MOFI Rush CD

[pmckeealaska]

I was thinking of picking up the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab remaster of Rush's "Permanent Waves". I'm hoping for a noticeable sonic upgrade but have not heard of the quality of this disc from anyone. Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the sound quality of this MSFL disc? How about their stuff in general? Is it worth the bucks to pick it up?

[Toolfan66]

I have that on MOFI vinyl and it is fantastic... so my guess is the CD will be just as good.

[TNRabbit]

I have a MoFi Gold CD of Moving Pictures and it SUCKS. Worst $34 I ever spent. I recently heard a MoFi Gold copy of 10cc's "Original Soundtrack" and it was awful as well. YMMV>

[pmckeealaska]

Well, I just dropped $34 for the MOFI Permanent Waves. I figured if it sucks then I'll know better in the future. I have the MOFI version of The Wailers "Catch a Fire" and I love it, so I hope I'll be equally impressed with Rush. Going to do an A/B comparison tommorrow night when it arrives.

[headrott]

Please let us know how it sounds. I was thinking about getting this one. I will be getting Curtis Mayfield's "Curtis" CD when it comes out as well as "The Yes Album" when it comes out. I was also thinking about getting Beck's "Sea Change". Have you (or anyone heard this one, all MFSL)?

Greg

[pmckeealaska]

I have Sea Change on DVD-Audio and it sounds amazing. One of the few albums I have that I actually enjoy in 5.1...and the 2 channel is awesome as well.

Will let you know how Permanent Waves sounds tomorrow night!

[Edward Brendan]

What is up with this VT? All of these music fans and apparently no one knows anything about hi-fidelity products like MFSL MOFI and SACD. What is up with that?

[headrott]

Uh Huh,

Reported.......

[Keiko]

I have that on MOFI vinyl and it is fantastic... so my guess is the CD will be just as good.

Same here. The vinyl sounds awesome. I don't think you can go wrong with anything mastered by Mobile Fidelity. I have Moving Pictures and Signals on MoFi gold CDs. The sonics are incredible. I also have DSotM on MoFi and prefer it to the SACD for SQ.

[pmckeealaska]

Ah, well, I'm glad to read positive reviews on this CD. I see from UPS that it has arrived here in Anchorage so I should be able to enjoy it this evening. The wife has a girls night tonight so I should be able to crank it up! I also plan to start with my current CD and do a nice A/B comparison.

Does anyone know if MOFI plans on re-issuing 2112, Moving Pictures and Signals again? I'd love to have those albums from them, but the prices for these OOP CD's on place like ebay are outrageous!

[agfrost]

Please let us know how it sounds. I was thinking about getting this one. I will be getting Curtis Mayfield's "Curtis" CD when it comes out as well as "The Yes Album" when it comes out. I was also thinking about getting Beck's "Sea Change". Have you (or anyone heard this one, all MFSL)?

Greg

I've got the MFSL copy of Sea Change--I'd been looking for a SACD or DVDA copy for a while, but they always ended up auctioning for more than I wanted to pay...Ended up with a new copy of the MFSL disc (about $25 on ebay from seller "buy", which is buy.com), and I'm really glad I got it, it's really a great sounding disc.

Some people have said that the MFSL disc is "the" one to look for, but I haven't done the comparison myself.

Jay

[headrott]

Ah, well, I'm glad to read positive reviews on this CD. I see from UPS that it has arrived here in Anchorage so I should be able to enjoy it this evening. The wife has a girls night tonight so I should be able to crank it up! I also plan to start with my current CD and do a nice A/B comparison.

Does anyone know if MOFI plans on re-issuing 2112, Moving Pictures and Signals again? I'd love to have those albums from them, but the prices for these OOP CD's on place like ebay are outrageous!

Please give a review after the listen!

Usually MFSL does not re-issue CDs. I own the MFSL 2112 and Moving Pictures and they are very good. They are worth the money (within reason) if you really want these CDs. I would not spend more than $65.00 for them though and only that much if it is in mint condition. Expensive, yes but these masterings are worth it IMO.

Greg

[headrott]

I've got the MFSL copy of Sea Change--I'd been looking for a SACD or DVDA copy for a while, but they always ended up auctioning for more than I wanted to pay...Ended up with a new copy of the MFSL disc (about $25 on ebay from seller "buy", which is buy.com), and I'm really glad I got it, it's really a great sounding disc.

Some people have said that the MFSL disc is "the" one to look for, but I haven't done the comparison myself.

Jay

I own Sea Change on SACD and DVD-A. The SACD is quite a bit better than DVD-A. I haven't looked at SACD prices of this recently, but I'm sure they are getting expensive. Thanks for the recommendation on the MFSL copy. For $25 I will probably get it and sell the DVD-A version I have. If you are interested in the DVD-A let me know.

Greg

[dbaldus]

Make sure to report back - I've been considering picking up Permanent Waves and Yes - Fragile for awhile now but haven't bit the bullet yet. Your review could be just what I need to push me over the edge (one way or another)... ;)

[headrott]

Make sure to report back - I've been considering picking up Permanent Waves and Yes - Fragile for awhile now but haven't bit the bullet yet. Your review could be just what I need to push me over the edge (one way or another)... ;)

I own Fragile and I can recommend it. It's even better than the newer remasters that came out a few years back. I would get it now before it becomes like Moving Waves and 2112, etc.

Greg

[Erik Tracy]

I own Fragile and I can recommend it. It's even better than the newer remasters that came out a few years back. I would get it now before it becomes like Moving Waves and 2112, etc.

Greg

"Moving Waves"?

Does that mean there is a mix of "Permanent Pictures"? :p;)

[sorry...couldn't resist]

[headrott]

"Moving Waves"?

Does that mean there is a mix of "Permanent Pictures"? :p;)

[sorry...couldn't resist]

:D OOps, sorry I got Rush and Focus mixed up in my brain I guess. Yeah, you could do all kinds of combinations with the album/song titles I guess.

Greg

[steveinaz]

I have the remastered version of Permanent Waves, it's NOT Morph the Cat, but it's a good sounding CD.

[Keiko]

Does anyone know if MOFI plans on re-issuing 2112, Moving Pictures and Signals again? I'd love to have those albums from them, but the prices for these OOP CD's on place like ebay are outrageous!

Anything is possible I suppose, but who knows when. I agree, some ebay sellers will try and milk it for more than it's worth. Just keep an eye out for the deals and be prepared to jump on it. That being said, I have a remaster of 2112 redbook and believe it to sound pretty good.

[headrott]

Not a MFSL CD, but has anyone heard the Audio Fidelity version of YES- 90125? I am also interested in this disc, but am hoping someone can give me review first. Thanks again.

Greg

[pmckeealaska]

My MOFI copy of Permanent Waves arrived today and I have been running an A/B comparison between in it and my original CD from the 80's. To put it simply, there is no f*cking comparison!!! I half expected it to have massive limiting and just sound "louder" for lack of a better term. This couldn't be further from the truth. The only words that come to mind are "separation" and "detail". Every instrument is crystal clear and the midrange in particular is fantastic. Geddy Lee's voice has never sounded better. The low end has great punch to it but is not overwhelming. This remaster also has made me appreciate some of the "lost cuts" off of the album; Entre Nous and Different Strings in particular. In fact, if I had to pick one tune that sounded the best in this it would be Different Strings. It is absolutely rich and packed with detail. The piano sounds fantastic. The album as a whole sounds as if it were recorded yesterday.

If this is what the average MOFI CD sounds like, I'm getting more of them. It was worth every dollar I spent to get it. FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!

[pmckeealaska]

Just wanted to include a little info about the packaging as well since some reviews have mentioned this aspect as somewhat lacking. It does not come in the usual locking plastic CD case like my other MOFI CD, bu rather a cardboard fold out. It's about 20 percent larger than the CD case size cover, which I find kind of cool as there is more detail to the album cover and makes it more "record like". I dont see any decrease in picture quality on the cover art and having all the original photos that I remember from the vinyl is pretty cool as well. The CD itself come in a protective cardboard insert that talks about the technology used to make the CD with the CD inside a nice cloth slip. The case is gold numbered, which adds to the collectors item feel to the album.

I just wish I had ordered 2112, Moving Pictures and Signals when they released them. I wish this had been an SACD release, but I cant imagine it sounding any better. If you're on the fence about whether or not to get this CD from them or, like me, you're a Rush fanatic, this is a no brainer...get this now before they seel them out!

[headrott]

Cool! Thank you for the review. I will get this one I think. It's one of my favorite albums by Rush. I still have the unremastered 1980's version of the CD that I am listening to.

Greg

[Ern Dog]

I just ordered Mofi's Permanent Waves last night from Amazon, used for $25. I'm excited to hear how it sounds. This will be my first MOFI cd. I wish they had a bigger selection.

[Keiko]

I just ordered Mofi's Permanent Waves last night from Amazon, used for $25. I'm excited to hear how it sounds. This will be my first MOFI cd. I wish they had a bigger selection.

New for 5.00 bucks more, bro.

http://www.mofi.com/store/pc/viewPrd...5&idcategory=7

More titles:

http://www.mofi.com/store/pc/viewCat...=7&viewAll=yes

http://www.musicdirect.com/category/...iew=50&start=0

[pmckeealaska]

I've thoroughly enjoyed my MOFI Permanent Waves CD. The detail is wonderful and its just a lot less muddy than the unremastered original I have. I just bought the SHM CD version of Hemispheres on Amazon and am anxious to hear how that sounds. Guess I'll find out if the whole SHM thing is a scam or not. Nothing ventured nothing gained I guess.

[Keiko]

I've thoroughly enjoyed my MOFI Permanent Waves CD. The detail is wonderful and its just a lot less muddy than the unremastered original I have. I just bought the SHM CD version of Hemispheres on Amazon and am anxious to hear how that sounds. Guess I'll find out if the whole SHM thing is a scam or not. Nothing ventured nothing gained I guess.

IIRC, Jesse commented that the SHM-CDs tend to sound brighter. I recently got Steely Dan's, Aja on SHM-SACD and have no complaints at all.

[headrott]

I ended up getting a copy of Permanant Waves MFSL, and have to say it sounds fantastic! So smooth and detailed. It's not quite as big of a difference as YES's The YES Album, but it's close. Definately worth buying.

Please let us know how that SHM Hemisphere's sounds when you recieve it and give it a listen.

Greg

[pmckeealaska]

Absolutely. It's supposed to get here on the 15th. The first thing I'll do will be to put that baby on the system for a spin! My top three Rush albums would have to be (in no order): Permanent Waves, Hemishpheres and Moving Pictures.

[pmckeealaska]

I just got through listening to my SHM version of Heimspheres. I did a A/B comparison with my 1997 remaster. Overall I'd say there isnt a huge improvement in sound quality though there are definately differences. I demoed the song "Circumstances" mostly because its my favorite song on the album. The 1997 remaster is louder and brighter than the SHM version which I both like and dislike. The SHM however, is much cleaner. The 1997 version has always sounded like it was playing behind a cheese cloth or something while the SHM version is much more clear. That being said, I wouldnt say there is an improvement per se over the 1997 remaster and I dont think it was worth the $45 I paid for the SHM, but it does have all original album artwork and I dig the Japanese lettering on it as well and so, for a Rush fanatic like myself it was worth the purchase, though I dont see myself buying anymore...that is of course until they finally release Rush on SACD or better yet, DVD-A. If I could tell Geddy, Alex and Neal one thing it would be to plead with them to release their albums in high rez format. Either way, I'll love Rush till the day I die!