MoFi UltraDeck / StudioDeck Owners and those interested

JamieLang said:
New user....both of the forum and an Ultradeck.

This might be an odd question, but I ordered an Ultradeck with UltraTracker...but, visually, the cartridge on mine is the dark grey with white writing that I can only find evidence on the web is a MasterTracker. Does anyone know of a way without a microscope to ID what cartridge I"m listening to....?

Secondary related question: has anyone compared the AT 750ml (I think that's the version with the aluminum body?) to the MasterTracker?

I've had it a couple weeks. Very happy with how it tracks and sounds. BUT...I was assuming I was listening to a nude elliptical...which I'd replace with a (third party) microline when it wore out. If I'm indeed listening to their $800 Microline....I feel like I maybe need to put a third party on while I'm still in the return window and make sure my satisfaction with the deck upgrade isn't MOSTLY to do with the cartridge.
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It's been awhile, but deja vu. See posts 1372, 1380 & 1615. I never did get a definitive answer.
 
Maybe I got one sitting around from the same mystery era!

Issuing correction on my secondary query: the model is the AudioTechnica 740ML, the 750 is for the Shibata. Same aluminium cartridge...different styli. I should've googled first. To be fair--it's because I liked the Shibata on my vm95 more than the microline, so I go back and forth on which stylus I want to go on their higher end cart.
 
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MikeH said:
I’d assume OP doesn’t want to spend $800 on a replacement cart when this cart is done.

@JamieLang quite a few folks here have carts cheaper than the Mastertracker that they like on the UD
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Mofi has a trade in program. Call upscale or music direct. They don’t publish the details, but I vaguely remember seeing something like $600 to trade in/upgrade within the mofi line.
 
JamieLang said:
Because I need to see how much of the improvement I hear is the deck vs the cartridge.

The 750ML is an annual’ish $210 spend on a stylus. Not $800….and is by spec the closest AT comes to what they made for the MasterTracker.

When I first got it, I was confused how they got an elliptical to track some of the demanding records I use to align styli-stress tests….at some point, I saw reference to only the mastertracker having white lettering…and I thought “hey-mine has white lettering”…tracking mysteries solved.
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I have the ultratracker and put on the ultimate test record, Chet Baker - Picture of Heath Tone Poet. Notorious got skipping and tracking errors, i could never get it to play right on my old AT120. UD/UT tracked it absolutely perfect, zero issues.
 
Angsty said:
One can always replace a more expensive cart with a cheaper one once it is worn; you don’t have to give up something you like right now.

Regardless, retipping a Microline stylus would likely be $250 - $300, versus replacement at $800.
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Again, it’s not $800 to replace with the trade in program. It’s likely much closer to the cost of a retip but you get to keep dealer and manufacturer support.
 
In case anyone is interested, I took the AT vm95 off my old Technics and put it on. I have a brand new Microline styli and a worn but not showing signs of being "done" Shibata.

Both aligned without issue. Tracked like champs. I took measurements and photos before so I could get the factory cart back EXACTLY like it was...

Made it very clear how much I hate the Microline. Funny--on the Technics I would tell you I preferred the Shibata on a "good press"--IE, certainly any "audiophile company" pressing...a lot of vintage pressings where I've tracked down the OG TML cut...but, that on "lesser" mastering/pressings, the Microline was more forgiving. IE--super HOT CUT late 70s, or 80s records...some modern ones that are mastered/pressed kind of dull for some reason. With the new TT, likely the arm wire in it--it became VERY clear that the ML is scooping the 2-7khz'ish range and has more non distinct bass--while the Shibtata's bass is leaner but dynamics and FOCUSED...like hearing hte PLUCK of the bass guitar clearly "right there" rather than the ML's "there's more bass frequencies total"....and the Shibata always had a little tippy top high end roll off that annyed me on newer pressings. Nope. Here it sounded really linear. Not "bright" up there...but, just not muted.

While I wouldn't call the Shibata equivalent of whatever Mofi....it made me feel confident I'll keep the table. It sounded solid, and isn't expensive. As an audio engineer, I appreciate what that arm/armwire brought in terms of sheer CLARITY of differentiation between those styli. Where the old one--I coudl tell there was a difference...but, record to record I couldn't say definitively "this IS better". I can only imagine that the 750SH will be even better, which was honestly what I was about to buy for the old deck when these sales got me to go a different way.

Thought I'd report back. In case it helps anyone.
 
displayname said:
Again, it’s not $800 to replace with the trade in program. It’s likely much closer to the cost of a retip but you get to keep dealer and manufacturer support.
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Talked to Music Direct today about trade in for the MoFi carts.

They said you can trade in ANY cart for 20% off a new cart, so long at the discount does not exceed the original price of the trade-in.
So you could trade in a $300 cart (Sumiko Moonstone or Grado Timber) and get $299 off the MoFi UltraGold.

OR

If you have a MoFi MasterTracker like some others in this thread, you could step up to the range of Hana Umani Red or Soundsmith Paua Mk II and you've get the full value of the MasterTracker. Sure, you still need to spend $3,200, but it does make it less painful. Especially if you got the TT on the clearance pricing and got the cart in the bundle.

I don't think I'd go quite that high, but it puts the cost of the StudioSilver a little more in reach. And I really wasn't expecting it to apply across brands.
 
JamieLang said:
In case anyone is interested, I took the AT vm95 off my old Technics and put it on. I have a brand new Microline styli and a worn but not showing signs of being "done" Shibata.

Both aligned without issue. Tracked like champs. I took measurements and photos before so I could get the factory cart back EXACTLY like it was...

Made it very clear how much I hate the Microline. Funny--on the Technics I would tell you I preferred the Shibata on a "good press"--IE, certainly any "audiophile company" pressing...a lot of vintage pressings where I've tracked down the OG TML cut...but, that on "lesser" mastering/pressings, the Microline was more forgiving. IE--super HOT CUT late 70s, or 80s records...some modern ones that are mastered/pressed kind of dull for some reason. With the new TT, likely the arm wire in it--it became VERY clear that the ML is scooping the 2-7khz'ish range and has more non distinct bass--while the Shibtata's bass is leaner but dynamics and FOCUSED...like hearing hte PLUCK of the bass guitar clearly "right there" rather than the ML's "there's more bass frequencies total"....and the Shibata always had a little tippy top high end roll off that annyed me on newer pressings. Nope. Here it sounded really linear. Not "bright" up there...but, just not muted.

While I wouldn't call the Shibata equivalent of whatever Mofi....it made me feel confident I'll keep the table. It sounded solid, and isn't expensive. As an audio engineer, I appreciate what that arm/armwire brought in terms of sheer CLARITY of differentiation between those styli. Where the old one--I coudl tell there was a difference...but, record to record I couldn't say definitively "this IS better". I can only imagine that the 750SH will be even better, which was honestly what I was about to buy for the old deck when these sales got me to go a different way.

Thought I'd report back. In case it helps anyone.
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That's great feedback - thanks for sharing!

Currently have the VM95 ML installed on my StudioDeck that I have through my studio monitoring (love to meet a fellow engineer, too!) and it tracks anything without issue. Zero IGD basically no matter what. But yes, it's "safe" as a tradeoff. "Muted dynamically" is a pretty good way to interpret it, too. I will absolutely try the SH in the future.

Next up on the SD is a Grado/VPI Green body with a MCZ stylus. Haven't tried a Grado on a MoFi deck yet, and haven't heard the MCZ either - big fan of the 8MZ when I had it. Keep y'all posted.
 
Hello guys, a new mofi user here. Since you have to replace the stylus every 500 or so hours and this requires contacting the dealer or buying a new cartridge, isn’t that a great hassle? Also as I understand you can not simply play around with different kind of styli and always are dependent on the manufacturer. I was expecting such an expensive item like the cartridge to be a bit ore permanent.
 
simpleKoala said:
Hello guys, a new mofi user here. Since you have to replace the stylus every 500 or so hours and this requires contacting the dealer or buying a new cartridge, isn’t that a great hassle? Also as I understand you can not simply play around with different kind of styli and always are dependent on the manufacturer. I was expecting such an expensive item like the cartridge to be a bit ore permanent.
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Cartridge styli do wear out, but 500 hours is on the conservative side. 1000 hours is more typical with clean records.

Yes, cartridges without removable styli can be a pain. If you spin a lot, you might find it more economical to move to a moving-magnet cartridge with a removable stylus once the current one wears out. Alternatively, you can pay a professional “re-tipper” to replace the stylus in your current cartridge.
 
Angsty said:
Cartridge styli do wear out, but 500 hours is on the conservative side. 1000 hours is more typical with clean records.

Yes, cartridges without removable styli can be a pain. If you spin a lot, you might find it more economical to move to a moving-magnet cartridge with a removable stylus once the current one wears out. Alternatively, you can pay a professional “re-tipper” to replace the stylus in your current cartridge.
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Ofc I would prefer that to be done by the manufacturer or a certified person :D I don’t know any professional re-tippers, and while the whole cartridge is away, I can not listen to music :/. So since mofi cartridges are rebranded AT, I just should get an AT?
 
simpleKoala said:
Ofc I would prefer that to be done by the manufacturer or a certified person :D I don’t know any professional re-tippers, and while the whole cartridge is away, I can not listen to music :/. So since mofi cartridges are rebranded AT, I just should get an AT?
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AT makes very good MM carts, but there is no reason to limit to just AT. Others here have used Nagaoka, Goldring and Ortofon MM carts to good effect, too.

I’ve used VAS in NJ to retip my two Hanas with great results. Having a backup cart or stylus is always a good practice, too.
 
simpleKoala said:
Ofc I would prefer that to be done by the manufacturer or a certified person :D I don’t know any professional re-tippers, and while the whole cartridge is away, I can not listen to music :/. So since mofi cartridges are rebranded AT, I just should get an AT?
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I generally keep a couple of cartridges on hand, so when one is being retipped/rebuilt I still have a functioning table.

It’s quite easy to swap and align cartridges on the UltraDeck if you have a GeoDisc, a tracking force scale, some jewelers tweezers, and 15 minutes of time. Gets easier with experience, too.

That said, the plug-and-play appeal of swappable styli is undeniable.
 
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