Label Guide: MFSL

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL) is an audiophile reissue label, started in 1977. It portrays itself as "the undisputed pioneer and leader in audiophile recordings since the company's inception." MFSL albums are released under the trademark name 'Original Master Recording' and are usually sourced from first-generation tape analog master recordings through highly specialized equipment. Each title is licensed from the original record company for a limited period of time and production runs are usually restricted to a few thousand units each.

MFSL was the first record company to make Half-speed Mastering a standard practice for all of its LP releases. MFSL LPs are pressed from disc lacquers cut at 1/2 normal playing speed. This was not a new concept however. The UK Decca Records label had used the same process on many stereo classical music LP releases between 1958 and 1967.

Early MFSL titles were pressed by JVC in Japan on a proprietary plastic compound called SuperVinyl, a harder and more durable vinyl than traditional formulas. These pressings exhibit a very low surface noise, as well as fewer pops and clicks. SuperVinyl remains a proprietary JVC technology, but production of this material was discontinued in the late 1980s.

In around 1988 JVC closed its LP manufacturing plant in Japan and MFSL was forced to end its LP releases. In 1994 MFSL built its own LP manufacturing facility in the United States and resumed LP production. The company is still active today.