Miles Davis: Sorcerer

Mobile Fidelity released their second pressing of Miles Davis' Sorcerer, this time on "SuperVinyl" at 33rpm. If you've been paying attention, you know MoFi already issued this same album back in 2014 as a double 45rpm set. So the question hanging over this release: Other than getting tired of getting up and down to flip the 45, why would anyone need another MoFi Sorcerer? And, is this new SuperVinyl formulation worth the inevitable price premium? We bought both to find out.

Here's what You're Getting
This is the third album from Miles' legendary Second Great Quintet of Shorter, Hancock, Carter, Williams. Recorded in May 1967 at Columbia's 30th Street Studio. Unlike E.S.P. or Miles Smiles, this one's moodier and more cerebral. Miles didn't write any of the compositions here; he let his bandmates do the writing. Wayne Shorter contributed four tracks, Herbie Hancock wrote one, Tony Williams one, and there's an oddball 1962 track with Bob Dorough vocals tacked on the end.

The mastering chain is identical to the 2014 45rpm version: original analog master tape transferred to DSD 256, then back through an analog console to the cutting lathe. Yes, there's digital in the chain. We covered this in the MoFi lawsuit settlement. If you're hunting for a pure AAA pressing, look elsewhere. But if you care about results over methodology, keep reading . See the half-speed master blog for more on this.

SuperVinyl: Marketing or Meaningful?
MoFi developed SuperVinyl with Neotech and RTI specifically to address two issues: noise floor and groove definition. The compound uses a carbonless dye, which if you hold it up to light you'll see it's translucent. This supposedly delivers the quietest surfaces vinyl can achieve while capturing groove detail closer to the original lacquer.

Does it work? Yes. This is the quietest pressing of Sorcerer I've heard. Drop the needle on "Prince of Darkness" and there's nothing...no surface noise, no rumble, just music emerging from complete silence. Tony Williams' cymbal work on "Pee Wee" has air around it that I haven't heard on other pressings. The decay trails off naturally instead of disappearing into vinyl noise.

Groove definition is harder to quantify, but the SuperVinyl seems to retrieve more low-level detail. Ron Carter's bass has excellent articulation. You can hear the individual notes instead of just a bass line. Hancock's piano has superb body and weight.

The 45rpm Question
Here's where it gets interesting. MoFi's 2014 double 45rpm pressing of Sorcerer is excellent. Michael Fremer praised it, and he was right to. That version offers slightly better dynamics and a touch more detail, particularly in complex passages like "The Sorcerer" where all five musicians are weaving around each other.
But, and this matters, the difference is smaller than you'd expect. The SuperVinyl 33rpm pressing gets you 90% of what the 45rpm delivers, on a single disc, for less money. The 45rpm gives you that extra 10% of resolution and dynamics, but you're paying for it with twice the vinyl real estate and more disc flipping.
If you're the type who listens critically on reference-grade equipment and cares about extracting every last detail from the recording, get the 45rpm. If you want an outstanding pressing that you can actually enjoy without constantly flipping sides, the 33rpm SuperVinyl is the smarter choice.

Versus Original Columbia Pressings
Original Columbia two-eye and 360 Sound pressings from 1967 have a following, but their sonic reputation is mixed. The best ones, and you'll need to hunt through multiple copies to find them, can sound quite good. Big soundstage, Fred Plaut's excellent engineering from 30th Street Studio shining through. But many of those original pressings suffer from what Fremer accurately described as "unpleasant dryness and starkness" with noticeable grain. The MoFi SuperVinyl blows past them in transparency, tonal richness, and surface silence. It's not close.

Clean original pressings also command premium prices now. You're looking at $50-$100 for a VG+ copy if you can find one. The SuperVinyl lists for around $50 and arrives mint, flat, and numbered. No hunting, no gambling on condition.

What Works
* Silence: This is one of the quietest vinyl pressing I own. The SuperVinyl compound delivers on its promise.
* Tonal balance: Nothing sounds hyped or exaggerated. Miles' trumpet has the right amount of bite without being harsh. Wayne Shorter's tenor is warm but detailed. The tonal palette is natural and convincing.
* Bass response: Ron Carter's double bass has genuine weight and pitch definition. This is where the MoFi transfer from DSD 256 pays dividends. The low-end information is all there.
* Staging: Wide, deep, with excellent instrument separation. You can place each musician in the studio. Williams' drums occupy real space behind and between the front line.
* Pressing quality: Dead flat. Centered perfectly. No issues across the entire disc.

What Doesn't
* Digital step: If you're ideologically opposed to any digital in the mastering chain, this isn't for you. But honestly, at this resolution and with this execution, it is truly a non factor
* Single LP compromises: Cramming the full album on one 33rpm disc means groove spacing isn't as generous as the 45rpm double LP. Inner groove performance is still excellent, but the 45rpm has a theoretical edge here.
* Price: At $50, this is premium territory. You're paying for SuperVinyl development and limited pressing numbers. But compared to hunting down mint original pressings or even the now-expensive 45rpm version, it's not unreasonable.

The Vinyl Verdict
Mobile Fidelity's SuperVinyl pressing of Sorcerer is reference quality. It's the best single-LP version of this album you can buy, and it gets close enough to the double 45rpm that most listeners won't miss what's lost.
The SuperVinyl compound isn't marketing fluff. It genuinely delivers lower noise and better detail retrieval than standard vinyl. Whether that justifies the premium depends on your priorities and your system's ability to reveal those differences.

For most collectors, this is the Sorcerer to own. It sounds spectacular, it's convenient, and the pressing quality is flawless. If you already own the 45rpm MoFi and you're happy with it, there's no compelling reason to replace it. But if you're choosing between them, the SuperVinyl 33rpm offers 90% of the performance without the side-flipping and with genuine advances in vinyl formulation technology.

This is what reissues should be: better source handling, better mastering, better materials, better execution. MoFi did it right. 💰

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