Limited edition of 40,000 stamped numbered copies. Release is housed in a cardboard slip case, and includes fold out poster (that largely replicates the original art except for the addition of the Original Master Recording® banner and some credit updates), lyric sheet, MoFi Archival Master sleeve, and white cardboard insert. Vinyl is accurately identified as black, but is slightly translucent
From back panel of jacket: Mastered by Krieg Wunderlich, assisted by Shawn R Britton at Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab®, Sebastopol, CA on The Gain 2 Ultra Analog System™. Specially Plated and Pressed on 180g High-Definition Vinyl SuperVinyl™ formula developed and manufactured by Neotech
From hype sticker: ULTRADISC One-Step 1 Special Audiophile Edition Limited To 40,000 Units 1/2" / 30 IPS / Analog Master -> DSD 256 -> Analog Console -> Lathe
On rear case: Limited edition of 40,000 No XXXXXX Printed in the U.S.A.
This is a very analytical-sounding release. Bass boosted and treble boosted with no midrange (it sounds like a MoFi!). The original Grundman cut has way more energy and life to it.
Bought a mint sealed copy for $70 from my local store, came in as trade in. I was never gonna pay the original price for a digital source record. My copy is quiet no surface or playback issues. I have a NM original that to my ears is preferable from a low end perspective. That one just hits deeper in my bones than this MoFi version. Vocals are bit more forward with a bit more air, but overall to me the original is more engaging…..I can only assume this is due to no digital artifacts present in the original. Maybe too much conversions to create this MoFi version. I’m glad I have it and especially for the price, $60-70 is my max for a digital album being called audiophile version. My table is a Project Xtension 10 w/Lyra Delos cart.
I've bought countless copies of Thriller over the years, including plenty of used first-pressings, to a near-mint Japanese Mastersound, and even the 25th anniversary re-release.
Fact is, this is *probably* the best of the bunch (short of a truly mint condition first pressing), which it obviously should be for the price. Whisper quiet, very "neutral" sound (I tend to prefer a fatter low end which some of the other pressings do seem to have). You can hear things that were previously only really heard in "pristine" digital copies, but here you get that added oomph from the vinyl.
Of course, knowing what I paid for it it's also one that I'm inclined not to be my go-to because I don't want to wear it out. So there's a catch-22: if I want to hear the best possible Thriller I have to spin this, but if I spin it too much it will wear and no longer be the very best.
Either way, aside from the somewhat shady lack of clarity on the digital source (would have been great to have been directly sourced from an analogue master but what are you gonna do) I'm very happy with my purchase.
(Incidentally though; the mix is slightly different from the original first pressings and is most noticeable in Billie Jean. Original pressings have the echo'd "Oh no..." in the second verse mixed quite low, while this is much more upfront as it was in subsequent releases. Do with that information what you will.)
I've got a flat and silent copy. The sound is well balanced, not too bright, no distortion or issues tracking it with Rega Apheta 3 cartridge. I also have MOVLP014 (2009) copy which is louder and brighter, also a bit wider sound stage. Music on Vinyl version on some budget systems might sound more exciting.