MoFi UltraDeck / StudioDeck Owners and those interested

Portland Sheriff said:
lol. I’m certain that’s what Mofi thinks!! But the only explanation I got for the lifter problems was something vaguely along the lines that they’re hard t make and other brands have problems with them. Perhaps? But the lifter on my Ultradeck was as good as I could ever hope for.
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I think MoFi has QC issues. I had some initial challenges with my UltraDeck. Got it all sorted, but it wasn’t a great experience after spending nearly $3k on a new TT. Also, the significant price drop a few months later didn’t help my feelings towards the brand either.

Not gonna lie, the experience has given me pause on buying any of their other gear.
 
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mindhead1 said:
I think MoFi has QC issues. I had some initial challenges with my UltraDeck. Got it all sorted, but it wasn’t a great experience after spending nearly $3k on a new TT. Also, the significant price drop a few months later didn’t help my feelings towards the brand either.

Not gonna lie the experience has given me pause on buying any of their other gear.
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My experience with MOFI is similar. First started with a studiodeck that had problems in that the anti skate weight would end up sitting on the deck no matter the anti skate setting ---- they kept sending replacements that were all too long . In the end the dealer took it back and I upgraded to an Ultradeck . Not long after, I started to have problems with it shutting down and after research on this forum I came across a known issue with the power button . Eventually MOFI sent out a replacement power button and I installed it . Deck working fine and I enjoy the sound , but not the MOFI experience and would not likely purchase any other gear from them . In the end my dealer threw in the towel so to speak and no longer carries MOFI line ---too many problems .
 
Static Shock said:
My experience with MOFI is similar. First started with a studiodeck that had problems in that the anti skate weight would end up sitting on the deck no matter the anti skate setting ---- they kept sending replacements that were all too long . In the end the dealer took it back and I upgraded to an Ultradeck . Not long after, I started to have problems with it shutting down and after research on this forum I came across a known issue with the power button . Eventually MOFI sent out a replacement power button and I installed it . Deck working fine and I enjoy the sound , but not the MOFI experience and would not likely purchase any other gear from them . In the end my dealer threw in the towel so to speak and no longer carries MOFI line ---too many problems .
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I have to be honest, whenever I hear someone had a bad experience with the Studio/Ultra decks it saddens me, especially when it involves customer service, that's one of my biggest pet peeves and why I'll never own any Magnapan gear. I was an early adapter of the UlltraDeck and had 0 issues for as long as I owned it, couldn't have been happier with it, and I still think it's a great turntable option. I also still think there's plenty to like from MoFi, old and new, and of course it all boils down to your own personal experience. I'm not defending them by any means, but I still feel they're making good products. If you've been around here long enough I'm sure some of you would toss me into the "Fan Boy" bucket, and that's perfectly fine, I am, and like being brand loyal........as long as you hold up your end of the deal. That said, as evident by my current gear, I'm not beyond moving to other brands and products.

In the end the good news is that there isn't one "Best" piece of gear and you have options. The customer service part of it all, from any company, is inexcusable in my opinion.
 
AnthonyI said:
I have to be honest, whenever I hear someone had a bad experience with the Studio/Ultra decks it saddens me, especially when it involves customer service, that's one of my biggest pet peeves and why I'll never own any Magnapan gear. I was an early adapter of the UlltraDeck and had 0 issues for as long as I owned it, couldn't have been happier with it, and I still think it's a great turntable option. I also still think there's plenty to like from MoFi, old and new, and of course it all boils down to your own personal experience. I'm not defending them by any means, but I still feel they're making good products. If you've been around here long enough I'm sure some of you would toss me into the "Fan Boy" bucket, and that's perfectly fine, I am, and like being brand loyal........as long as you hold up your end of the deal. That said, as evident by my current gear, I'm not beyond moving to other brands and products.

In the end the good news is that there isn't one "Best" piece of gear and you have options. The customer service part of it all, from any company, is inexcusable in my opinion.
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True comments and its ok to be a "fan boy" .

Part of the problem I had with them was contact took so long and they insisted that I deal with them through the dealer so everything took longer as I had to explain the problem to the dealer who intern had to convey my comments to MOFI . Time consumptive and frustrating process as my dealer is a couple of hours away and Canadian mail is slow and replacement parts had to first come from the US to Canada and then to me through the dealer . In the end they could not sort out the problem with the anti skate and kept sending me replacements that had a string too long ---I assume they must have just had a bad batch or there was a problem with my deck . It appeared that they did not know what the correct length was . So for months and months I could only listen to three quarters of a record before the anti skate weight hit the deck In the end the dealer said just return it and he cut me a deal on an demo Ultradeck which in tern had the power button issue . It is what it is and while my experience was not great I enjoy the sound and the Ultradeck has been problem free for a couple of years now .

My intent is not to rag on MOFI but to note that stuff happens to equipment and you just hope that the manufacturer will take care of you . If I had to do it again and knowing what I know now I would have looked at Technics a bit closer .
 
Static Shock said:
True comments and its ok to be a "fan boy" .

Part of the problem I had with them was contact took so long and they insisted that I deal with them through the dealer so everything took longer as I had to explain the problem to the dealer who intern had to convey my comments to MOFI . Time consumptive and frustrating process as my dealer is a couple of hours away and Canadian mail is slow and replacement parts had to first come from the US to Canada and then to me through the dealer . In the end they could not sort out the problem with the anti skate and kept sending me replacements that had a string too long ---I assume they must have just had a bad batch or there was a problem with my deck . It appeared that they did not know what the correct length was . So for months and months I could only listen to three quarters of a record before the anti skate weight hit the deck In the end the dealer said just return it and he cut me a deal on an demo Ultradeck which in tern had the power button issue . It is what it is and while my experience was not great I enjoy the sound and the Ultradeck has been problem free for a couple of years now .

My intent is not to rag on MOFI but to note that stuff happens to equipment and you just hope that the manufacturer will take care of you . If I had to do it again and knowing what I know now I would have looked at Technics a bit closer .
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There’s yet another link in the chain. Mofi Electronics is in Ann Arbor, MI. Mofi Distribution is in Las Vegas. Mofi Distribution handles all of the incoming customer service inquiries and dealings with replacement parts, but Mofi Electronics fulfills them (at least with the Masterdeck). In addition to a 3-hour time difference within Mofi’s internal operations, the factory in Ann Arbor seems to wrangle with Distribution in Las Vegas. Simple questions and problems (like a lifter that clearly does not work out of the box) take days to work out internally within Mofi.
 
Portland Sheriff said:
There’s yet another link in the chain. Mofi Electronics is in Ann Arbor, MI. Mofi Distribution is in Las Vegas. Mofi Distribution handles all of the incoming customer service inquiries and dealings with replacement parts, but Mofi Electronics fulfills them (at least with the Masterdeck). In addition to a 3-hour time difference within Mofi’s internal operations, the factory in Ann Arbor seems to wrangle with Distribution in Las Vegas. Simple questions and problems (like a lifter that clearly does not work out of the box) take days to work out internally within Mofi.
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Ok helps to in part explain the time delays . I thought it was because I'm a Canadian and we are such a small market in the grand scheme of things . Having lost my local dealer who was 2 hours away , the next one is over 3 hours .
 
I've not had any issues with my Ultradeck either, in the few years I've had it - however - based on all the issues I've seen in this thread, I wont be buying another MoFi deck again. It's colored my view of the MoFi gear overall, tbh. This extra sucks, given the Made in America factor. Hopefully they figure it out.
 
Splunders said:
I've not had any issues with my Ultradeck either, in the few years I've had it - however - based on all the issues I've seen in this thread, I wont be buying another MoFi deck again. It's colored my view of the MoFi gear overall, tbh. This extra sucks, given the Made in America factor. Hopefully they figure it out.
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Maybe not a fair question given all the different components , I see that you have a Technics 1200G in your system one and a Ultradeck in system 2 . How does the sound generally compare .
 
I can say that it images wider and bass is a little deeper and more taut - basically more muscular. It's also way more heftily built. The MoFi tonearm feels so fragile compared to the 1200G's. I enjoy interacting with the G a lot more, in general.
 
My first-run Ultradeck is still going strong. I haven't had any problems with it and still consider it a great purchase. I've dealt with technical support twice over a couple of self-inflicted issues a few years ago and they helped me out pretty quickly.

Value-wise, if a were in the market for a new turntable today and wanted to spend $3200, (roughly $2500 in 2018 dollars), the Ultradeck is no longer competitive and I wouldn't even consider it. That being said, if $1500 was at the top of my budget and knowing what I know now, the Ultradeck without a cartridge at $1500 is an outstanding value and I'd jump all over it.
 
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