Chelsea Studios Unveils Mobile Fidelity Alliance
Mobile Fidelity Electronics (MoFi Electronics), a leader in premium home audio reproduction, and Chelsea Studios have announced a partnership to equip two distinct environments within Chelsea Studios’ state-of-the-art recording studio and event space, with each sound system meticulously curated to deliver a precise and immersive listening experience.
The two spaces have been named the Chelsea Studios HiFi Lounge Powered by Mobile Fidelity Electronics and the Chelsea Studios’ Theater located at 220 W 18th St., New York, NY 10011.
MoFi Electronics will provide studio-grade analog sound for the Chelsea Studios HiFi Lounge Powered by Mobile Fidelity Electronics to ensure a reference-level analog experience. The high-end playback setup features SourcePoint 8 Speakers driven by a Leak Stereo 230 integrated amplifier.
The vinyl source for this room is a MoFi Electronics Fender American Vintage turntable equipped with a MasterTracker cartridge. Additionally, the room will feature a selection of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab’s premium audiophile-grade reissues crafted to capture the sound of the original masters and present the music as the artist intended.
The Chelsea Studios HiFi Lounge Powered by Mobile Fidelity Electronics officially opens on October 22nd, 2026 with an exclusive invite only Rush listening party hosted by company president Jim Davis. The event celebrates Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab’s extensive, multi-year catalog reissue series dedicated to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame trio and features a discussion of the project with MoFi mastering engineer Rob LoVerde.
From 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., attendees will experience selections from the inaugural 45RPM 2LP releases of Rush and Fly By Night, alongside the A Farewell to Kings UltraDisc One-Step 2LP box set, which highlight the virtuosic musicianship and dynamic range of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart with unprecedented clarity and depth.
The collaboration extends into a second environment within the facility, shaping the audio landscape of Chelsea Studios’ Theater by featuring hand-selected MoFi Electronics, chosen to maintain an uncompromising sonic standard throughout the venue.
The high-fidelity audio system in this room includes MoFi Electronics SourcePoint V10 Master Edition speakers, a MoFi Electronics MasterDeck turntable equipped with an UltraGold cartridge, and a MoFi Electronics UltraPhono Pro phono preamp. The system is rounded out by an Audiolab Streamer Black 9000N, an Audiolab 9000A Integrated Amplifier, and a SolidSteel S2-5 audio rack.
“When I started Music Direct in the late 1980s with a $2,500 loan from my parents, my sole focus was sharing a passion for great sound,” said Jim Davis. “In 2001, when we acquired Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab out of bankruptcy, we pledged to safeguard a legacy of uncompromising audio excellence. Now, 25 years later, to have an institution like Chelsea Studios recognize and spotlight our dedication across our entire portfolio—from our MoFi Electronics hardware to the world-class MoFi vinyl from our Fidelity Record Pressing facility—is immensely gratifying and truly an honor. They have designed a fantastic space, and we are proud to provide the definitive audio landscape for their premier listening environments.”
Chris Pizzolo, Senior Director Studio Operations, said, “We pride ourselves on being a world-class facility in the heart of New York City. This partnership with Mobile Fidelity Electronics and MoFi allows us to push the boundaries in hifi-listening and reach unparalleled fidelity for vinyl and streaming in our beloved Chelsea Studios.”
ABOUT CHELSEA STUDIOS:
Chelsea Studios in New York City features three professional audio studios, an event space, and a dedicated Content Room.
The versatile studio complex offers premium spaces for recording, playback, events, and creative development. Featuring world-class rooms designed for music production, mixing, and mastering - including Dolby Atmos capabilities - each environment is equipped to support projects from conception to completion. Beyond production, the facilities host live performances, private events, workshops, and content creation, blending cutting-edge technology with an inspiring atmosphere for artists, brands, and educators alike.
Three state-of-the-art recording studios blending vintage and modern elements. Sporting vintage gear and premier outboard equipment, Chelsea is a top destination for writing, pre-production, mixing, mastering, and Atmos mixing.
ABOUT MOBILE FIDELITY ELECTRONICS:
MoFi Electronics, founded in 2014, was born from the legendary Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, which has been setting the standard for audiophile sound since 1977. While Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab revolutionized the world of high-fidelity music with its half-speed mastered vinyl and renowned “Original Master Recording” series, MoFi Electronics extends this legacy by designing premium turntables, speakers, and components that bring the artist’s intent directly to your home.
ABOUT MOBILE FIDELITY SOUND LAB:
Renowned for its commitment to uncompromising quality and preserving the artist’s original intent, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab makes the world’s best-sounding vinyl LPs and Super Audio CDs (SACD). Founded as Mobile Fidelity by Brad Miller in 1958 as a record label focused on releasing original recordings of steam trains, locomotives, field sounds, and orchestral pieces, it evolved into Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab in 1977 when it pivoted into reissuing significant mainstream albums.
Having pioneered the concept of audiophile reissues, the imprint has released the definitive versions of many of the greatest albums in history — a practice which continues amid a growing catalog that encompasses more than 650 releases.
Photos of the Chelsea Studios HiFi Lounge
www.mofielectronics.com
www.chelseastudiosnyc.com
www.mofi.com
www.musicdirect.com
www.fidelityrecordpressing.com
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Good vs. Evil
The Battle For The Soul of King Russ-ankhamun: A Masonic Tale
The Battle For The Soul of King Russ-ankhamun: A Masonic Tale begins buried deep within the mysterious, clandestine world of Freemasonry, the causal descendent of the Egyptian mystery religions. Rumors have persisted for centuries that the Freemasons were also in possession of a great secret. Tonight, one such secret was about to be reborn!
It has long been known that Gothic Masonic Temples and Cathedrals contain an ancient Pagan wisdom hidden in their architecture. This wisdom, which predates Christianity, was placed by the operative Freemasons, builders commissioned by the Church to create cathedrals, churches, and other edifices. But look carefully, because sometimes you do not have to look twice to see those that should remain hidden!
King Russ-ankhamun, sometimes mis-pronounced as King Complete Twat-Unknown, is a pharaoh from the 18th Dynasty. He reigned during 1319-1323 BCE and his first journey to kingship started as a vizier to Akhenaten and Tutankhamun (King Tut); but ended abruptly. Cast out, a third degree Mason stepped aside and on this night back in time, King Russ-ankhamun was entombed instead. Rumors persist today that someone wished to usurp the throne and so plotted his death; but entombing was a lot cheaper!
However, one dark, windswept night in late 2014, everything changed. Into the tomb of King Russ-ankhamun entered an Apprentice and Fellow Craft degrees. Mechanically, and in lock-step with each other, they proved to the principal officers present with the proper signs, grips, and words, they were ready to begin the Rise. Working Tools of the degree to hand, the crypt underneath the floor was prized open, the chants that had rung around the room suddenly diminished.
Once King Russ-ankhamun had felt the air, breathed into his lungs the sweet amber nectar of the year 2014, he knew he had been raised to a figurative new birth. All those gathered around him also knew they were witnessing something that nobody would ever believe; that nobody would ever witness in their own lifetimes. Something that nobody in the room would survive!
As the crypt cover was moved to the side, a claw-like hand emerged from the darkness into the light. The pagan religion of Egypt was about to be released upon the world, once more.
Now fully reborn, King Russ-ankhamun, free from the bonds that had him lying in State, faced the last to survive, The Worshipful Master. Assuming the position known as the five points of fellowship, he knelt before his King. It is there that he revealed that The Devil, The Angel and The Trickster were all about them. His last words spoken, King Russ-ankhamun devoured his soul in one, turned, and then with a sweeping step, retook his rightful place on his Throne.
With the Worshipful Masters warning that The Devil, The Angel and The Trickster were now among them, in a battle to claim / redeem his soul, King Russ-ankhamun smiled in smug content. But, deep within the confines of The House of King Russ-ankhamun, one of the Knights Templar, sent from France years before, long since having left the Order; and a huge fan of WWE, lay hidden. Awakening to the rebirth of the King, it was he, and he alone who had brought forth both The Devil and The Angel into present day.
Upon his rightful Throne, always at one with himself, King Russ-ankhamun felt the cooling breeze of change, but did not notice the sinister appearance of both The Devil and The Angel to either side of him. Transfixed on his own being, alive to only the fact that he was indeed reborn, The Devil and The Angel quietly went about their work.
The explanation of the age-old saying, The Devil on our left shoulder, The Angel on our right now for all to see, it was not long before King Russ-ankhamun sensed The Devils presence and began to have some Devilish fun! Having stumbled across an old VHS tape of some 1970s bawdy British comedy entitled Benny Hill in his Spanking Chambers, King Russ-ankhamun assumed the chosen Hill Position!
But it is not long before The Angel finds them both and suddenly both she and The Devil are locked in a massive battle to own the soul of King Russ-ankhamun. Back and forth, forth and back, the struggle is immense, and much in the same vein as the upcoming Batman vs. Superman, the battle of Good vs. Evil was very draining [hence, an empty swimming pool - no, oh well, please yourselves!]
But King Russ-ankhamun broke free from the clutches of both The Devil and The Angel and went about his daily ritual - the sacrifice of a goose! The reason? Well, with the four existing Masonic Lodges that reigned supreme at the time of King Russ-ankhamuns reign, they had always gathered at the Goose Pub in Alexandria. Hence, after King Russ-ankhamuns reign was ended, he vowed to sacrifice a goose every day upon his resurrection. But even with the horrible act unfolding before them, The Devil and The Angel still fight to garner his soul.
With neither The Devil or The Angel seemingly winning the battle for the soul of King Russ-ankhamun, The Trickster appeared. The Trickster, who in mythology and religion is usually a god, goddess, spirit, man, woman, or anthropomorphic animal who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge, was obviously none of those here! Standing at barely five feet tall, The Trickster (known in past lives as Build-A-Boat) was crafty, for sure, but not seemingly fast enough to catch King Russ-ankhamun.
But The Trickster was not one to give up easily! He had already chased King Russ-ankhamun up spiral staircases, over bridges, across deserts, through a film set, across the back of a Silver Sea Dragon, and now they found themselves locked in a baton relay down a sinister, ghoulish corridor. It was then, as the King turned to face his destiny, that The Tricksters right hand slowly turned invisible and grabbed the King mid-stride!
Now, and with the help of The Devil, they both had cornered King Russ-ankhamun in his Jungle Room! A pair of Gothic Silver Spears, their ends dipped in improperly stored poisonous substances, now poised themselves but inches from King Russ-ankhamuns head and torso! The King knew this was not the best case scenario immediately after a rebirth, but remained as catatonic as possible! Indeed, it was time for a conscience-raising experience!
But before the conscience-raising experience could evolve, well, forget old conspiracy theories about snake bites, fatal poisons, and five ex-wives, King Russ-ankhamun was about to be taken by The Devil! Her nemesis, The Angel begged her Lord above to spare him. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, The Trickster froze the proceedings!
With the click of his shiny heels, the lights went out, and when they came back on, well, The Trickster had decided that he was going to have some fun himself! With everything in The Jungle Room now static, on hold, no decisions to be made, King Russ-ankhamun was left alone, whilst The Trickster grabbed both The Devil and The Angel. Taking them both back to the Kings very own Spanking Chambers, he now had his very own moment of pleasure!
After the Spanking Chambers ordeal was over, you would have thought that The Devil would have been upset with The Trickster. Far from it. For she had been using The Trickster all along, just like a puppeteer uses strings on a puppet to manipulate, and yet entertain. Or, in this case, The Devil had been using a childrens toy to get inside the head of The Trickster! But why had The Devil done this and allowed The King to escape?
With King Russ-ankhamun now free from the Jungle Room, the Silver Spears no longer holding him back, The Devils dagger no longer poised above his heart, he knew that if his reign was to be successful in 2014, that he had to get to distant shores. Shores way more distant then those of the Detroit River! So, acknowledging the existence of The Angel, she brought him a boat, in which they sailed off into the unknown.
But as they slowly made their way down the river, King Russ-ankhamun felt a fiery hot sensation on the back of his neck!
Now having reached his destination, King Russ-ankhamun was finally at Peace. Incorporating all the foundations of spiritual practices, his inner state of well-being and calm were balanced; his conscience-raising experience in full flow. But, as he gazed out into the dark abyss, he wondered where his rebirth was to have taken him?
Was he now in Heaven? Was it Purgatory? Was it Hell? Or could it be ... Las Vegas?!
To be continued in the eagerly awaited sequel:
The High Rollin’ Knights of King Russ-ankhamun: A Vegas Tale
King Russ-ankhamun - Russell A. Trunk
The Trickster - Jan Vanderziel
The Angel - Marianne Widmalm
The Devil - Trish Trytan
CGI by: Jan Vanderziel
Photography by: Jan Vanderziel & Trish Trytan
Produced by: Russell A. Trunk & Jan Vanderziel
Screenplay by: Russell A. Trunk, Jan Vanderziel & Marianne Widmalm
Directed by: Russell A. Trunk, Jan Vanderziel, Marianne Widmalm & Trish Trytan
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