MoFi Revealed!
We Have A Sneak Peek For You!
By Steven R. Rochlin
Click here to e-mail
reviewer.
Colorful Paul Stubblebine
With Blue Shirted John Wood of MoFi.
Some days you are the dog, others
days the hydrant. Today i was the dog as a specially setup meeting was
arranged. Before i knew it i was whisked away to a wonderful mastering
facility right here in San Francisco where Mobile Fidelity has their
multi-channel work done. Paul Stubblebine is well-versed in music mastering
and has an excellent, carefully implemented studio for insuring every musical
note is mastered to perfection. This is a recording studio and mastering facility and this,
my friends, is where the entire surround sound multi-channel mastering for Mobile
Fidelity is conducted. Several musical passages of master tapes were played as
i sat in the hot seat. MoFi has decided that their very first title under new
ownership would be in surround sound. Specifically, a recording that audiophiles will remember from 1974.
Specifically the Vox quad recorded (Sansui QS encoding) Ravel Orchestral Works conducted by Stanislaw Skrowaczewshi as performed by the Minnesota Orchestra. It was originally recorded
in true four channel discrete sound and will be released in SACD four channel surround and
two channel (dual layer SACD). An additional bonus track will make an
appearance on the disc (read on).
Loudspeaker and Colie Brice of MoFi
The large loudspeakers in the recording studio made by Alon Wolf
of MAGICO while the smaller monitors are standard Meyer Sound HD-1s.
Tube Amplifiers
The tube amplifiers are made by Exemplar Audio using globe 300B
(two amplifiers) while a Type 45 is seen on the top of the shelf. Each loudspeaker has four amplifiers including an EAR 549 for
powering the bass drivers.
Modified Revox C278
The tape machine is the Revox C278 that was originally 8 channels, now it is four channel and modded by Tim de
Pavaracini. In fact many of the items in Paul Stubblebine's
recording/mastering facility have been modified by Tim de Pavaracini for the
ultimate performance.
Weiss and Zsys Gear
Also in the studio, but obviously not being used today, are the Weiss EQ1
(top), Zsys six channel Z-Q6 mastering equalizer, and Z-CL6 dynamics processor. Also the
facility were three Pacific Microsonics HDCD units.
Recording Studio
While the master tape sounds a bit left channel heavy, the bonus track in 5.0 surround using the
AGM's TSS-1 is an analog box that takes 2 channels in and delivers three channels out based on
Ambisonic techniques. While enjoying the music directly from the master tape,
it was a wonderfully wide and deep soundscape in virtually every dimension.
Clarity was good and dynamics were very impressive. During the passages
with violin solo work was awe inspiring. The sound of rosin, body resonances,
and bloom were remarkable! Licking my lips just waiting to hear the finished
SACD product.
John Sunier of Audiophile
Audition Carefully Listening In The Hot Seat.
The Vox quad recorded, soon to be SACD, of Ravel Orchestral Works conducted by Stanislaw Skrowaczewshi
will be available in late August as an Ultradisc SACD (UDSACD 4002). The full
length bonus track of "Daphnis et Chloe" with female choir in the
rear channel will be only one of the many musical highlights on this
recording. Technical notes will be the originals, and also new writings by
none other than Grammy wining producer/recording engineer Marc Aubort! As Enjoy
the Music.com™ are members of the Grammy Award
organization, please feel free to see our various Grammy Award show coverage
by clicking here.
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