MoFi MasterDeck Turntable with UltraGold Cartridge and MasterPhono Review

MoFi Electronics certainly knows a thing or two about high-fidelity sound, being associated with one of the most iconic music labels, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, which produces some of the finest vinyl records available today and whose library is sought after by audiophiles worldwide. With a long history dating back to 1977, they boast an immense library of over 600 master recordings. For them, producing turntables and phono stages enables them to utilise their knowledge and expertise to create some of the best-sounding components for playing your beloved vinyl.

I first heard the MasterDeck turntable and MasterPhono at the HiFi Show Live 2024 at Ascot. I was seriously impressed by the quality of Michael Jackson's Off the Wall album, which was also playing through their mighty SourcePoint 888 speakers, with tons of detail but with a beautiful, rich, and pure analogue sound, excellent bass definition and impact. So, when Karma AV asked if I would like to review them, it was an easy 'yes' from me. Having had a fair few high-end turntables pass through my listening room, the MasterDeck is their flagship player, as well as the phono stage. I waited with great anticipation for their arrival and to hear what they could do in my own system here at The Speaker Shack.

MoFi always bring together some brilliant minds, including engineers and designers to be part of the MoFi Electronics team, and just like the SourcePoint 8 speakers I reviewed recently, Andrew Jones who was their lead designer, the MasterDeck turntable has the incredible experience, knowledge and expertise of Allen Perkins who has more than 30+ years of designing some of the best turntables and from Spiral Groove fame, with the MasterPhono they have looked towards the revered audio engineer Peter Madnick to design their flagship phono stage product with no holds barred from producing their best phono stage.

Build Quality and Features

MasterPhono Preamplifier

When I received the MasterPhono and MasterDeck turntable, both boxes were fairly weighty, which is always a good and reassuring sign that these components are of a high quality, with the turntable being quite the beast in terms of weight. This all-analogue front-end system, supplied by Karma AV, features a black and walnut wood finish that lends the phono stage and turntable a luxurious high-quality look and feel, with exceptional build quality throughout. The MasterPhono is, in fact, two boxes that share the same full-width chassis and are connected in the middle via copper-coloured tubing, which ingeniously feeds the cabling between the signal and power sections that support this split-chassis design. I love this approach because it eliminates the need for two boxes, unlike other brands. Peter Madnick has really excelled with this phono stage design, carefully thought through every possible configuration that could be used in a high-end vinyl system, and given the end user the possibility to connect up to three turntables for the MasterPhono to control. On the front panel to the left of the VU meter displays is the main power on button and to the right is all the main functions and settings from buttons to dials which include cartridge load options and also Gain settings, there is also a subsonic filter option and also the obligatory Mono as well as a button to turn the VU meters on and off but can also be used for setting up and balancing of the left and right channels when setting up a turntable and the cartridge. It is a highly easy-to-use preamp compared to others that I have used, which require dip switches on the rear or underside of the preamps, making it much easier to use and not overly complicated at all. On the rear of the unit, it offers 3 inputs for RCA connections and 2 XLR fully balanced inputs. The Outputs feature both RCA and XLR connectors, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your system.

Under the hood of the MasterPhono, the finest components have been used to make up the discrete circuitry of this phono stage, with no expense spared. Peter Madnick certainly did not scrimp on this design, and what he has achieved is a phono preamplifier with an incredibly ultra-low noise floor, thanks to the mechanically isolated circuitry. Even the most sensitive parts of the circuitry are housed within a temperature-controlled, shielded copper enclosure at the rear of the unit. It is this attention to detail that allows such high performance from this flagship model. Even the remote control has been well thought through, with all the necessary functions of the MasterPhono at your fingertips, and you can control it from the comfort of your favourite armchair.

MoFi MasterDeck Turntable and UltraGold Cartridge

On to the turntable, which is one serious piece of kit, weighing approximately 17kg. Unpacking it, you are presented with the MasterDeck components, carefully boxed and ready for assembly. The Tonearm comes with the UltraGold cartridge already fitted, but it must be mounted to the turntable's main deck, which is a straightforward process. The beautifully tapered platter weighs in at a hefty 6.5kg. It is 1.75" in thickness with a precisely engineered groove around the platter's base for the orange drive belt to sit in. The platter is made from a hybrid of aluminium and Delrin, and it is perfectly balanced on the spindle. To mount it on the deck, you receive a special installation strap that allows you to lower the platter onto the deck without damaging the inverted bearing on which it will sit and spin. The MasterDeck utilises a high-torque three-phase brushless DC motor, which is regulated by a sensor located just beneath the platter. The tracking magnets are built into the base of the platter, which the sensor monitors to achieve the desired speed selected. The three-speed controls are selected via rotary dials on the turntable, offering options for 33rpm, 45rpm, and even 78rpm. A trim control is also provided for adjustment to fine tune. To the left of the platter, a visual LED display shows the actual speed being played. When you first connect the power to the turntable, it goes through a calibration process, which is also displayed. Once completed, this process does not need to be repeated. I love the fact that MoFi has used HRS Harmonic Resolution Systems isolation feet on the base of the turntable, which means that the MasterDeck literally floats and prevents any knocks and vibrations from being transmitted through to the turntable. It is just so well made, and these adjustable HRS feet really do add the finishing touch to a stunning piece. Also included with the MasterDeck turntable is the Super Heavy Weight Champion Record Weight, designed in partnership with Mike Latvis of Harmonic Resolution Systems. This weight features noise reduction characteristics and helps couple the LP to the platter. And these can also be purchased separately from MoFi, further enhancing the performance of this stunning turntable.

The tonearm is a dual-pivot design and features a 10" carbon fibre arm with Cardas Audio wiring, which will be connected to the cartridge. The headshell is removable, allowing any desired cartridge to be fitted if you do not select the UltraGold one, as it can be sold separately, leaving the decision up to the user. The UltraGold cartridge is a dual Moving Coil model featuring a Shibata stylus and boron cantilever, offering an exceptionally wide frequency response. It also looks beautiful on the carbon fibre tonearm.

Setting up the MasterDeck turntable was straightforward and very easy to assemble, considering this is such a high-end deck. The tonearm needs to be installed onto the turntable, which fits straight into the slotted hole, and is tightened via a screw on the base. Once in place, adjust the arm to the correct height, and fine-tune it with the threaded height adjustment and counterweight. The lever that enables the lowering and raising of the arm is longer than usual, but I welcome this as it means that, again, the design of this turntable has been well thought through, which can help prevent any needle drops. The signal cable needs to be connected, which is accessed by plugging it in underneath the deck, directly below the threaded tonearm, and then attached to the MasterPhono. Once assembled and fine-tuned, the MasterDeck can be powered on, and the initial calibration process can begin, making it ready for use.

I am connecting the MasterPhono and MasterDeck to my Cyrus Audio components for amplification, which is then attached to my ProAc D2R speakers, placed on Atacama stands. Also, my REL T5i subwoofer is connected to this system. I am using Montaudio Chatham SH-1 speaker cables, as well as a variety of other cables and isolation products from Montaudio and IsoAcoustics for this review.

Sound Quality and Performance

For my first album, I am listening to the stunning 1981 debut album from Phil Collins, Face Value. I absolutely love this LP, and every track sounds incredible on vinyl. I have owned the high-resolution version for many years, but I finally got around to purchasing a vinyl copy, and I'm so pleased I did. 

Track 1 on Side 1 In The Air Tonight is one of his biggest hits. For good reason, it is an iconic track and one of my all-time favourites from him. I recall hearing it in the film Risky Business back in the 1980s, which prompted me to buy the soundtrack, as well as the track by Tangerine Dream, long before I purchased a copy of Face Value. Still, I always liked and loved the high-resolution version that I owned, until I heard it on vinyl. Listening to it on my Denon DP400 turntable with the Denon A110 Anniversary MC cartridge was certainly an eye-opening experience, and everything sounded much better, including the bass, which hit much harder. The high-resolution version sounds soft and a little flat in comparison. When I first spun the record on the MoFi MasterDeck, I had great expectations, and with the MasterPhono, what you immediately notice is the noise floor, which is completely silent, even with the volume turned right up The MasterPhono is so quiet; it is an excellent phono preamp and a joy to use. The music emerges centre stage from my ProAc speakers which then open up the sound with a vast sound stage and the wonderful synthesised sounds start to fill my room, the MasterDeck with the UltraGold cartridge manage to dig out every little detail and nuance and makes my Denon sound slightly harsh in comparison to the the MoFi combination, which produces a more refined sound especially in the higher frequencies, Phil Collins vocals also sound more natural even with the delay/echo effects used to give the recording a more spatial sound as it builds to the brilliant drumming which come in and hits so hard, bass is much better defined with even more impact and hits harder with this MoFi combination as it leaves me with a massive grin on my face as I turn the volume dial even higher, the synergy that the MasterPhono and MasterDeck have is sublime.

Track 2 This Must Be Love starts with the slow beat of the percussion and the bongos which appear centre left of the stage as Collins vocals come in centre stage, while the bass guitar and guitar are off to the right, each of the instruments have excellent separation with plenty of space around them, the percieved depth is also fantastic as the music has so many layers to the sound, the MoFi MasterDeck and MasterPhono really do dig out everything from the music and my ProAc D2R speakers absolutely love it producing a wonderful image of the music, with some incredible musicality. The snap from the percussion instruments is instantaneous, creating some stunning dynamics and rhythm.

Track 5 Droned shows how big a sound stage my ProAc’s can manage to throw out into my room with sounds appearing all around me from left to right, piano and percussion instruments fill the room at lightning speeds and vocal sounds moving across the soundstage, the MoFi turntable and phono stage really do produce every bit of the music and presents it with such stunning realism.

On Side 2 track 5 If Leaving Me Is Easy is one of the most beautiful tracks from this album and sounds simply incredible through this MoFi combination, it starts off with the Saxophone which literally gave me goosebumps and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, it sounded so powerful and is placed directly in front of me, closing my eyes and you could swear the band was in my room before Phil Collins soothing vocals come in. I never knew that Eric Clapton was playing the guitar on this track, another favourite artist of mine. The individual instruments have a lifelike and natural-sounding quality that is produced through the MasterDeck, and the superb vocals from Phil Collins are resolved with utmost clarity and definition, placing him centre stage, with the band around him creating an excellent image in front of me, but most importantly, distilling the musicality from his music.

For my next album, I am listening to one of Cerrone's best works IMO, as it brings together his greatest classics and disco dance floor hits and adds the Symphonic touch with a whole orchestral symphony behind his 21 hits. It is the 2025 album Disco Symphony on vinyl. He really is the master of disco music. If you're familiar with his music, it has undoubtedly been around for quite some time now, dating back to the 1970s, with his biggest dance hits and one of his most iconic floor fillers, "Supernature," which has had numerous remixes over the years, but with the Symphonic version currently being my favourite. This 2LP is truly his masterpiece and represents a lifetime achievement of all his work, encompassed in this double album.

Track A3 on LP1 Cerrone’s Paradise has the full symphonic intro, which sounds simply superb and fills my room with such wonderful music as the brass section rasps and violins fill the air with such delicate and sweet tones, before the bass guitar and drums come in, the vocals and harmonies take you back to a time when disco music ruled. This music certainly brings those times alive but bang up to date only the way Cerrone can, the synergy and energy that the MoFi package brings to the music is simply sublime with stunning clarity and musical ability that it definitely gets my feet tapping to this infectious music, the sound stage is filled with instruments and every single one can be picked out, the speakers just disappear. You are left with a room filled with an orchestra, which sounds fantastic. 

On LP1 Side B track B4 Je Suis Music starts off with the stunning brass section of the orchestra before the main beat kicks in with a punchy and dynamic beat, the trumpets sounds so powerful and natural in their performance with not a hint of any harshness just a rich and beautiful tonal balance but with absolute power, just like the Sax on Phil Collins record, this certainly is some foot tapping induced music and the MoFi MasterDeck and MastePhono translates all that music from the record grooves perfectly.

LP2 track C6 Drum Symphony is a favourite of mine from his 1977 album Supernature as it features his immense talent on playing the drums which is 2min and 40s of hard hitting and stunning bass reproduction from this incredible French artist and the MoFi combination does not disappoint filling the soundstage with instruments and Cerrone’s drums taking centre stage as the the rest of the instruments sound out all around him, the kick drums impact and power can be felt, the layers of sound that the MasterDeck uncovers is magical and gives the raw energy to the music you are hearing.

On to my final track for this review and it is the best and sounds every bit as good as it should with a complete orchestral introduction, from the big drums to the wonderful strings and brass sections playing in unison, track D3 on LP2 Supernature which sounds magnificent in this symphonic version and some stunning vocals from Izzy Chase and the backing singers, the MoFi MasterDeck renders it all perfectly allowing my ProAc speakers to present the music in full with incredible clarity and foot induced tapping disco music, the depth of this image is impressive with the electric guitar which comes in near the end but is placed right back in the soundstage before the climax from this iconic track finishes.

I have had the pleasure of listening to this stunning turntable for the last couple of weeks and played so much music and above is just a tiny selection and a couple of my personal favourites that I know well and the MasterPhono and MasterDeck package have performed flawlessly, the MasterPhono is a stunning design and a joy to use with so much flexibility in how you use it allowing you to tailor each individual input to exactly how you want it, and then there is the MasterDeck turntable with the UltraGold cartridge which is one of the finest turntables to grace my listening room, I just love everything about it, all movements are buttery smooth but with incredible precision which is a testament to the design and engineering behind this deck. The synergy between the MasterPhono and MasterDeck is sublime, and they complement each other perfectly, producing a truly addictive reference sound experience.

Conclusions and Final Thoughts

The MoFi MasterPhono and MasterDeck package offers stunning performance and a pure analogue experience, with retro looks but with state of the art components which will delight audiophiles no matter what level you think you are at, their simplicity and ease of use means you don't need to have studied a degree in engineering to make full use of them, designed by audiophiles for audiophiles who just love their music, these components have to be on your audition list if you are seriously looking for a reference system to play your vinyl music on.

The Speaker Shack awards the MoFi MasterDeck/UltraGold Cartridge and MasterPhono with a Reference award and stamp of approval.

Price at time of review:

MoFi MasterPhono £5,999

MoFi MasterDeck £6,999 / with cartridge £7,999

MoFi UltraGold Cartridge £1,499

MoFi Super Heavyweight Champion Record Weight £499

Web - https://karma-av.co.uk/

Web - https://www.mofielectronics.com/