It’s only natural to use the word “Studio” in the name of one of our turntables, as doing so brings together MoFi’s software and hardware sides. And while it’s our entry-level offering, StudioDeck produces high-caliber sound at a value price. Designed in collaboration with some of the world's finest audio designers, StudioDeck features ingenuity and technology usually reserved for much more expensive products.
Mobile Fidelity adroitly enlisted Allen Perkins of Spiral Groove fame, who is said to have designed and overseen all aspects of production with Mobile Fidelity StudioDeck. Allen Perkins is a San Francisco turntable guru whose own Spiral Groove turntables start at $18,000. Spiral Groove’s well-reviewed and fabulous-looking turntables routinely soar into the tens of thousands and legitimately staked out their corner of the ultra-high-end echelon. One can see why Mobile Fidelity felt they had landed big fish, so to speak, when they empowered Mr. Perkins to see what could be accomplished using his wits on their new decks.
The StudioDecks construction starts with aluminum ruling the day with a wide plate of the material bonded to MDF plywood to form the table's plinth, which appears again in the 10’’ gimballed bearing tonearm. The aluminum provides added mass dampening in the plinth and rigidity in the tonearm, and judging by similar choices made in high-dollar Spiral Groove tables, it is a good indication that StudioDeck’s design is coming from a higher plane of existence. A decoupled 300RPM AC motor runs the StudioDeck, and you will find a ¾’’ platter and pulley system made from Delrin™ material. Delrin™ is a proprietary polymer material developed by the DuPont Corporation, the crystalline structure of which Mobile Fidelity considers ideal in effectively shielding the stylus from unwanted motor noise or vibration.
The StudioDeck’s inverted bearing comprises a combination of Teflon, steel, and bronze, normally associated with more expensive tables that prize silent rotational stability. Mobile Fidelity rounds out your hard-working turntable expenditure with a set of anti-vibration feet designed by Harmonic Resolution Systems to further separate any unwanted vibrations from your playback. HRS is yet another highly thought-of name in the industry that Mobile Fidelity enlisted to go ahead and get the StudioDeck right the first time around. The build quality and feel clearly exceed most anything you will find at its price point.
The StudioDeck’s sonic strength seems to be a well-illuminated and well-rounded mid-range that can faithfully deliver an analog experience that will exceed your expectations, given its modest price. The instruments are bursting with detail, and the sound spills into your listening room with a presence not expected from a table in this price range. If you are looking for a laid-back, easy-listening presentation, look elsewhere. But if your music preferences tend towards faster-paced, higher-energy music of any variety, the StudioDeck is right up your alley. The sound produced by the StudioDeck would best be described as up close and personal.
The StudioDeck's general composure is assured, very clean, and clear, and it just goes about its business of playing LPs without any hitches. Lesser turntables accentuate LP surface noise clicks and pops; the StudioDeck does not. The platter is made from Delrin, a thermoplastic from DuPont noted for its great stiffness and what MoFi calls its “wonderful impedance match to vinyl, effectively grounding unwanted noise and keeping it away from the stylus,” which is a major contributing factor.
Vinyl is the most tactile of all music formats, so playing music won't be much fun if the turntable feels awkward or cheap. To its credit, MoFi Electronics has eschewed any gimmicks and spent its money on things that matter: a great, sturdy, yet medium-mass tonearm; a smooth drive system; a fabulous platter; a fine cartridge; and outstanding isolation from vibration. Overall, the sound is just so right!
FEATURES
• 33-1/3 and 45.0 RPM belt drive turntable
• Custom designed and manufactured in the USA
• 10-inch MoFi Studio Tonearm
• 3/4-inch Delrin® platter
• Isolated 300 RPM AC synchronous motor
• Anti-Vibration feet designed by HRS
SPECIFICATIONS:
Motor
300 RPM AC Synchronous
Speeds
33 1/3 RPM, 45.0 RPM
Platter
3.88 lb Delrin®
Wow & Flutter
0.017% – 0.025%
Signal-To-Noise Ratio
72dB
Power Supply Requirements
120V 60Hz, 220-230V 50Hz, 100V 50Hz
Power Consumption
< 5W
Dimensions
19.69" x 5.375" x 14.25"
Weight
19.1 lb
TONEARM SPECIFICATIONS
Type
10" straight aluminum, gimbaled bearing
Overhang
0.71" (18mm)
Offset Angle
22.8˚ (+/- 2˚ adjustable)
Effective Mass
35g (+/- 0.5g)
Cartridge Weight Range
5g – 10g
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