Do I need MoFi in my hi-fi? MoFi expanded beyond their vinyl offerings and their importing and distribution division, and now they’re venturing now into the electronics game–the music giant is shaking the audiophile tree. The StudioSilver MC cartridge is my first review of their electronic offerings, even though Mofi has been making inroads into this part of the industry for a few years now. Andrew Jones came on board with his speaker designs and now Allan Perkins (from Spiral Groove) has been put in charge of vinyl playback with a new turntable design as well as oversight of the new cartridge line.
Words and Photos by Graig Neville
I honestly didn’t know what to expect from MoFi’s new StudioSilver MC Phono cartridge. The $1,000 cartridge market is pretty competitive and there’s a lot of variety out there, so I was curious how the $999 StudioSilver MC would stack up. Harkening from a super secret third party manufacturer from Japan, however, the StudioSilver MC design has a few very cool concepts behind its implementation.
Inside the MoFi StudioSilver MC
First, each StudioSilver MC assembly is similar to the cutting heads used to produce vinyl records. I really don’t know if that makes a cartridge sound better, but at least folks are thinking about overarching design elements and not just taking a tried and true model off a shelf and modifying it. The StudioSilver MC uses a nude microlinear stylus in a boron cantilever, a neodymium magnet, permendur yoke, and pure copper Ohno continuous casting (PCOCC) coils.
If you don’t know what permendur is (I had to look it up), it’s an equal proportion cobalt-iron alloy that has a very high magnetic saturation level. This allows for a smaller magnetic core with a higher magnetic field strength for its size. Permendur isn’t new as it’s been in aerospace applications and was invented in 1929 – but it’s cool nonetheless. PCOCC is pioneered by Dr. Ohno from Japan, and he has been researching and patenting various metallurgical processes to reduce cross crystal distortion (CCD) in metal. The premise is that CCD causes distortions in the signal that are audible, mostly associated with loss of spatial information and harshness.
Continuing with specifications, the StudioSilver MC has an aluminum body, 0.35mV of output, weighs 7.2 grams, and has a frequency response between 20Hz – 33kHz. Tracking force is a typical 1.8 – 2.2g and recommended loading is 100Ω or greater. Overall, pretty typical stuff for a well designed moving coil cartridge. Recommended break-in time was 100 hours.
Here’s one of the practical aspects of the MoFi StudioSilver MC: the needle protrudes from the body a bit more than most cartridges. This makes setting the needle in the right place so easy, even in low light conditions. The cartridge was also very easy to set up as the sides are parallel, facilitating increased visibility for protractors. I set this cartridge up faster than any other I’ve put on my Rega. The pins were easy to connect with the tapered instead of often rounded ends, and the tool set that came with the cartridge is so useful that I’m reluctant to send it back. I give MoFi a big thumbs up on the accessories, and the attention to other little details on the StudioSilver MC that made setup so much easier.
StudioSilver MC Sound
After removing my reference Dynavector 10×5 and swapping in the StudioSilver MC, I was impressed right out of the box by the MoFi’s smoothness. It does have a similar character to the Dynavector, trading some crispness and cleanness for smoothness. First impression–I really like this cartridge. Transients are fast and the sound is full-bodied providing a sound that I found very compelling. As I had no ideas what to expect I came away elated by the StudioSilver’s initial impressions.
My Rega P3 is pretty tricked out with a variety of upgrades to the power supply motor and the reference belt drive. The Rega is also placed on a hearty Symposium Ultra platform, resting on AudioQuest Q feet. I use a Fern & Roby brass weight for clamping down on the records as well. The StudioSilver MC sounded lively, accurate, and happy to extract music from the Rega.
I queued up Miles Davis. No, not Some Kind of Blue or even Bitches Brew, but Sketches of Spain. It’s more classical than jazz, but I love this album for the intimacy of the band. The brass really has a chance to play in a clean, slow and intimate way with Miles’ trumpet taking front and center and showcasing his multi-genre prowess. The music has an ethereal presentation that asks for the lights to be turned way down so that you can let the sound wash over you.
The MoFi StudioSilver MC did an excellent job of laying the foundation of the music and getting that sharp biting edge that brass can often have that is difficult to record well. The brass really leaps out on this recording and the Studiosilver MC got me to jump in surprise every time.
Listening Sessions
On the classic “Girl From Ipanema” track from Getz/Gilberto, it’s a special treat to hear Joao and Astrud Gilberto singing together with their voices hanging in the space in front of you. Stan Getz’s saxophone has a sultry and full-bodied character that the StudioSilver MC captures wonderfully. Plus, the MoFi cartridge is downright stunning on vocals. It gets the vocal timbre and tonality so right – it truly feels like the artist is talking or singing directly to you right through the speakers. It’s 95% or more to the illusion of “live in your living room” and perhaps is the one thing that the StudioSilver MC does best amongst its many strengths.
Moving away from jazz and pushing into something with more energy and bass, Daft Punk’s Random
Access Memories is a hot recording with lots of energy and prolific bass on many of its tracks. On some systems the bass is ‘UGE and often a bit too much, even for this bass head. The StudioSilver MC still provided ample bass, but perhaps a touch less than what’s actually on the recording. However that bass was taut and driven. Even though this is primarily electronic music, the StudioSilver MC gave the entire album a pleasing air and presence that perhaps deviated from accuracy, and yet it was immensely pleasing. The MoFi was smooth and a bit warm, which in my opinion lends itself well to a variety of genres of music.
Switching to New Age, Mannheim Steamroller is one of my favorites and I laid down Fresh Aire 4 on the Rega to see how the StudioSilver MC would handle it. The opening track, “G Major Toccata,” kicks off with organ and percussion that has power and authority. The cymbals crashed, the organ played, rolling tympanies boomed, and the drum kit whacked away with the power, energy, and authority I expect on this track – acid test step one complete. On the B-side, “Dancing Flames” includes the “striking of matches” sound effect that is a challenge for many systems. When played back correctly, the strike of the match can approach reality. But on lesser systems, it’s less distinct and until you hear the crackle of the fire it’s difficult to figure out what you are hearing. The StudioSilver MC did an admirable job recreating the effect; either it’s instantly recognizable or you have to listen for a few more moments to figure it out, and with the MoFi it was instantly recognizable.
Conclusions
The albums above were just a few that really stood out, but the MoFi StudioSilver MC made me want to run to my local friendly record store, Kiss the Sky, and buy more LPs! I picked up a Lake Street Dive Anniversary disc, Weather Report, and a few others just to lay down some analog grooves. I really liked how the MoFi complimented the Rega sound and enticed me to keep playing records well into the night.
I can’t praise the the MoFi StudioSilver MC enough. What is does, it does so well. While I think the
Dynavector 10×5 is more accurate with a bit more sparkle on the top end, the MoFi StudioSilver MC is smoother and more musical. It grooves, adding a relaxed pace that drives the music. In a competitive market segment where very few people have had the opportunity to hear more than a handful of cartridges, I can’t quite say the Studiosilver is the best, though reviewing more gear in this category would be enlightening. But I can say the Studiosilver is a solid performer that won’t let you down.
In this category you still have to make choices on what’s important to your listening tastes, and the StudioSilver MC is a near perfect balance of accuracy and musicality. Back to that huge tease in the beginning of this review, do you need MoFi in your hi-fi? I will say that if you want a wonderfully musical, smooth, and competent cartridge that really brings out the best of vocals, then you indeed need MoFi’s StudioSilver MC.
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