Music Direct
Chicago, Illinois, United States · founded 1993
One of the largest online high-end audio and audiophile-vinyl retailers in the U.S., and unusual for a retailer in that it also owns a legendary record label (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab), an electronics brand (MoFi Electronics), and a distribution arm (MoFi Distribution) — all under founder/owner Jim Davis.
Music Direct is an independent, privately held Chicago-based audiophile retailer selling high-end headphones, home audio components (turntables, cartridges, phono stages, DACs, amplifiers, speakers), accessories, and one of the largest catalogs of audiophile vinyl LPs (11,000+ titles). Founded by Jim Davis, who remains owner and president, it grew from a one-man mail-order flyer/catalog operation into a leading multichannel high-end audio and music retailer selling online, by phone, and via an annual print catalog. Beyond retail, the company owns the iconic Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MoFi) audiophile record label, MoFi Electronics (turntables/hardware), and MoFi Distribution (U.S. importer/distributor for brands such as Wharfedale, Quad, and HiFi Rose), making it a retailer, distributor, and label under one owner.
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At a glance
- Type
- Retailer
- Founder
- Jim Davis
- Founded
- 1993
- Headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Price range
- Budget → flagship
- Makes / sells
- headphones, turntables, cartridges, phono stages, DACs, amplifiers, speakers, vinyl records, accessories
- Known for
- audiophile vinyl LPs, high-end home audio, turntables and analog playback, audiophile record label ownership (Mobile Fidelity), print catalog and mail-order heritage
- Website
- www.musicdirect.com
Notable lines
- Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MoFi) audiophile LP reissues — Owned label, sold through Music Direct; famous for high-performance remastered LPs including One-Step pressings
- MoFi Electronics turntables (e.g., UltraDeck) — In-house electronics brand launched 2016, sold via Music Direct
Carries
Sources: Music Direct — Making Our Own History (official timeline) · Music Direct — About Us · Music Direct — Headphones category · The Audio Beat — Inside Music Direct · 6moons — Phil Gold visits Music Direct · Wikipedia — Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab · Stereophile — Music Direct Buys Mobile Fidelity · Billboard — Music Direct's Jim Davis and Partners to Open Vinyl Pressing Plant