Fremer reviewd Dire Straits self-titled on Analog Planet and said it's "Sonic Spectacular". What am I missing? Otherwise, I agree.

Another very insightful review post Michael....At any rate, I enjoyed it

I believe your a good man Michael and am very grateful for all your work. Obviously you've been around the scene for a long time and done massive amounts to keep the industry alive and strong. In some ways the whole MoFi issue could be a blessing for less well off folk such as myself that just want to access great sounding analogue at reasonable prices.

The Marvin Gaye is a problem in europe. The hypesticker says "cut by kg" but that is not the case. The eu version is cut from digital by Lawrence Dunster. So we got scrwd over by the record company.

Love your channel. So much information I get from you. Thanks

"They sequester themselves in Sevastopol." First time I've ever heard that sentence. At any rate... Love your videos.

I always learn something new from watching your reviews.

The Little Feat and Marvin Gaye are 2 of my favorite releases this year! Thanks for continuing to give this the info!! Love what you do!

Keep up the good work Mr. Fremer, I really enjoy your reviews and your presentation. You do a very good job of bringing good information and I know you are very experienced in all that is about music and good equipment. I like all the places you go to and the people you interview. Thanks!

Good for you Michael. Just keep going. And say what you think.

So why the heck did you not review these titles when they came out? Afraid of giving a bad review? Isn't it the job of an effective critic to give both positive and negative reviews? This is like a restaurant critic fawning over every meal or a film reviewer only seeing and writing about "good" movies. Not only does this hurt your credibility, but it's a real disservice to your readers. How do I know what's good or bad (and what to spend my money on), if everything is good?

David Crosby has one of my fav rock and roll quotes “I was kicked out of the Byrds because I was an asshole.” His honesty is always fun - his takes on music takes are always hot

Your honesty really comes through, thanks for a refreshing report

Michael, what’s changed since you reviewed the Dire Straits where you wrote. “If you are a fan, you’ll want to upgrade to this. If you’re not, it’s still worth considering if just as a demo test record to help determine your system’s transient precision and clarity and especially its bass and mid-bass performance. You might even start to enjoy the music. Much to my surprise I did.”

If you thought these records sounded poor when they were released, why not let people know at the time? You could have helped people make informed buying decisions. Now that most of these are long sold out, you’re letting us know your opinions when it’s inconsequential.

Love my BG cut Dire Straits S/T pressed at Pallas that cost $25! Clear, defined, spacious & lush - great version & the one to get. -Russ

The Dire Straits comments really got my attention as I have been so pleased with all 5 MoFi releases of their music. I have original pressings of all and felt the MoFi were a great improvement in overall dynamics and presentation. I have two copies of the 1978 self titled album and listed to both and then put on the MoFi and just love it.

Honestly the best blood on the tracks I've heard is the digital CBS half speed mastered version. They fixed the speed issues. It's hard to get but totally worth it. I agree with most of these but I really enjoy the David Crosby mofi out of all of these. His voice may not be as lush but the instrumentation and backing vocals sound better to me. The supervinyl is a big plus too with the extreme quietness. And its one of the few all analog ones. However many of these are poor, like heart like a wheel is horrible and people even noticed that before this debacle. There's parts of the dire straits I preferred on the mofi and some on the original. All in all mofis EQ is exactly what you've said, they try to make it sound new and amazing at first listen but when you sit down and truly listen to it it's just equalized to hell and often inferior to the originals. The mofis are only superior when the original album was recorded or mastered poorly, like surrealistic pillow or the miles davis releases. Or the bands big pink due to the original having the bass lapped off. But even many of their all analog pressings are inferior. Their foreigner and cars self titled are vastly inferior to the cheap originals. But then foreigner 4 and heartbreak city sound better. So it's a crap shoot. But I'm personally done with mofi, the only ones I will buy in the future are American beauty and workingmens dead because they did do a good job with those and they're analog.

Hi mr fremer I love your videos on KZfaq and would like to thank you for all you have done over the years for our great hobby I’m from Uk and around same age you are the man thank you my friend for all you have done for vinyl 👌

Have an original UK 1st press of Dire Straits and the MoFi. The MoFi I thought was "boomier". Liked it, different sounding to the UK. The UK sounds great. Sounds like a really good recording with average mastering to vinyl. Have ordered the Grundman.

great video Michael 👍😎 azmi, Malaysia

At any rate Michael don't worry about it, my wife constantly corrects me for constantly saying 'anyway'. Loved the video!

Wouldn't Crosby have to approve the test pressing? At any rate is your catch phrase, don't lose it.

Great video! Thanks for the information.

Grundman, Ricker, Gray, Ludwig, Hoffman, Piros, Marino. Don’t have to agree 100% with their philosophies on mastering but we are lucky as heck they do what they have done and are doing.

I had a chance to chat with Geoff Edgers behind scenes with Michael Ludwigs... very nice guy. Thanks again for chatting with me the other day, Michael. I love the fact that you are true to yourself and critics be damned. 🥰

fwiw , we need guys like you to call out the less good pressings , i would certainly like to see more of this . 😘

Thanks for this video.. perhaps a follow up video titled "Mobile Fidelity Records I prefer over the OG "....

I wonder why no one ever seems to mention the Analog Production 2-45 Stevie Ray Vaughan series...? You compared the MFSL to the original, but *WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE AP version!* 😁 I have 2 of the series and on my system they honestly sound great!

Great idea re. the MoFI guys getting out of their shell. IMHO remasters should prioritize legit dynamics over false dynamics i.e. boosted bass and treble that you called out. No-one is going to listen to these on ear buds on a train. Assume your audience is going to listen on decent gear. If anything, boost the mids just a tad in conjunction with all the fancy phase stuff they do to really bring the vocals home.

Mike, I have been reading your stuff for 30+ years now and remember you did a review of one of those LPs!

I have the original Mobile pressing of Waiting for Columbus and it sounds really good to me. I also have an OG of Linda Ronstadt's Heart Like A Wheel and many other or her albums. They sound really good and Linda has the best rock female voice in history where I'm concerned.

EQ and other mastering tools have always been MOFI's stock-in-trade, no matter what anyone says. As for the tape azimuth issue, I'd love to see some non-MOFI engineers comment on that. I'd also like to see a double blind test to show whether or not very minor deviations in tape azimuth are even audible to ordinary people.

Why don't you do a follow up on all the Mofi,s you did review and thought they were great, it's sadly obvious what's going on here.

The Mofi tweaking isn't just with the vinyl, it's there on the sacd of Desperado, struggling to get through it I put on my original lp , EMI UK pressed copy and could tell that was far more balenced. I would of been gutted if I'd of paid the £175 the one step vinyl costs here. This "from the original master tapes " business. I'm with you. Like just how many times did we get a record that was cut direct from the master tape? Many of mine weren't like EMI cuts from the Motown/MCA/Asylum catalogues when they had distribution over here plus the local CBS cuts (many by Tim Young), from copies and yet they're great records. Your system is I am sure better than mine but no system can do all it is capable of without great sounding records (or cds for that matter) and people need to use their ears, do a bit of research towards finding great copies rather than buying blind expensive new copies that often fall short. Thanks for an informative video.

The loudness button was on all receivers back in the day.

Great video, I really enjoy when you talk about the difference in pressings and, in your opinion, which one you prefer and why. Please continue to do mores. I would rather not buy 5 versions of an lp to get the best one, I would rather buy the definitive sounding copy; especially when some of these duds cost 125.00

At any rate, I really enjoyed this video! (Now I’m going to buy the Kevin Gray ‘What’s Going On’ - thanks!

While Mikey is speaking, I keep looking over his shoulder at all the eye candy in the background. I'm not a big fan of reissues. I usually try for the original and give it a cleaning with an ultrasonic cleaner. Huge Elvis fan. I have often wondered if there is a website that tells which of his LPs are AAA analog. (Referring to later ones, obviously)

The problem is virtually all Nashville studios now "Loudness War" compress and brickwall EVERYTHING they produce.

Great video. Best shirt I have seen in years.

Change from the channel's moniker to "At Any Rate". Of course your care, at any rate, somebody has to. Thumbs up!

Great video, Michael. I've been seeing copies of the 2-LP What's Going On that have a sticker saying that they were pressed in the Czech Republic; are those the ones that were poorly mastered? I remember hearing that the European version was not as good as the American one.

Thanks for this video. I can’t afford to buy multiple copies to find the best sound. You’ve saved me time & money.

Hi Mike Great to catch up on your latest Video, will have to check out that Elvis record, Elvis Presley, never seen it before.I have been listening to some old Budget record Labels ( eg Music For Pleasure ) here in UK, amazed at the sound quality of these pressings, Artists include Geoff Love & Jack Parnell Big Band

Michael, saying "at any rate" is a part of who you are. It's a shame that people have pointed it out to you so often that you now catch yourself saying it. Screw them all, and just be you.

I knew you had good ears,,, i have been reading your articles in one way or another since the early 90's and the past 10 years or so mofi stopped sending you records after the bad reviews you have been giving them, and than you just stopped reviewing them,, ,, thank god someone else agrees with me that mofi has been heavy handed on the eq, im sick of arguing about it with people,,, well if the best ears in the business hears the heavy handed eq , than i must not be crazy,,, Thanks for this video Michael

You might have started a new youtube video trend, records that I haven’t reviewed!

Hi Michael, what are the brands of the two turntables over your right shoulder? Is one of them now your main TT?

I always love hearing your take (good or bad) on vinyl, but PLEASE name the album and artist on camera for each record.

Look, I don't care about your beef with The In Groove, but what exactly is the point of this video? Why are you shitting on MoFi albums from years ago? Why didn't you shit on them then? Why didn't you make a video about a consistent EQ trend you didn't like? This video is 5 years too late. You have done amazing things for vinyl. Nobody can take that away from you. Really, you need to move on because this is a very bad look.

I agree! Some of the Mo-Fi recordings actually had me doubting my Ortofon cartridge! Then, I'd play a non-MoFi, and it would be natural and smooth. Years ago, selling high-end hi-fi in a Chicago retail store I suspected that all they did was boost; if you are going to boost the "master recordings," go to the multi-track studio master, remix it and boost whatever on the relevant instruments themselves, thusly avoiding corrupting vocals and other instruments not needing boost. Otherwise, leave it alone!

What happened to my post? Got deleted???

Oh man, your standing right in front of the OMA! Please can you do a video on it. OMA get next to no coverage, I know generally they don’t do the review circuit thing but you own it! Oh, and personally I would rather hear a negative review and explanation as to what’s wrong with it and then a recommendation of an alternative that sounds better and why. These records are not cheap and most times only available by mail. I used to like HiFi news and record review in the UK did this years ago and it really helped in choosing.

At any rate, an excellent presentation - thank you.

Thanks Michael. Now I'm beginning to honestly wonder if what I love in the MOFI 2x45 of Alan Parson's "Eye in the Sky" isn't a smiley face that gave me a smiley face...SMH

I never bought a MoFi record because they were too expensive. I’d like to try one and see how good they sound.

Great video thanks. I've been trying various pressings to the Mofis I have. It's interesting how many do sound bass boosted.

Blood on the Tracks. I have an original. I found one in the shrink wrap, real first pressing, unopened. Cleaned it thoroughly on a VPI using Audio intelligents enzyme, super cleaner and 3X distilled water. Sounds great. Of the 10 odd different presses I have, it would be the one that I like the best. I have the MoFi one step. Thought it was very good.

I can’t trust this Snake oil salesmen anymore. He's a hack. I mostly visit 45rpm (Michael Ludwig) and Mike at the Ingroove.

I really like the short critiques of albums; which sound good IYO, which are worth getting or is another version preferable. I think this is a good alternative to a longer review in which there’s really not much to say about a version, and it clears out your unreviewed queue, more or less.

I bought a few Elvis Costello's from music direct a few years ago when there were blowing them out on sale under 40 bucks each he's one of my favorite artists anyway good to hear a good review!

The problem is that if you have a superb system the flaws of shitty new records will become even more painfull .. ANYWAY .. the originals, most of the times, are superior. just let your ears measure. If a smile appears on your face, you have found the right one. As for old records, could you review different quality and pricing. I remember from RCA that in the eighties there was entry level Pickwick (I could afford as a child), The RCA International midprice (allready better) and top level RCA Victor. Other labels had similar. Cheers Michael, I dig your knowledge sharing and I just wish I had a room like yours.

Mikey - great video - so far much/most/all of the dialog around MoFi has been the misdirection of the DSD source vs. “analog” marketing hype…NOT that they did not sound nearly as good as other releases as you emphasize here - thanks for the insights

I still like my MoFi records, but I’ve always preferred my originals. My Pixies UK originals and a 1 or 2 US promos / originals do sound better than my MoFi pressings, but i love that band, so I’m glad to own them. My MoFi copy of Natalie Merchant’s “Titgerlily” sounds fantastic to me. It originally only came out on CD in 1994 or so, until MoFi pressed it in 2007 or ‘08, unavailable on vinyl before that. My SRV US originals are good enough for me and sound great. Thanks, Michael. Great vid.

Today I started with Kind of Blue VG Original pressing, then to Legacy reissue, now on Mofi 45. Next will be Analog Productions 45 UHQR. So far. The Mofi sounds very similar to the Original Pressing The bass sounds plucked as it should. It is missing some realism in the cymbals, just aa tiny bit. The standard reissue is dull. The bass is "blurred". I enjoy listening to the Mofi 45.

Hi Mike, found a copy of Almost Blue by Elvis Costello, for £2 !! , was a bit dirty, so cleaned it with my disc o static Cleaner , Wow, this recording as you state is Amazing, i remember " Good year for the Roses" was in uk charts as a single, was 9 yeas old at the time ...

Wow, 51 year old and dead! I'm 52 and way overweight, I think I just got my wake-up call!

I kind of wonder why I am wasting all this money on over priced reissues. A lot of originals sound great. I'm done with the one steps. I am now disappointed with Analogue Productions. First Chad came out with UHQR kind of blue in a 33 and pushed it really had then just now another UHQR version of the same LP in 45. I'm not now going to buy the 45 version for a 150 bucks plus costs. Nope, ridiculous. I feel a sense of being scammed or a minimum of just being overcharged. MFSL is feeling the raff of their overpriced misleading products.

11:55 okay i´m in with the dire straits st album i have the uk first pressing the mofi and now your BG cut from 2016 .. i´m going to have a shootout today ..

I would be interested in follow up on what the guy had to say after showing him the difference with the not so good mofi editions compared to non mofi editions. This video is much appreciated by us audiofools. Perhaps it will help lead to better mofi records and just records in general in the future !

Message received. We’re walking . . . 🤦‍♀️👍 Btw, you look mahvelous! 😉

Agree with you on Imperial Bedroom. I’m lucky enough to have the Mofi as well. A great example of them getting it right.

Good on you Mikey. You don't have to justify your actions to me. Love ya work! "Anyway" may be a good substitute for "Any rate"

Good to see you around Fremer. Hoping for huge boxsets for each of the first five Kate Bush albums like the big Zeppelin ones they did (with lots of demos and studio alternate takes). Do you have any pull with her people to make it happen? There are a lot of rabid fans of her out there.....and yes I was into her decades before this new craze. Now would be a good time for her to do it though.

The original Warner Bros. CD of the Dire Straits debut is a more satisfying listen. It doesn't sound compressed like the MFSL.

"These [Mobile Fidelity] double 45rpm single-step AAA boxed set pressings are as good as vinyl records get. If they don’t sound good on your system, it’s your system... You may question some of the musical choices, but there’s no doubt about the superior sound quality." - Michael Fremer

Yes, it is very interesting and I have some catching up to do on my listening (I moved from America to Europe and my system has been in storage/transit for the best part of a year). I bought the KG mastered Marvin Gaye but haven't listened to it yet - will compare with the one-step. Same for the BG mastered Little Feat against the yellow labelled MFSL. I also have the BG mastered Dire Straits releases from 2009/10 which are quite something and the MFSL Love Over Gold which uses DSD 256 to DXD and the plangent process... interesting. Lastly, I have the BG/CB mastered version of David Crosby and the new MFSL to compare. Interesting times; I'm quite curious to see what differences I find. Thank you for the video!

Agree with all but David Crosby one, it smokes the 50th anniversary and my original. What are your thoughts on the 50th?

Mr Fremer, what do you recommend for In a Silent Way by Miles Davis? I have a 2 eye where Side A is perfect but Side B has some simmering distortion...

I have read quite a few of your negative MOFI reviews and I always guessed that you were not pleased by many MOFI records. I think that this “guess” was caused by you not reviewing many important MOFI releases. I like your knowledge, opinions and how you present them Michael. Thank you.

every human hears stuff differently.

Innaresting, The In Groove says that the Mofi Dire Straits are the very best sounding. On his recommendation I bought them all.

Mr F 1 . What about the many MOFI you reviewed and thought were fantastic? You should be fair! 2. Do you really think the MOFI engineers do not reference the originals or competitors cuts. (“They don’t get around”) 3. Of course the MOFI won’t be the best version every time. I think you should move on from the MOFI debacle and continue on and do what you do best.

1) You are exactly right: Lose weight, live longer. 2) Losing Joey D is a tragedy. 3) MoFi - Buyer really beware.

The "at any rate(s)" don't really bother me... Thanks for the going through the Elvis Costello records. I have an Imperial Bedroom US pressing.. it's good to know the MOFI sounds better!

Comparing Apples & Oranges. Significant sound improvement for those using sub $300 cartridge?

Well done I love your honesty

I have long thought the majority of MoFi’s releases in the last decade were too dark, bass boosted, and not at all “correct.” Nice to see the expert himself concur.

Hi micheal. Should mofi be forced to put the 3 digit code on their vinyl. Eg aad or ddd. James in scotland.

I have to agree on the Dire Straights self titled. The Mo-Fi version was not up to snuff. While their Brothers In Arms 45 RPM was fantastic, something happened with the self titled release. I don't know why, but they really messed this one up and that's too bad.

Bro, you REALLY should check out that 'MOFI - Hitler's Reaction' It is the funniest thing ever. You are mentioned too, and the reference is very funny! Make sure to check it out!

At any rate, I feel the smoke screen mofi created in digital steps has cleared and the true details , colours, unbalanced Eq is now in focus . They have flattered to deceive no more.

Mike this is off topic but could you do something on stylus cleaner. The old site had an article about how zero dust style cleaners could be leaving guck behind. What do you use?

You have good taste, all those are good albums, I have all of them, all originals, pretty sure most collectors have them. Not mind blowing records or too hard to find, I just don't understand why people would want new versions of those. Having one copy is good enough for me.

My impression was, you now (correctly) mention those old and new Mofi’s, where they tweaked with EQ too much or which sound inferior for other reasons. They always existed and still do. You now also seem to reevaluate those Mofi’s, now known they have been done from DSD. What was formerly praised (even as best release so far) now gets partly downgraded posthumous. That has a smell. I think it would be more balanced to oppose at least as many still superior DSD based releases as you find inferior ones. Finally the true potential of the DSD path lies where the 1step or normal DSD based Mofi releases still beat any AAA release done so far. Don’t those Mofi’s exist for you anymore now? The Monk? The Mingus?

Been listening to a recording of Tony Bennett on Philips Label, Album title " Listen Easy" arranged & conducted by Don Costa, not a live Lp but has in top left hand corner of Lp " Fairmont Hotel , San Francisco , sounds superb, will have to find an original US pressing of the one you Reviewed

Michael, do you have the 2009 CSN debut Rhino Records remaster? Discogs credits the mastering to Bernie Grundman. To my ears It sounds compressed compared to the original. Would love to get your opinion.

on the dire straits self titled, the MOFI does sound better than the US pressed by Columbia pressings. But after buying it and listening to it, there is little depth to it, the bass is impressive at first, but almost overbearing after a few minutes of it. The Japan pressed copy does not have the bass, but is more open and airy than the MOFI

Put a dollar in the "At Any Rate" jar!