"Among The Best Under $10,000 Turntables You Can Buy" – Michael Fremer
Bringing No-Compromise Turntable Design to a Wider Audience
The MasterDeck Turntable was born from a challenge MoFi Electronics's lead analog designer, Alan Perkins, set for himself. After spending 35 years developing no-expense-spared turntables, could he achieve that level of performance at a much higher-value price?
Yes, he could. And yes, he did! The MasterDeck incorporates all the ideas for platter bearings, drive systems, tonearm concepts, and material combinations that he had developed over the decades.
"It also reflects my vision of presenting these ideas in a reliable and beautiful package. Bringing performance typically reserved for esoteric products to a broader audience of music enthusiasts is a true pleasure. I wish you many years of happy listening," says Perkins.
Born from a collaboration of vinyl enthusiasts, this reference-grade turntable is engineered for those who seek to unearth the true essence of music embedded in the grooves of their cherished vinyl LPs.
Order with or without UltraGold MC Cartridge
You may order the MasterDeck with or without the optional MoFi UltraGold Moving Coil Phono Cartridge. See below for more on this award-winning perfect partner for the MasterDeck.
"Sounds As Good As It Looks And Feels"
"This is a turntable that sounds as good as it looks and feels, well maybe even better, and it does look good," raves analog guru Michael Fremer in his June 19, 2024 review for trackingangle.com. "The MoFi MasterDeck is among the best under $10,000 turntables you can buy and I'll leave it at that."
10" Dual-Pivot Carbon-Fiber Tonearm
The MasterDeck boasts an all-new dual-pivot carbon-fiber 10" tonearm, epitomizing the perfect blend of precision, control, and friction-free tracking. This state-of-the-art tonearm, featuring a removable headshell, allows for the fine-tuning of various cartridges. Adjustments include azimuth, vertical tracking angle (VTA), overhang, and anti-skate, all enhanced by the premium internal wiring from Cardas Audio.
Three-Speed Selection with Precision Trim Adjustment
Engineered for versatility and precision, the MasterDeck offers three-speed selection to accommodate 33, 45, and 78 RPM records. This feature allows audiophiles and vinyl enthusiasts to explore their diverse collections with ease.
Further enhancing its functionality, the MasterDeck includes a fine-tuning trim adjustment. This precision control lets you make subtle speed modifications, ensuring an exact playback speed for every record. Whether it's a vintage 78 RPM shellac or a modern 33 RPM LP, the MasterDeck delivers an accurate and faithful audio reproduction, tailored to the unique characteristics of each vinyl format.
Precision Speed Regulation for Accurate Playback
The MasterDeck excels with its sensor-regulated motor, a testament to its engineering prowess. Equipped with a three-phase brushless AC drive, it achieves unparalleled stability and precision in rotational speed. The design of the motor, isolated to prevent interference, is key to its ability to produce clear and accurate sound.
This precision in motor control is essential for the exact reproduction of vinyl records, ensuring every musical detail and nuance is faithfully reproduced, just as the artist intended. By synchronizing the AC motor with the user's speed selection, MasterDeck guarantees a playback experience that is not only precise but also true to the original recording, free from any speed-related distortions.
Anti-Vibration Feet by HRS
Performance is further elevated by Harmonic Resolution Systems Isolation Feet. Engineered to provide 5.5 degrees of freedom, these feet effectively 'float' the turntable, offering exceptional isolation from environmental vibrations and feedback. This design is crucial in maintaining the turntable's stability, ensuring that every musical nuance is delivered with clarity and precision.
1.75" Aluminum X Delrin® Hybrid Platter
The MasterDeck's Delrin platter measures 1.75" thick and is composed of a unique hybrid of aluminum and Delrin that exemplifies the fusion of innovative design with acoustic precision. This carefully chosen combination significantly reduces resonance, providing a remarkably stable and inert base for vinyl playback. Such stability is crucial for maintaining the purity of the audio signal, ensuring that every playback is as true to the original recording as possible.
Encapsulated Spiral Groove Inverted Bearing
The MasterDeck incorporates an Encapsulated Spiral Groove Inverted Bearing, designed for unparalleled precision and stability. This sophisticated bearing system is meticulously engineered to minimize friction and reduce wear, resulting in an incredibly smooth turntable rotation.
Optional UltraGold MC Cartridge
You may order the MasterDeck with or without the optional MoFi UltraGold Moving Coil Phono Cartridge. Crafted in Japan using strict quality-control measures for exacting precision, and uniquely voiced by Spiral Groove founder Allen Perkins, The Mofi UltraGold MC phono cartridge from Mobile Fidelity offers analog lovers everything they would expect – and more – from an audiophile moving-coil cartridge.
The UltraGold MC won an Outstanding Product Award from England's Hi-fi News. According to reviewer Kenn Kessler, "This is a hyper-modern take on classic MCs, retaining the virtues of warmth and air, but with trackability that had me looking for a 'V15' designation somewhere. (Youngsters: look it up…) Prices seem irrelevant in high-end hi-fi, when top cartridges exceed £15k, so the UltraGold, at one-tenth of that? Chalk up another MoFi bargain."
Nude Shibata Stylus and Boron Cantilever
UltraGold MC’s nude Shibata stylus and boron cantilever help account for the cartridge’s palpable low-end reproduction, high transient responsiveness, and robust midrange. The Shibata profile diamond is further chosen for playback marked by hear-it-to-believe-it depth, immersion, and fullness.
Handcrafted in the USA
Each MasterDeck is meticulously assembled in limited batches at our Ann Arbor, Michigan factory, exemplifying our commitment to unparalleled quality control.