Michael Jackson – Off The Wall

I compared the first European CD release from 1986 with this SACD, and the SACD beats it by a mile. It doesn't sound as harsh in the highs and has a much warmer bass. I'd say Off the Wall has never sounded so funky and natural. The slapping bass rips through my ears. A perfect release.

Just superb!

Excellent detail, sound stage and overall tonal presentation.

I can’t use the DSD layer but bought this knowing the CD layer used the same audio/mastering as the DSD layer.

Ripped the CD layer to my NAS and it shows once again that with great mastering how good 16/44.1 (CD) can be when done well.

Sure I’d prefer this in Hi Res LPCM but more than happy with the CD layer.

This SACD is as good, if not slightly better than the 45rpm vinyl cut. Hard to believe it’s taken over 40 years to get a properly remastered edition of this groundbreaking album. Kudos MOFI. 💫🙌🏻

B a si c a l l y qobuz files

This SACD is a joy to listen to. It's very smooth, great stereo effects, lots of little nuances to delight your ears. Well worth the purchase!

There's a lot of high-definition sound and the stereo separation is good. It has a poster-type booklet.

Sounds great, i have not compared to my early usa copy but do not hesitate to go out and get one of these before they are gone. Numbers are expected to be much lower than Thriller was….

Before I do a proper review of this version, which I now consider to be the best version of them all, I must clarify 3 things:
- This release does not have the original mixes of "Rock with You" and "Get on the floor". Might be an issue to some, especially to some "purists" who like the og mixes of those 2 songs, but for me it isn't a problem at all.
- This release, while being quiet (dynamic range-wise), has lower DR in some songs when compared to the 1.st japanese press cd (i.e. OG CD 15DR in "Don't stop 'til you get enough", 12DR in this new SACD). It's not a game changer because, like I said, it's still pretty quiet. But people can be nitpicky in this regard.
- I'm an audiophile, but also an MJ fan since I was 8 years old (currently 23yo), so I know Off the wall and Thriller like the back of my hand.

I cannot put into words how AMAZING the entire album sounds to my ears. I've been listening to "Off the wall" using the 1.st japanese cd press as my reference because of how good it just sounded, even though the recording took place in 1978-1979. Other versions (especially the remasters) sounded way too loud to my ears and lacked details and dynamism.

However, this new SACD (and well deserved, thank you so much MoFi) made me feel like if I were listening to this album for the very first time; it really took me back and made me feel the joy that it produces me even to this day. What did they do exactly? Well, they polished nuances and details that were originally pretty detailed at the begining, but now they took them beyond those limits. It sounds so crisp; crystal clear! We've got amazing mid range and treble without being harsh. The low end is neutral at its finest. It's the right amount of bass to feel the micro details in every note, but not too weak to say "uhm, something's missing". Once again, the bass in this release being neutral may turn out in a complain/issue for a lot of people, especially considering the fact that they follow the golden rule of this album being "fun, meant to be danceable", bot god damn, MoFi outdid themselves (once again) with this release. They didn't disappoint when they worked on Thriller, neither on Off The Wall.

IMO, one of the songs that I wasn't very fond with was "Get of the floor". It had the groove, but I could never make a connection with that song. MoFi SOMEHOW made me love the song. It's such a bliss and delight to listen to it in this release. It makes you start dancin' right away! "She's out of my life" is more intimate, yet even more powerful with how crystal clear Michael sounds. In some songs, like the opener "Don't stop 'til you get enough", in the original press of the album, his voice sounded a bit nasal due to his falsetto. However, you don't feel it like that anymore on this version! He sounds so natural, and the separation, imaging and soundstage really makes it shine (just like the entire album).