T. Rex – Electric Warrior

COMPARISON TIME:

2017 Rhino KPG 33rpm
Vs.
2020 MoFi 2x45rpm

Neither one of these wins in every area and neither is totally definitive but there is a preference for me. They both are the best recent versions ive heard when including the Abbey Road Half Speed (too flat and dry and shy and wussy) and the very recent limited sky blue vinyl edition (comparitively crap in all respects and a side two skip fest).

The KPG and MoFi both sound really good (considering the mediocre recording). The KPG has a very nice balance to it. The MoFi has notable bass depth and soundstaging increases. The KPG also gets notably more ragged as we move onto the second half of each side and the MoFi just pulls ahead further as the tracks progess. The 45rpm benefits on sound cannot be overstated. Im lucky enough to currently have two identical mid-fi decks setup to easily evaluate and compare pressings directly and as a wee bonus a double 45rpm is less frustrating when you are in this fortunate position. And yet i do feel the KPG mastering is slightly better balanced when at its best... the mid bass is nicely balanced with the very low end and front to back depth shines. If it had been cut at 45rpm it might just edge the MoFi but as they are i would have to take the MoFi as its better at more things than the KPG is.

Pressing wise the Rhino KPG is good enough but the MoFi has come out nigh silent. The MoFi backgrounds are deffo blacker. RTI seems to reserve its best compounds and least defective vinyl for Mobile Fidelity. The compound they used for the KPG cut has some infrequent tics and a loud pop or two but is still acceptable.

Packaging wise, both are superb.... tip on gatefolds in each case and the Rhino gives up nothing to the MoFi even at half the price.

To conclude then.... id be very happy with the Rhino KPG 33rpm. It does alot right. Its nice to find a KPG mastering thats not too bright and hot and teeming with side rising distortion. Im sorry to repeat that he is not the messiah of vinyl that many claim but he did good here at least, theres no debating that. MoFi have just done a tad bit better and in my case offered it up on undeniably better vinyl. But it cost more so it should be better. Its worth it to me but it may not be to you. I had hoped the KPG would somehow walk this comparo and save me some money and side flipping, but alas, this game is not worth persisting with just for convenience and the sound quality wins out by a small margin on the whole and for that reason combined with the silent vinyl its the one im keeping.

YMMV AS EVER!!

Hello friends. The 2012 reissue sounds the same but the difference is that you have demos that sound majestic, so if you find a buy copy of 2012 you win and are doubly happy.

Great record and good sound. MoFi should reissue other AAA T-Rex albums such as Slider and Tanx.

I believe there is now a 2024 issue of this. Same barcode, but the back of the jacket is updated to show the pressing sequence, as in other new mofi releases

I just got a MOFI repress and the bar code is 821797246712, which is the same as Dire Straits Comunique album.
Number 008612. Anyone else have this experience?

it sounds very good, but doesn't blow me out of the water. nice to know that it is AAA, though from a safety copy (seems like the KG one uses the same source after some research). I really wanted to compare the two, though they seem to be pretty comparable with some ppl preferring the KG and others the Mofi. Comparing Discogs ratings confirms that as well.

Very very decent, not as outstanding as I thought it would be but it is mixed well and sounds authentic if anything. I recommend

At least not digital, but since it is done from "1/4" / 15 IPS analog copy to lathe" which - to me - reads 'analog master safety copy' - why couldn't all of MoFi's stuff be done from a copy of the master instead of a digital transfer???

Amazing quality. The sleeve is archival quality, very very hard sturdy cardboard

Really really great sound. It's full with a good low end, and the guitars, strings, and vocals are very clean and clear. These are still in stock at some places and it's easy to find below MSRP, I'd highly recommend picking it up, it's another fantastic (and all-analog!) release from Mobile Fidelity