MoFi "Mobile Fidelity" Master Phono.


Very interested in this unit. The interweb appears to be lacking pertinent information/reviews from owners of this fine-looking phono stage. It appears to be designed by Peter Madnick. Usually, I really enjoy the way his products are voiced. User impressions of the Master Phono would be very welcomed.

128x128wturkey

November issue of Absolute Sound included it in their Buyer's Guide and said the review was forthcoming...

With a $6K sticker price, it better perform like a $10K box.

Seems like an odd price point for them to offer, based on their existing product line?

A box designed to compete with $5-6k units @$2500 MSRP, IMO makes more sense. 

Nice looking  unit.

Thank you for the link. It appears to be a solid unit. Hopefully someone will chime in with a first hand account of its performance. 

I have heard it for several hours recently in a system w Mofi deck, cartridge, PS Audio and a very lovely set of Kef reference X standmounts. Excellent sound.

@big_greg might comment w his impressions and clarify what model Kef.

In general, agree that price point is hyper competitive.. i’m not sure what value VU meters bring…

I had the opportunity to listen to the system @tomic601 described and thought the vinyl playback was excellent.  I wasn't in "critical listening" mode, but noticed that the dynamics were great with the Master Phono and everything was nicely detailed.  If you read Fremer's review, the meters do have a purpose (to help with azimuth) and they look cool as well.  It has a lot of great features and a remote.  Speakers in that system are KEF Reference 1 Meta.

Thanks guys, this is helpful. I’m thinking about bringing one in from MD to supplement my Allnic H3000. It’s been ages since I’ve heard an SS phono in my system, and I’m very curious about the current option for my low DCR carts. Can always return it within 60 days if it disappoints.

I would be interested in hearing your impressions of the MoFi, if you did indeed bring one in.

 

Herb Reichert wrote about it in Stereophile as well and liked it.  Can't remember the issue, but sometime last spring maybe. 

I bought one.....didnt like it all, to me a big disappointment and I like MOFI, have their ultra deck among other tables and carts. Just never got going, kind of like it was just there. no real groove etc, sound was pleasant wasn't bright or anything.

Tried it with my Harmony by Pure Fidelity, the ultra deck and my Rega p8

just didn't do it for me, sent it back.

@superhonestben

 

How many hours did you put on it? Perhaps it wasn’t fully broken-in.  Also, did you try different loads?

@superhonestben I had essentially the same experience. I let it burn in for 100 hours using the Granite Audio inverted RIAA CD, as always, before I listened critically. Then I returned it. Like you say, nothing especially bad, just nothing much to recommend it beyond its flexibility. In a stable including an Allnic H3000, VAC preamp internal MC/MC, Modwright PH9.0, the Mofi came in fourth in my system. Too bad because I was hoping for more.I did like current mode more than voltage.

I played it enough and did try diferent set ups, I also bought it 'open box" so it had been played......and probably returned. I listen for the music and gear that makes me respond is what I am interested in. I have Graham Slee ARC, Icon Audio ps3mk2 and even the little cheapie MOFI studio phono and for the buck, its pretty good, just got a Whest two.2 discreet and for the short listening that I have done am quite impressed.

I am not sold on the break-in thing except for tube gear, I have never had a piece of audio gear that went from so so to really great after xyz hours. But others may have had different experiences, I just go by what I hear.

 

 

Possible but doubtful as I have 6 systems set up and 5 tables with different carts

kind of threw the whole shebang at it, just didnt work for me sonically.