again guys for the video! Always good to see Michael up on screen😎👍🏻

Steve, pretty sure that 4000 were pressed of ‘ The Beatles in Mono’ vinyl box set. Had quite a few in the shipping box & the boxes are numbered. Just sold a #2028 box set. MR Stickermania

Very nice discussion. Thanks! Mr. Pete-------------> aging hippie

M45 and Steve: thanks for the interesting discussion!

Oh and on Rhino, their customer service and responses seem to be a dead end. I got their number in CA and called them on behalf of several people who ordered and couldn’t get order status and sat in hold loop where no one picked up. That’s not a great face for such a good product.

Speaking of first press, everyone universally agrees the UK -2 -1 “Abbey Road” is the gold standard!

Steve, forgive me for not checking through all your vids but would appreciate a forward to the link for a store & eq. tour which I'm definitely interested in. If it's been awhile, an updated vid about the shop and hifi store biz and hifi client would be entertaining bud. Thanks. 👍

Enjoyed the video Steve and I hope your Rhino's arrived in good shape. They dung me on GST here when I picked them up at the P.O. I will add, my packaging was great, they used a ULine 1/2" thick box. It must be the number of albums ordered that dictates the quality of packaging shipped in.....cheers.

Mofi exposed AAA audiophiles. And THAT is why folks like Mike have written them off and are mad at them. He had no idea that there was a digital step until told and he completely changed his opinions on the *sound* of Mofi and jumped on the original pressings bandwagon. I wonder what he will do when he finds out many of those original LPs were cut on a Neumann VMS 80 lathe that used a 12 bit digital preview.

I forgive you Steve for the Kirsten Edkins “Kind of Blue” comment 😂

Collecting hast to be the love of music first

Steve - can we expect Mazzy, Sonic Flare and M45 on together? Think that would make for some great content and lively discussion.

I agree with M45 in that Mofi played and lied to us, but his fetishism of original pressings has become a joke. I have plenty of originals that have been blown out of the water by reissues. Also, most bands do not have control how their initial pressings sound on the mass market. Their labels do.

Never been that keen on mofi pressings and would not buy £180 for 1 LP . The other issue with the audiophile labels is there's prices have gone up a lot and the steely Dan's are proof that they are selling very slowly .

I'm returning my only one step Tapestry when we are allowed.

Mike from the In Groove is pretty picky and he had positive comments about the Rhino package, not the shipping box. He also likes the Sony Japan pressings in addition to the RTI and QRP.

I absolutely LOVE your channel and watch every week but why did you have this FRAUD on? Bought and paid for by the promo gravy train.

Sorry about shooting down the Coltrane for not being an original. But I want to say that is not necessarily a "mistake." Between the originals and the audiophile reissues are numerous reissues/remasterings with no hoopla that were quietly done by the likes of George Piros and other excellent mastering engineers who ended up doing the best sounding versions. I have a late 70s Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy that IMO beats the Classics reissue and the original UK. And I don't even know who mastered it. You just can't be sure based on these rules what will end up being your favorite. If your Coltrane sounds great you may come to find it sounds better than the original or any audiophile reissue. It's rare but it does happen.

Steve, Tom Port sells early 1980’s pressings from 1980 to 1983 of The Beatles Collection BC 13 stereo UK box sets, not 1985. MR Stickermania

The issue, I believe, and correct me if I am wrong w/ Black Sabbath is the best sounding versions by far are the UK Vertigo pressings. In the states what has been used are the Warner tapes not the original UK masters. So no matter what they do, I dont believe anything will come close to the UK pressings. Get the UK tapes, then there is a chance of the best mastering ever. I would much rather see AC/DCs catalogue. But I dont think thats happening as an audiophile product. That ship is tight in Angusville. The Cars Rhino packaging is much better than the Classic Series BN. The shipping is the issue. The cover art however is not as sharp or vibrant. But that is a fairly common occurance. The artwork is probably long gone that was used on many originals.

9 out of 10 times original wins IF you believe that ahead of time and do sighted non-level matched comparisons.

Got my Rhino hi-fi records last week and still have not fixed the issue. Both Cars and Coltrane had multiple corner creases. *Sigh*

Is your Beatles Blue box made up of Canadian pressings?

UK and Germany originals Michael’s comment UK good highs vs Geman good midrange does not match the general experience of collectors. Many german pressings used original UK plates. Others used a later generation tape

i've still never been able to find your facebook groups. can you let me know what the links are?

I'm not a fan of "remixing"to replace "original mixes" ! That's like "repainting the "Mona lisa" with a different smile! 50 years later , I'd like to think kids will be listening to these LONG GONE artist 🎨 in their "original" form to get an idea of those times! Just like you said, I also was born after the Beatles split (1970, so right on the year), and my (80's generation) get to listen to their art in its original form/intention!

What's the deal with the Memphis plant?

That’s the format I like to see 45RPM in and not that nutty cesspool. 👍🏻 BTW. You gonna like new Rhino series Michael.

“Didn’t buy one”. NO. They didn’t send him back he two for FREE!!!!!! Promo gravy train…….

Most of the Audiofools are Listening to Streaming / Digital Vinyl what aa joke / Overload the Market with RE-RE Reissues that are everywhere / Just bring back High Rez Digital or Buy yourself a Proper Dac for your c.d. player 90% of the Market has not heard Proper Digital

I don't understand Michaels take on Rhino High Fidelity.. what more does he want? Is it really not a "open a bottle of wine" experience? Lol.

Has Mo-Fi apologized for misleading its customers ? Actually lied to them. I dont own any and I never will.

Please give the jazz a break. We need more rock titles.

Amazon Canada can’t give away most of their Mofi stock. Particularly one steps