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Without a doubt, this is the ultimate rendition of the album! Good heavens! Previously, my top pick was the AZ Gold CD, sourced straight from the master tape. However, I always felt it was a tad too harsh on the ears. The highs were so boosted that it was hard to make out many details with precision. In this version, MoFi has swiftly addressed that issue, offering us a fresh, polished, detailed, and richer take on this stunning album. McDonald's vocals sound incredibly clear, every instrument's note is distinctly audible, and the soundstage and imaging have seen significant enhancements! It's also a bit more dynamic than the AFZ CD, even though the DR values are nearly identical. It's absolutely worth every cent! My personal favorites on this version are undoubtedly "Minute by Minute", "Dependin' on You" and "Open Your Eyes". Frikin' amazing!That said, I must admit that if you already own the AFZ Gold Disc, you can still hold onto it as it remains one of the finest sounding versions of this album. As much as I adore the sound of this SACD, the Gold disc is still a thrilling and excellent experience.
Ah, just like a perfect mug of hot cocoa! Cozy and toasty! This thing really delivers!
Let me put these records head-to-head: the 2019 Speakers Corner KPG AAA cut versus the 2025 MoFi 2x45rpm DSD to analog. For a fair A/B test, I swapped out my beloved vintage Pioneer PL51 (which is far superior, by the way) for two AT LP5X turntables I bought specifically for this comparison. Both are equipped with stock VM95E cartridges and have similar playing hours. They feed into separate inputs on an Opera Consonance all-tube phono stage, which then drives an Icon Audio 845PP amplifier and Quad Revela 2 speakers. While this setup might be considered high-end by some, it's tailored to my personal tastes, so keep that in mind—we all have different preferences. I lean towards warmth and flow over clinical detail, which is why I've embraced as many tubes as I can afford! First off, both pressings are fantastic. They sound incredible and are pressed to perfection. I don't have a clear favorite; neither one outshines the other completely. It's all about differences, and which one you prefer will depend on your system, ears, and tastes. The KPG cut is well-balanced and more forward-sounding, with slightly less depth but a more intimate presentation—Michael Jackson feels like he's right there in the room with you. The upper mids have a bit more presence, making small details more noticeable. The mids are also a tad fuller; the piano on the first track sounds more natural and in-the-room. In short, KPG has done an outstanding job, delivering an engaging listen that's free of fatigue and harshness (and I'm no KPG fanboy!). The MoFi, on the other hand, shares a similar tonal balance but offers more front-to-back depth and air. This usually wins me over, but here, Michael's vocals seem a bit distant. The extra depth enhances certain instruments beautifully, though it's not what I'm accustomed to. The bass is deeper and more impactful, which might be due to the 45rpm cutting. The soundstage is more expansive in all directions, and the bass goes deeper, but it's a slightly less exciting listen because it feels a bit less immediate. I should also mention that the mid-fi nature of the VM95E cartridges on the LP5X turntables—paired with their not-so-great tonearms—means the grooves near the end of sides aren't tracked as well. By the last tracks, the MoFi's advantage becomes clear as the distortion from my setup is less apparent. If my system were mid-fi with a basic arm and entry-level cartridge, I'd argue the MoFi is the better pressing due to its 4-sided 45rpm physical advantage. However, with a simple upgrade to a Shibata or MicroLine stylus, the two pressings even out, and the convenience of the superb-sounding Speakers Corner—likely the cheaper option—becomes more appealing! As for pressing quality, MoFi's new in-house FRP plant is unmatched in my opinion. They've set the new reference standard, with 20 perfect titles under their belt. But Pallas also does excellent work, especially for Speakers Corner/Pure Pleasure, and both of my copies here are silent and nearly flawless, which is very satisfying! In terms of packaging, the SC is solid and functional, but the MoFi is that much more special with its tip-on gatefold—though it should cost almost twice as much! In conclusion, I'm torn because neither pressing is definitively better; they each have their own strengths. Now that I've splurged on the MoFi, I plan to keep both and use them to compare future gear upgrades, as they're both reference-level pressings. Phew... I hope that helps someone!
Alright, let's dive into this vinyl showdown: the 2019 Speakers Corner KPG AAA cut versus the 2025 MoFi 2x45rpm DSD to analog. For a fair fight, I swapped out my beloved vintage Pioneer PL51 (which is way better, let's be real) for a couple of AT LP5X turntables, both rocking stock VM95E cartridges. They've got similar hours on them and feed into an Opera Consonance all tube phono stage. From there, it's off to an Icon Audio 845PP amp and finally, the Quad Revela 2 speakers. Now, this setup might seem high-end to some, but it's tailored to my tastes, and that's what matters most. I'm all about that warm, flowing sound rather than clinical, rigid detail (hence the valve obsession!). First off, both of these pressings are absolute winners. They sound fantastic and are pressed to perfection. I can't pick a clear favorite. They're just different, and what you prefer will depend on your system, ears, and tastes. The KPG cut is super balanced. It's the more upfront of the two, with a bit less depth but it puts Michael right there in the room with you. The upper mids have a bit more presence, so the little details really shine. The mids are a tad fuller too... the piano on track one sounds more in the room and tonally spot on. KPG has done an amazing job here, making for an engaging listen that's free of fatigue and harshness (and I'm not even a KPG fanboy!). The MoFi, on the other hand, is tonally similar but with more front-to-back depth and air. That's usually a win for me, but Michael's voice is a bit further back and maybe a touch distant. The extra depth makes certain instruments stand out, which is great but not what I'm used to. The bass is a bit deeper and more felt, which could be thanks to the 45rpm cutting. The soundstage is more expansive in all directions, the bass goes deeper, but it's a slightly less exciting listen for being a bit less "live and direct." Now, let's talk about the mid-fi nature of the VM95E's on the LP5X's with their not-so-great arms. The grooves towards the end of sides aren't handled all that well. Once the KPG hits the last tracks, the MoFi pulls ahead as the distortion from these setups is less noticeable. If my setup was just mid-fi with a basic arm and entry-level cart, I'd say the MoFi is the better copy, thanks to its 4-sided 45rpm advantage. But swap the bonded elliptical for a Shibata or MicroLine tip, and the two pressings even out. The case for the superb-sounding and probably cheaper Speakers Corner grows a lot! Pressing quality-wise, MoFi's new in-house FRP plant is unmatched now, in my opinion. They're the new reference. Twenty titles in and all perfect. But Pallas does great work too, especially for Speakers Corner/Pure Pleasure, and each of my copies here are silent and nearly flawless, which is very satisfying! Packaging-wise, the SC is solid and does the job well, but the MoFi is that bit more special with its tip-on gatefold. It should cost almost twice as much though! In conclusion, I'm in a bit of a pickle because neither one is definitive, and both have their own sound advantages. Having heard both, if I owned a silent Speakers Corner cut and had the gear to do 20-minute 33's justice, I wouldn't spend £60 on the MoFi. But now that I've splurged on the MoFi, I intend to keep and enjoy both, using them to compare future kit upgrades as both are reference-level pressings. Phew... I hope that helps someone!
Wow, this is bloody amazing! I'm seriously impressed. I've been on a break from buying records, tired of the whole thing and the constant quality issues with audiophile pressings. After a quick clean in the degritter, I put it on the turntable and was instantly blown away. I really hope they reissue all their albums.
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| Date | Lowest price | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2025 | $37.99 | €40.98 |
| Sep 30, 2025 | $37.99 | €41.23 |
| Oct 31, 2025 | $37.99 | €41.23 |
| Nov 29, 2025 | $41.98 | €54.65 |
| Dec 31, 2025 | $41.99 | €60.48 |
| Jan 21, 2026 | $41.99 | €60.39 |