MoFi UltraDeck / StudioDeck Owners and those interested

Beatlesblogger said:
Can’t believe how thick the vinyl is on ‘Cousin’, the new Wilco LP!

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Smashed Plastic in Chicago typically do a great job. Sadly my copy of Cousin is just off-center enough where it bothers me on sustained notes. Interestingly, I feel like the 9" arm on my VPI tracks it better than the 10" MoFi arm, which is almost never the case.
 
HayesWeighsIn said:
Smashed Plastic in Chicago typically do a great job. Sadly my copy of Cousin is just off-center enough where it bothers me on sustained notes. Interestingly, I feel like the 9" arm on my VPI tracks it better than the 10" MoFi arm, which is almost never the case.
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That's definitely weird. All other things being equal, the longer arm varies its arc less to adjust to the wobble, and should have less audible distortion. Maybe it's about the weight of the tonearm, or something about the cartridge?
 
HayesWeighsIn said:
Smashed Plastic in Chicago typically do a great job. Sadly my copy of Cousin is just off-center enough where it bothers me on sustained notes. Interestingly, I feel like the 9" arm on my VPI tracks it better than the 10" MoFi arm, which is almost never the case.
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Interesting you had an off-centre press. My first copy was very badly warped. Local distribution company (Australia) immediately replaced though. No questions asked.
 
kvetcha said:
That's definitely weird. All other things being equal, the longer arm varies its arc less to adjust to the wobble, and should have less audible distortion. Maybe it's about the weight of the tonearm, or something about the cartridge?
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I have a couple of records with off center holes . I am interested to know what the result is too the ear. I think you are saying that you need a consistent sound to hear the implications of the needle moving from one side of the groove to the other instead of tracking in the center as it should .
 
New member here and lurking for a few days, thought I'd introduce myself. I've got an Ultradeck with the MasterTracker for going on three years (in March) now. Just got a new belt for it (though not installed yet) as I noticed it was spinning up more slowly (though according to the RPM app when it does get up to speed it's spinning at 33.57 RPMs). Reading through various posts here and in the FB MoFi group I saw two to three years was about average for replacement. Probably going to need to replace the cartridge in the not too distant future as I'm retired and typically play three to five LPs (if not more) a day. I appreciate all the good information in this thread!!
 
Static Shock said:
I have a couple of records with off center holes . I am interested to know what the result is too the ear. I think you are saying that you need a consistent sound to hear the implications of the needle moving from one side of the groove to the other instead of tracking in the center as it should .
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Well, no. If the sound variation is due primarily to changing forces against the groove walls (as with an off-center press) then I imagine the difference in response could come down to the effective mass of the tonearm, or maybe the cartridge being used. I was speaking/thinking more in terms of groove alignment in my original remark.

BluesDaddy said:
New member here and lurking for a few days, thought I'd introduce myself. I've got an Ultradeck with the MasterTracker for going on three years (in March) now. Just got a new belt for it (though not installed yet) as I noticed it was spinning up more slowly (though according to the RPM app when it does get up to speed it's spinning at 33.57 RPMs). Reading through various posts here and in the FB MoFi group I saw two to three years was about average for replacement. Probably going to need to replace the cartridge in the not too distant future as I'm retired and typically play three to five LPs (if not more) a day. I appreciate all the good information in this thread!!
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Welcome! That does sound about right for belt replacement timing. And I would definitely look into replacing the cartridge. At that clip you're probably well over the recommended 1000 hours by now.
 
kvetcha said:
Well, no. If the sound variation is due primarily to changing forces against the groove walls (as with an off-center press) then I imagine the difference in response could come down to the effective mass of the tonearm, or maybe the cartridge being used. I was speaking/thinking more in terms of groove alignment in my original remark.


Welcome! That does sound about right for belt replacement timing. And I would definitely look into replacing the cartridge. At that clip you're probably well over the recommended 1000 hours by now.
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Yeah, I'm contemplating the Nagaoka MP-500. Read a lot of good things about it. Hopefully sometime in the new year.
 
BluesDaddy said:
New member here and lurking for a few days, thought I'd introduce myself. I've got an Ultradeck with the MasterTracker for going on three years (in March) now. Just got a new belt for it (though not installed yet) as I noticed it was spinning up more slowly (though according to the RPM app when it does get up to speed it's spinning at 33.57 RPMs). Reading through various posts here and in the FB MoFi group I saw two to three years was about average for replacement. Probably going to need to replace the cartridge in the not too distant future as I'm retired and typically play three to five LPs (if not more) a day. I appreciate all the good information in this thread!!
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Definitely time for a new belt! Would also absolutely make sure you re-lube your platter spindle. Wipe away whatever is there, and add a new dab of lithium grease to the top of the spindle. It may take a day or so for your platter to sit all the way back down after lubing on the MoFi decks. That's normal.
 
HayesWeighsIn said:
Pitch variance. I'm highly sensitive to it. You'll find it most audible in sustained acoustic guitar or piano notes, but any guitars really can expose an off center press.
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Oh GOD I hate that telltale off pitch warble. I've got a couple that were so bad and not replaceable so I actually carved out the spindle hole in the opposite direction to the off centered punch and just have to remember where on the now egg shaped spindle hole the record has to sit on each side in order to avoid the issue. Actually fixed it which was nice, but total pain.
 
Mather said:
Oh GOD I hate that telltale off pitch warble. I've got a couple that were so bad and not replaceable so I actually carved out the spindle hole in the opposite direction to the off centered punch and just have to remember where on the now egg shaped spindle hole the record has to sit on each side in order to avoid the issue. Actually fixed it which was nice, but total pain.
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speaking of pitch variation, you should read my most recent post in the Sol thread
 
HayesWeighsIn said:
Definitely time for a new belt! Would also absolutely make sure you re-lube your platter spindle. Wipe away whatever is there, and add a new dab of lithium grease to the top of the spindle. It may take a day or so for your platter to sit all the way back down after lubing on the MoFi decks. That's normal.
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Both done. Ordered grease from Amazon and it came in one day! Spinning vinyl now.
 
Update on the cue lever issue, there is no update. Mofi hasn’t returned my email, likely in the “that’s a 2024 issue” pile. I plan to follow up with them after the new year. Local dealer was no help on info, seemed like a brush off. In any event, I can still use the cue lever, I just need to be extra slow and careful.
 
scorpio333 said:
Update on the cue lever issue, there is no update. Mofi hasn’t returned my email, likely in the “that’s a 2024 issue” pile. I plan to follow up with them after the new year. Local dealer was no help on info, seemed like a brush off. In any event, I can still use the cue lever, I just need to be extra slow and careful.
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My Sol has an undamped cue lever, so this is something I've also been adjusting to.
 
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