Santana – Caravanserai

I don't have an OG to compare to, but this sounds pretty good. Got it for $12 on Amazon. You have to crank the volume a bit due to some longer sides.

COMPARISON TIME:

2008 Speakers Corner vs 2024 MFSL

Id like to say first that both are excellent discs and superbly pressed. The Pallas press is even quieter in the deadwax but i hear no noise from the RTI during music and its also cut a little louder than the SC. Essentially its a draw on the pressing quality.

The sound qualities are different though and i find myself preferring the MoFi if honest. I played the Speakers Corner first and enoyed it but i was constantly telling myself im sure it could sound better still. The MoFi injects three things into the sound.... expansiveness, bright clarity and nuance/transient detail. Simply put its like a younger, fresher and more lively version of the SC cut. On my system comprising a timewarp Pioneer PL51 with a low hour neutral VM95ML cart into a Project Tube Box S2 and Musical Fidelity M2Si into Focal Chora 806 i jist find the MoFi is more enjoyable and exciting to listen to. There could easily be people with bright and lean systems that maybe prefer the darker, slightly duller SC press but it will still sound smaller in of soundstage and less lively imo. Ive kept the Music On Vinyl copy i had as a backup to the SC and now im keeping the SC as a backup for my MoFi.

In of packaging the MoFi has a tip on gatefold in their usual matte finish and the SC has a laminated but thinner - if still sturdy - gatefold. I feel the MoFi is a tad bit better of resolution to the cover and with the better build i prefer it overall.

So the MoFi now reigns supreme for me and it gets a 10/10 but the SC remains a fine cut and its still an 8/10 while notably being on Pallas's flattest and most eerily silent compound.

COMPARISON TIME:

2008 Speakers Corner vs 2024 MFSL

Id like to say first that both are excellent discs and superbly pressed. The Pallas press is even quieter in the deadwax but i hear no noise from the RTI during music and its also cut a little louder than the SC. Essentially its a draw on the pressing quality.

The sound qualities are different though and i find myself preferring the MoFi if honest. I played the Speakers Corner first and enoyed it but i was constantly telling myself im sure it could sound better still. The MoFi injects three things into the sound.... expansiveness, bright clarity and nuance/transient detail. Simply put its like a younger, fresher and more lively version of the SC cut. On my system comprising a timewarp Pioneer PL51 with a low hour neutral VM95ML cart into a Project Tube Box S2 and Musical Fidelity M2Si into Focal Chora 806 i jist find the MoFi is more enjoyable and exciting to listen to. There could easily be people with bright and lean systems that maybe prefer the darker, slightly duller SC press but it will still sound smaller in of soundstage and less lively imo. Ive kept the Music On Vinyl copy i had as a backup to the SC and now im keeping the SC as a backup for my MoFi.

In of packaging the MoFi has a tip on gatefold in their usual matte finish and the SC has a laminated but thinner - if still sturdy - gatefold. I feel the MoFi is a tad bit better of resolution to the cover and with the better build i prefer it overall.

So the MoFi now reigns supreme for me and it gets a 10/10 but the SC remains a fine cut and its still an 8/10 while notably being on Pallas's flattest and most eerily silent compound.

QC issues that apparently resulted from a bad stamper aside, assuming that has all been resolved.

Based on my copy. The vinyl this is on is so damn quiet, you'll think you bought the SACD by mistake. This thing sounds spectacular and MoFi has done it again.

My copy had the notorious thumping. I ed Mofi and the thumping mentioned below is a known issue with a possibly bad stamper. With proof of purchase and pic of the number on back they sent me a new copy in a generic sleeve. Also, I believe you could have made the original purchase from anywhere as mine was from Ebay. New copy is flawless.

Un sound più legato alle atmosfere Jazz fusion. E predominante la dimensione strumentale, solo tre sono i brani cantati.Non c'è il pezzo da classifica, quindi necessita più di un ascolto per apprezzarlo. Probabilmente uno dei migliori album di Santana.

Is this Carlos Santana on lead vocals I believe? I don’t hearing Gregg Sing any lead vocals on this album ?

Unfortunately, my copy has the slight whoosh sound at the very opening of the album when the crickets are going. Not major, but at MOFI prices, I want it flawless. Mobile Fidelity has excellent customer service though and is replacing it. They also replaced a Miles Davis - My Funny Valentine I bought new that had a manufacturing defect. Always save your receipts when you buy a new vinyl, you will need it to get a replacement. They seem to be aware of the issue and go the extra mile to make it right.

To me it sounds better than Abraxas and as good as Santana on Marantz SA-KI Pearl.

Anyone else noticing a very prominent *thump sound on each rotation? It is not present in any other version of this album I have access to (speakers corner, OG Press, CD, hires files). I’m hoping it’s just my copy and can get it swapped but music direct so far has replied with “it’s supposed to be there” which I am reluctant to accept.