Santana – Abraxas

MOFI COMPARISON TIME 😁

Surely everyone that loves this album wants to know. Which one SOUNDS better? The 2008 cut or the 2024 cut? You wont find any AAA vs digital step arguments from me.... i only care what my ears perceive.

Well the good news for owners of one or the other is that they are all but identical with somewhat minimal differences in sound so much so you dont need to own both and that the biggest differences between them is in the cover art repro which is vastly superior on the new cut and the vinyl pressing quality which is maybe slightly quieter (albeit only really in the deadwax at least) on the new one.

Sound wise though, theres really next to nothing in it and i would challenge anyone name which one is which if just one was played back alone because the basic tonal balance and soundstage dimensions are the same. There is a small difference to be heard though. There is a tiny - and welcome - bass presence increase on the newer cut and there is a - even more welcome - tiny bit more top end smoothness and natural-ness with the older 2008 but they are too close to worry about if you just own one. Owning both presents a dilemma and frsutration as neither is absolutely definitive and you need to be honest with yourself as to what your taste preference is.

I would love to say one was clearly better than the other (and its laughable that one or two have done vastly in favour of the newer press claiming a night and day) but owning both just actually leaves me wanting the slightly boosted bass of the new cut with the silkier uppers of the older one. Maybe thats what the One Step achieves but at four figures plus im cool thanks as this is never going to be a demo disc recording anyway.

Its tight then, but right now if someone held a gun to my head and made me choose id be inclined to take the 2008 as my ears like the silkiest and least distracting top ends as they can find and this is where the 2008 has a slight edge..... it has a smidge less aliasing on the uppers.

Which is frustrating again as the cover of the new press is sooooo much better its not even a contest.

As its stands im keeping both but my gut instinct is to keep the old cut and sell the new one as i will want that top end silk over anything else wheb listening to this middling recording of exquisite music.

Tested on a timewarp Pioneer PL-51 turntable with low hour AT VM95ML into Project Tube Box S2 phono stage into Musical Fidelity M2Si integrated finished off with Focal Chora 806 loudspeakers.

Repress on Supervinyl incoming. Available for preorder now on Mofis website.

I emailed MoFi and lo and behold Jim Davis himself replied, incredible. He confirmed that this is an all analog album. If you guys want proof I can forward it to you, just give your email and I’ll send ’ya.

Edit: a day later a guy from customer service confirmed it as well. Weird email chain. First Davis then the customer service division. Anyhow, now you know.

I haven't heard it myself but I'm pretty sure this is AAA because its half-speed mastered, I heard someplace that you can't half-speed DSD and records that are confirmed DSD aren't listed as half-speed

Unlike its One-Step brother this release is not on the Applicable Records list which is part of the Class Action against MoFi. Does it mean this one is AAA?

Hey folks....."An ALL analog master" means it would have to be cut from a 2nd gen compiled production master. If you want it from the 1st generation/individual mixdown tapes, a digital transfer is necessary as each song is typically on it's own reel.

As for the one-step?That 45 RPM sures this, because there is less music on each side, and 45 RPM greatly reduces inner-groove distortion. (DSD or otherwise)

Cannot imagine that the infamous one-step version does sound that much better justifying the stellar price range. Given a decent audio equipment, this reissue delivers. A warm vinyl-like sound of the legendary album. Haven’t heard a true OG, but I rather prefer a minty copy in a new sturdy cover, esp. when it sounds sooo good as this one. Highly recommended, regardless …

There seems to be confusion over this, 60% of post-2011 MOFI's introduce the DSD step, so this is the 2008, is this still all analogue?

get an OG or early pressing if u want this all analog

LOL. Mofi itted that they use a digital master for this release.