MoFi Electronics MasterDeck Turntable - Walnut- UltraGold MC Cartridge

An American-Made Reference Turntable from MoFi Electronics

The MoFi MasterDeck was designed by veteran analog engineer Allen Perkins, the mind behind Spiral Groove, Immedia's RPM turntables, and several SOTA models. It's assembled in limited batches at MoFi Electronics' factory in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

MasterDeck supports 33⅓, 45, and 78rpm records, with a precision trim control that lets you fine-tune playback speed for records that weren't cut precisely at a standard rate. Solid-wood framing is available in understated Black Ash or natural Walnut, both hand-finished at the factory.

This package ships with the MoFi UltraGold moving-coil cartridge factory-installed and aligned — a low-output design voiced by Allen Perkins, built in Japan around a Nude Shibata stylus and boron cantilever, producing 0.4mV and asking for a load of at least 100 ohms.

Precision Analog Engineering, Built in Michigan

A Massive Hybrid Platter and an Isolated Bearing

The 1.75-inch platter combines an aluminum structure with a Delrin record surface, together weighing 14.35 pounds. Aluminum supplies rotational mass and rigidity, while Delrin offers mechanical properties similar to vinyl for a stable, well-damped interface with the record.

An isolated, sensor-regulated motor drives the platter. It rotates on an encapsulated Spiral Groove inverted bearing engineered to minimize friction and maintain alignment under its own weight. Harmonic Resolution Systems isolation feet give the whole turntable 5.5 degrees of freedom, floating it free of floor and shelf vibration.

A Fully Adjustable 10-Inch Tonearm

MasterDeck's 10-inch tonearm combines a unipivot lateral bearing with a gimbal-design vertical bearing, both riding on synthetic sapphire and ruby. The bearings sit inside a damped carbon-fiber arm tube chosen for rigidity with low resonance.

The removable aluminum headshell and 5-to-14-gram cartridge-weight range make MasterDeck compatible with a broad selection of premium moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges. Cardas Audio wiring carries the signal. Azimuth, overhang, zenith, vertical tracking angle, tracking force, and anti-skating are all independently adjustable.

What Reviewers Are Saying

"This is a turntable that sounds as good as it looks and feels, well maybe even better, and it does look good," writes Michael Fremer for Tracking Angle, ranking MasterDeck among the finest turntables he's reviewed.

Stereophile's Ken Micallef used a Luxman LMC-5 cartridge on the MasterDeck and found it "consistently played with determined certainty, resolving everything in a recording in an altogether fresh way." His verdict: he hadn't heard a better turntable in its class.

Hi-Fi News gave the UltraGold cartridge an Outstanding Product award. Reviewer Ken Kessler called it "a hyper-modern take on classic MCs, retaining the virtues of warmth and air, but with trackability that had me looking for a 'V15' designation somewhere."

Who Is This Turntable Best For?

• You want a factory-installed reference cartridge, ready to play — the Allen-Perkins-voiced UltraGold MC arrives aligned at the factory
• You want a tonearm built for the long haul — the dual-pivot carbon-fiber design keeps every adjustment open for cartridges you add later
• You collect records cut at different speeds — 33⅓, 45, and 78rpm are all supported, with fine trim adjustment for nonstandard cuts
• Vibration control matters to your setup — HRS isolation feet, a massive hybrid platter, and an isolated bearing work together to keep noise out of the groove
• You want to build the system around the deck — MasterDeck is a turntable in its own right, and everything else is your call

How Does It Connect to Your System?

MasterDeck has no built-in phono preamp, so the UltraGold's low-output moving-coil signal needs an external phono stage with moving-coil compatibility and a load of at least 100 ohms — not a generic moving-magnet input.

Once you've matched a phono preamp to the cartridge, one RCA cable runs from the tonearm to your amplifier or receiver's phono input, or to a separate outboard phono preamp positioned close to the turntable.

Pairs Well With

Where the MasterDeck goes from here:

• Phono cartridges — the tonearm's 5-to-14-gram range keeps future cartridge upgrades open
• Phono preamplifiers — a moving-coil-capable phono stage matched to the UltraGold's low output
• Integrated amplifiers — with a phono input suited to moving-coil cartridges, or paired with a separate phono preamp
• Audio racks — a rigid, level shelf lets the HRS isolation feet and inverted bearing do their job

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the MasterDeck include a cartridge?

This package ships with the MoFi UltraGold moving-coil cartridge factory-installed and aligned, though its setup should still be verified after unpacking.

Does it have a built-in phono preamp?

It needs an external phono preamp with moving-coil compatibility and a load of at least 100 ohms to match the UltraGold cartridge — there's no phono stage built in.

Which speeds does it support?

33⅓, 45, and 78rpm, with a precision trim control for fine-tuning playback speed on nonstandard records.

Is a dust cover included?

MasterDeck ships without one, so you'll want to budget for a dust cover separately.

Can I use a different cartridge later?

Yes. The tonearm accepts cartridges weighing 5 to 14 grams, so you can move to a different moving-magnet or moving-coil design whenever you're ready.

Which finishes are available?

MasterDeck is offered in Black Ash or natural Walnut, each available with or without the UltraGold cartridge.

See It in Action

Audio Advice walks through the MasterDeck's design and engineering:

MoFi Electronics introduces the MasterDeck in its own words:

Why Audio Advisor?

• 40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we've helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.
• 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee — Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it's right for you.
• Real Experts, Real Help — Our team is here to answer your questions at 800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.
• Free Shipping — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.
• Flexible Payment Options — Financing available so you can start listening now.

Learn More

Want to learn more about turntable setup, cartridge alignment, or phono preamps? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.