Mobile Fidelity 24k CDs

@tattooedtrackman 

I've found mofi cd quality is quite variable. You never know whether the extra $ will yield better sound quality or not. At this point, I've become rather cynical about the brand.

Although I can't afford gear at the level of ARC, what I've  concluded is that many  Redbook cds have the potential to sound great -- it starts with a high quality transport.

Maybe ask @ghdprentice -- he's very familiar with ARC.

@ghdprentice 

Thought it might be helpful for OP to talk to you, but it would appear he is wedded to his Rega CDP. 

@goofyfoot 

In my experience, it is exactly the mix and mastering of MoFi releases that is so inconsistent and at times, worse than other versions. Surprisingly, I find myself in agreement with @jasonbourne in this regard. 

@goofyfoot 

Yes. Agreed. I'm by no means one of those guys who asserts that "original CD releases are always the best". This is apparently "gospel" for some, here.

Personally, I've had extremely variable results. Sometimes the originals sound better. Often, remasters sound different but not necessarily better and sometimes remasters definitely sound better... to my ears, of course. As you assert, it's a matter of taste. 

At this point, a sufficient number of MoFi CDs have disappointed me that I'm disinclined to purchase any more. I have a few Analogue Production CDs and these fall into the "different but not better" category, for me. 

Part of the equation is that my system is now sufficiently resolving and sufficiently dialed in to make decently mastered CDs sound very good and well-mastered CDs sound excellent to stunning. Of course, there will always be some recordings that cannot be helped by remastering... "Layla" comes to mind immediately. I've tried various versions and have (ironically, perhaps, given the topic at hand) opted to stick with the old MoFi gold discs. ;o)

My MFSL Layla Ultradisc gold UDCD 585 is, according to Discogs, from 1993.

You may laugh at this... I prefer the rhino remasters of both Workingman’s and A. Beauty to their recent MoFi hybrid counterparts. I also prefer the old MFSL Mars Hotel to the recent hybrid. Same with Caravanserai and Rock of Ages. All these hybrids sound rather dull to me -- the redbook layer, at least -- I don’t have an SACD player. Perhaps your system is more resolving or just brighter, overall? Or what sounds "warm" to you sounds "dull" to me? I don’t like overly bright sound in guitars or audio but I don’t like dull, either.

On the other hand, I’ve tried Japanese hybrids of Layla and Exile on Main Street and found both way too bright. Do the Japanese all listen on tube gear? ? ?

I have Traffic’s 2nd album and Low Spark on MFSL golds and they sound good enough. For Exile, I've settled on the Bob Ludwig Virgin remaster. Same with Sticky Fingers. 

@goofyfoot 

I should've said revealing instead of "bright". My mistake. I've only heard one pair of Quads and they certainly weren't bright or cold. I haven't heard that many systems, overall, and as it's happened, those that were significantly more revealing than mine sounded fatiguing to my ears, so it's just inexperience on my part.  

I'm a huge fan of '72 era Dead but have a love/hate relationship with the Jerry and the boys (and girl). I can't stand out of tune singing or sloppy playing -- the "ragged but right" ethos is an oxymoron from my standpoint. But at their best -- when they were both inspired and tight, (particularly from '71 - '77), I love 'em.

"Europe '72" was the first live Dead album I heard and it's consistency spoiled me forever. No full show from that year that I've heard equals it, for me. Inevitably there are clunkers intermixed with jewels. A perfectionist by nature, I'm not the type to buy albums because I like a few tunes, so I find this hit-or-miss miss aspect frustrating. I turn to the cherry-picked  "Europe '72 and "Steppin' Out -- England '72" anthologies when I'm in the mood for that '72 sound. 

I saw them in "73, '74 and '77 but due to the "recreational enhancements" popular back then, don't actually remember much! ;o)

@goofyfoot 

Yes; that out-of-pitch Dona singing is pretty awful. However, beginning around '76, I think (I could be mistaken) her singing was much more on key and I enjoy her contributions to the band, from that point on.

"Personally, I’m excited from time to time to see a recording that has undergone a process of remastering but in the end, the price tag is a very big factor in whether I’ll pull the trigger"

Yes. Same here, but if I'm honest with myself, most of the remastered versions of favorite recordings I end up buying are at best, moderately better (if at all -- many are simply different) compared to original versions. It's rare that I encounter a remaster that offers a dramatic improvement. The fact that this does occur, from time to time, is what keeps me buying them. Of course, now that MoFi is (for me), out of consideration, there are fewer to choose from. I will continue to keep an eye out for Analog Productions releases. 

" I do like many of the Rhino remasters but as a whole, don’t hold the opinion that they reach the same level of refinement as some MOFI and most Analogue Productions do."

Perhaps my system isn't capable of revealing such "refinement". . . or else, we are listening for/prioritizing, other aspects of the sonic presentation. 

@goofyfoot 

OK; now you've got me wondering what else comprises your system, aside from the Quads...

Care to elaborate?

@goofyfoot 

Thanks. I read the Stereophile review of the ASR  -- intriguing piece!  

Did you choose it particularly due to synergy with the Quads or...?