Meet the MoFi MasterTracker
The MoFi MasterTracker is the flagship of MoFi Electronics' Tracker line of moving magnet cartridges. MoFi Electronics is the hardware division of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, the American audiophile label, so this is a cartridge developed by people who have spent decades listening closely to records. The MasterTracker is designed to deliver the detail and dynamics of the format while remaining an easy fit for a wide range of tonearms.
Design and technology
The MasterTracker is a moving magnet (MM) design, which means it works with the common and widely available MM phono input rather than requiring a specialized moving coil stage. It uses a nude elliptical diamond stylus mounted on an aluminum cantilever. A nude diamond, meaning the stylus is a single piece rather than a tip bonded to a metal shank, keeps the moving mass low so the stylus can respond quickly and trace the fine modulations in the groove with precision.
Its output voltage is approximately 3.0mV, a healthy MM level that mates comfortably with standard MM inputs. Recommended tracking force is approximately 2.0 grams, and mounting uses the standard half inch spacing found on virtually all tonearms. The stylus is replaceable, so when the diamond eventually wears you can renew the cartridge without starting over.
Performance character
As the top of the Tracker MM range, the MasterTracker aims for clean high frequency extension, articulate detail, and confident tracking through demanding passages. The nude elliptical profile digs into the groove for resolution that lets voices and instruments sound present and defined, while the moving magnet architecture keeps the presentation full bodied and forgiving to set up. It is a cartridge built to make well recorded records sound engaging rather than clinical.
Where it sits in the range
Within MoFi's Tracker family of moving magnet cartridges, the MasterTracker is the top model. If your goal is to get the most out of the Tracker line without moving to a moving coil design, this is the one to reach for. Because it is a standard MM with a healthy output and a replaceable stylus, it is also a very practical flagship to live with day to day.
Ideal system and use case
The MasterTracker is a natural match for a quality belt drive turntable and a phono stage with a good MM input. It suits the listener who wants a resolving, dynamic cartridge that still installs and dials in easily, and who values the wide selection and easy replacement that moving magnet ownership brings.
Turntables to mount it on
The MasterTracker mounts on MoFi turntables and other standard tonearms. On the MoFi side, the MoFi UltraDeck is an excellent home for it, pairing the cartridge with a Delrin platter and a precision gimbal tonearm. Stepping up, the MoFi MasterDeck Reference offers a more ambitious platform if you want to give the cartridge the quietest possible foundation. The MoFi PrecisionDeck Fender Limited Edition is another distinctive option in the MoFi lineup. Some MoFi decks ship without a cartridge, which makes the MasterTracker a purposeful addition when you want to choose your own.
If you prefer a standard tonearm on another belt drive design, the Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN is a fully manual belt drive deck that accepts a standard half inch cartridge. Direct drive fans can look at the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB or the AT-LP120XBT-USB, both of which take standard cartridges as well.
Phono stages with an MM input
Because the MasterTracker is a moving magnet, you need a phono stage with an MM input to make it sing. The MoFi UltraPhono Pro is a balanced MM and MC phono preamplifier developed with Peter Madnick, and it is a sensible, well matched partner for the MasterTracker in a system built around the UltraDeck. If you are assembling a reference level analog front end, the MoFi MasterPhono offers an extensive adjustable loading range and would be right at home alongside the MasterDeck.
How it compares to other cartridges we carry
The MasterTracker's peers in the moving magnet world each have their own design goals. The Audio-Technica AT-VM760xSL is a special line MM cartridge with its own stylus profile and voicing, while the Ortofon 2M Bronze premounted with SH 4 headshell and the Ortofon 2M Bronze Verso represent the well known 2M approach, the latter with its reversed body geometry. If you are open to moving coil and have a stage that supports it, the Ortofon MC Quintet Blue and the Ortofon MC X20 take a different path to detail. The MasterTracker's appeal is that it keeps you in easy MM territory with a replaceable stylus while sitting at the top of MoFi's own Tracker line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MoFi MasterTracker?
The MoFi MasterTracker is the flagship of MoFi Electronics' Tracker line of moving magnet cartridges. MoFi Electronics is the hardware division of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, the American audiophile label, so this is a cartridge developed by people who have spent decades listening closely to records. The MasterTracker is designed to deliver the detail and dynamics of the format while remaining an easy fit for a wide range of tonearms.
How is the MoFi MasterTracker designed and built?
The MasterTracker is a moving magnet (MM) design, which means it works with the common and widely available MM phono input rather than requiring a specialized moving coil stage. It uses a nude elliptical diamond stylus mounted on an aluminum cantilever.
How does the MoFi MasterTracker perform?
As the top of the Tracker MM range, the MasterTracker aims for clean high frequency extension, articulate detail, and confident tracking through demanding passages. The nude elliptical profile digs into the groove for resolution that lets voices and instruments sound present and defined, while the moving magnet architecture keeps the presentation full bodied and forgiving to set up.
Where does the MoFi MasterTracker sit in the range?
Within MoFi's Tracker family of moving magnet cartridges, the MasterTracker is the top model. If your goal is to get the most out of the Tracker line without moving to a moving coil design, this is the one to reach for. Because it is a standard MM with a healthy output and a replaceable stylus, it is also a very practical flagship to live with day to day.
Who is the MoFi MasterTracker best suited to?
The MasterTracker is a natural match for a quality belt drive turntable and a phono stage with a good MM input. It suits the listener who wants a resolving, dynamic cartridge that still installs and dials in easily, and who values the wide selection and easy replacement that moving magnet ownership brings.
How does the MoFi MasterTracker compare to the alternatives?
The MasterTracker's peers in the moving magnet world each have their own design goals. The Audio-Technica AT-VM760xSL is a special line MM cartridge with its own stylus profile and voicing, while the Ortofon 2M Bronze premounted with SH 4 headshell and the Ortofon 2M Bronze Verso represent the well known 2M approach, the latter with its reversed body geometry.
Come listen
AEA is an authorized MoFi Electronics dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so reach out and let us arrange a listen or help match the MasterTracker to your turntable and phono stage.