THE PERFECT SOUND
The words “musician,”
“record collector” and “audiophile” do not necessarily find themselves used in the same article. In the case of my latest story on the history of Mobile Fidelity, they all come together, because I am all three of them.
Most musicians are to some degree record collectors, but not necessarily audiophiles. Most audiophiles are not musicians, but are usually record collectors. Most record collectors are not musicians, but may, on occasion, be audiophiles.
I came to all three at about the same time (at age 12) and have grown into a huge record collector, a longtime audiophile and, of course, as the guitarist for Twisted Sister, a musician.
The first album that I bought was Meet the Beatles! in 1964 for $3.99, my first guitar was a Hagstrom bass in 1965 for $25 and the first stereo I bought in 1967 (turntable, receiver and speakers) for $600.
Mobile Fidelity is the story of a company that wants to bring a better listening experience to those of you who desire to have it. To those of you who collect for the sake of rare album covers, original pressings of vinyl, CD or cassette and/or albums that coincide with a special time in your life, then this may not matter to you. For the rest of you who desire to get closer to what the artists heard when they were in the studio, listening back at the recording console, the Mobile Fidelity experience aims to get you there.
Can you hear the difference between an original label release and a Mobile Fidelity version of an album that you may own and is considered a classic? That really depends on the quality of your music system.
You don’t have to get crazy, but a $99 turntable would not be my choice. You need to spend around $300 for a better turntable and cartridge, hooked up to
