So you’re looking for a serious record playing system. How far do you have to go to get a table/arm/cart combo that challenges THE BEST at any price- without paying crazy money?
The Answer Is $3500, Made in Ann Arbor!
$3500 is the package price for the incredible MoFi UltraDeck table and MoFi UltraGold MC cartridge. Please read on.
MoFi UltraDeck Turntable $2500 Sans Cartridge
If you have a top flight record collection you should consider MoFi’s new UltraDeck turntable. MoFi tables and cartridges are designed by a team that includes Allen Perkins of Spiral Groove. The Spiral Groove SG 1.2 runs $36k and is considered as good as any turntable at any price. As you may know, there are many turntables that run $100-350k!
UltraDeck is exactly what you would expect, a workingman’s, scaled down version of the SG. Of course you’re not going to get the heft (80lbs!) and swagger of a $36k table. But for $2500, you’re getting a big slice of the pie!
Your vinyl is a “plate” of millions of undulations. The goal of precise record playing is to play what’s cut into the record and that’s it. Imagine sitting in a truck riding down the road while you’re trying to write on a piece of paper on the dash. You’ve got the vibration of the truck itself, as well as the inconsistencies in the road. That’s what your stylus is dealing with while reading records. UltraDeck minimizes the mechanical problems better than anyone at an affordable price. Further, MoFi’s are made in the US, not jobbed out from Asia and badged.
UltraDeck is a massive guy- 25 lbs. It provides an extremely quiet framework from which your LPs can reveal their music. The super sturdy design features a 1.3” Delrin platter which delivers deep black backgrounds and a quiet noise floor. Delrin was chosen due to pitch accuracy and accurate rhythmic drive. UD’s damping consists of three heavy aluminum plates bonded to an MDF body. The extra mass minimizes coloration.
UD’s tonearm is a 10” straight, aluminum gimbaled bearing design. Its rigidity is solid. Machining of the arm bearings is exquisite. UD’s arm uses Cardas Audio wiring. Further, MoFi was thinking of us. The tonearm cable is easily changed out if you have upgrade-itis. It doesn’t require a surgical procedure which can be easily botched.
A unique hardened steel inverted bearing system with sapphire thrust pad and isolating feet provide superb rotational stability.
UD uses HRS isolating, leveling feet. Virtually everyone else uses plastic or rubber feet that don’t allow you to level, and provide precious little isolation.
The sound from UD is super smooth and SOLID. The background is quiet and black. The music has fine detail and sounds RELAXED. You don’t hear the strained “ringing” associated with just about every record playing combo near $5k. As a piano fan first and foremost, I appreciate the lack of active rumble and resonance endemic to so many analog systems regardless of price.
You’ll find UD competes with tables costing several times more money- and has none of their set up idiosyncrasies. I’m telling you… UltraDeck competes with any table at any price, and lands affordably because of MoFi’s business model. You’re not paying out the wazoo for a one-sie built in Germany or Italy, that won’t be better- by the way!
An equal partner in this marriage is the all important cartridge.
MoFi UltraGold MC Phono Cartridge $1500
MoFi’s new MC cartridge moves you into state of the art record playing territory for a very reasonable price. If you’d love to buy a $3-5k cart, but it just isn’t in the cards, we now have what you want for $1500. Or maybe less. Stick with me to the end of the page.
First, here are the details you’ll ask if I don’t offer them up right away.
*Boron Cantilever
*Shibata Stylus
*Body comprised of aluminum and brass
*.4mV output
*Tracks at 2g
*Weight 7.3g
*Spaced, color coded pins
Now that we have the mechanics out of the way, what is it sonically that is special about the UltraGold?
Plain and simple, there is better definition and less congestion, especially in the all important vocal region. You hear more detail with less color imbued by the body and mechanics of the cartridge. The cartridge body of aluminum and brass have to pave the way here.
If we equate the conversation to loudspeakers, UltraGold has a more pure, less boxy sound, than other carts in the same price range.
UltraGold has precision detail. You get sumptuous vocals that sound more human and less resonant than MM carts can purvey. You get delicate stick and brush percussive details with fewer masking artifacts.
But to be honest, I expected these attributes. I’ve been a fan of MCs since the 70s. These have always been glorious traits endemic to top MCs and UltraGold delivers them- even better than yesteryear’s Denons, Dynavectors, Linns etc.
What is most surprising to me about UltraGold is its big, tight dynamic range and bass capability. It has robust bass extension without muddying up the waters. I’m delighted by this discovery because I find fat bass disqualifying. The dynamic contrast can be appreciated easily within the range of a human voice delivering a little curl or sexy intonation (thanks Bonnie Raitt and Shelby Lynn).
We auditioned UltraGold in MoFi’s own UltraDeck turntable. Makes sense, right? Well MoFi has a bit of a dash (bribe) for us! You can buy UltraDeck for $2500 alone. You can buy UltraGold for $1500 alone. The DASH is, if you buy this combo as a package, the price is only $3500!
You would be hard pressed to find a cartridge alone that beats UltraGold for $3500! We know. We sell Ortofon and the lovely MC Cadenza Black runs about $3k. I can happily tell you that UltraGold performs apples to apples with it, for about half the price.
So while I’m happy to endorse UltraGold on a variety of appropriate tables/arms, I want to give you a dash to buy the package! Spend $3500 and get the UltraDeck with UltraGold cartridge and you’ll have a record playing system that will compete with any combo at any price. If you wanna go nuts and spend $15k on an import that has holy water sprinkled on it- it’s your money. But there’s no need to spend all that extra money when MoFi has done such a magnificent job on this combo!