Literally one of the finest rock albums ever from start to finish!! The different singers and killer lyrics still sound so fresh. I'm thankful my rock loving dad turned me onto this band and album. 🤘

That’s a beautiful thing that you have your dad’s copy. I got one that was my late uncle’s. Sadly it was in bad shape. I got the UHQR today. I’ll listen to it this evening. I can’t wait.

Great video, Steve. I'm glad to hear it. That's the version I plan to get - along with the forthcoming SACD from AP.

Excellent review, straight and to the point. Keep doing what your doing.

Thanks. Can’t wait to hear the comparison to UHQR

Received my copy Saturday and it’s quiet and flawless! Steve, Canada rocks! You must be proud! The Canadian pressing plant will revival the US! 😊 I did a comparison with my original US 1972 copy and it’s pretty close. My original though has a little more punch. But now I have a nice quiet fresh 2022 Bernie Grundman/Canadian press! I am very happy with this new edition and I only paid $25.99 on Amazon! Great video Steve! ❤

Enjoyed the video my friend.... Great presentation of this 🤘✌️

CORRECTION: was not a DSD file but a high res PCM file sent to AA mastering

What’s interesting to us Apple Music subs is that the previous 16/44.1 version of CBAT has been replaced by a new 24/192 Apple digital master version. The original was still available for awhile, so I was able to an A/B comparison. The 16/44.1 was 5 DBs louder, according to my volume control on my AVR. (Sound check is off on my Apple TV) Bottom line, the new version rocks.

i just got this and am really pleased with it, too! (I just bought a turntable last week and can't see myself spending another 150 for the UHQR version lol). Can't wait to hear the rest of the catalogue hopefully soon. (I'm just getting into Steely Dan and this seems to be the best way).

Where it started for me, hearing Reelin' in the Years on UK radio, rushing out to buy the album. A lifetime's listening, finally seeing them in London 2009.

I posted this on another channel this morning…. What I found with my $25 UME copy is it’s pretty close to the OG. It is a bit louder. It does have more instrument separation and wider sound stage. Very, very happy. I can’t see paying 7 times more money for what would amount to possibly negligible subtleties. My copy is quiet also. $175 all in for the UHQR just isn’t rational with the UME version available. I have UHQR’s and One Steps. So it’s not just about the price. It’s all things considered. ☮️

Thanks Steve, awesome review I'm waiting for my copy to arrive to Costa Rica . Yours is my current favorite channel on the VC , keep the good work mate

Good to know people have a good sounding option at a low cost. I believe AP will also release a standard 2xLP 45 rpm version after all the UHQR’s are released. Good time to be a SD fan.

Thanks Steve. I must just have a noisier press than most others on the leading groove and between tracks. Going to do some cart realignments today double check but the AP is dead quiet on the same TT. Glad you too heard the cut as being a bit louder than OG. And I have the UHQR now and it is a more tame db experience. AP has better details evident and I don’t think it’s the same exact mastering selections by BG as he used an Re-6 (7th lacquer) on Side A and Re-3 (4th lacquer) for sides B, C and D. I would bet BG used tape notes to cut first lacquer and that’s what Universal got. Then BG started tweaking on Chad’s $ for his improvements. Again, my guess as it doesn’t make sense the $30 digital would be getting AP’s mastering taste baked into their file. You said it was DSD and I’ve seen only “Hi-res” file stated. And the download Hi-Res is 192 and a person I trust did A-B of digital cut to the download and said they’re exactly the same.

Thanks for the review. I wasn't planning to purchase this mainly because I can't really afford the AP cost. But then I heard about the cheaper version with the DSD file and was glad to learn about it. Sure I would prefer all analog but I just can't afford that right now.. I am curious what you think of the AP copy once you review it. But I'm pretty sure I'm going to be just fine with my $25 copy off of Amazon. I went ahead and ordered it today. I literally didn't hear of the cheaper release until just a few days ago haha. Thanks again for the review! Brian in Fort Worth 🎶

I compared this to my 1974 US pressing and I was amazed how good the 2022 sounded in comparison. I was also pleased on seeing the record was clean, flat and perfect so kudos to GZ for a quality disc. The 22' has more fuller Bass and is a tiny bit louder than the 74', both have have a detailed top end and overall great sound stage and instrument separation. The Vocals/Guitars are slightly warmer on the 74' and on the 22' they are clearer this might be due to one being all analogue and the other digital or just a mastering discission? I highly recommend the new 22' it sounds awesome but if you have a original it is not necessary to buy the new they are on equal status sound wise for me.

Wholeheartedly agree with everything you said. At 30$ this is a steel. So pleased with this pressing. Thanks.

Hi Steve! I bought the 30 dollar version of this great album it’s a wonderful remaster by Bernie! A very quiet sound very dynamic too. This has to be the same remastered as the 150 copy. So I am happy with my new copy can hear the drums better with the cymbals! And I have a 1972 ABC copy too! So now I have both! Have a wonderful day! Steve

Whole heartedly agree with the "earlybird" digital master lp. Love it.

Nice Review!

Excellent analysis Steve; made me order one even though I just spun the UHQR, and loved it, last night. It will be interesting to compare them. Keep up the good work saving the world from bad sound! 🙂

Amazon only shipped mine out today! I guess they send KZfaqrs copies first lol (kidding). I am looking forward to it. I recently got a Aja OG USA copy and it sounds fabulous so I cannot imagine an improvement when that one comes out!

Always appreciate your earnest efforts on your videos mate! 👍 And, it is great to hear that the recent Canadian pressing sounds very good. I do have other albums that were pressed at Precision and they do sound excellent. If you don't mind my saying though, I KNOW you are polite and most definitely Canadian 😊 But Bro, it's almost like you are afraid to REALLY specify the differences and your preference. You are *SO* vague and general that to be totally honest, it makes it harder for us to understand when you say, 'If you have the original, then great. If you have the 50th Canadian pressing, then great' I truly am not left with very much of a definitive and CLEAR understanding of exactly what you liked better on which album. All I can gather is don't bother with the expensive Speakers Corner, obviously, but forgive me for saying but you were like SO damn polite like you didn't want to say ANYTHING negative about anything 😁 So, perhaps if I may humbly suggest that you please try to be just BIT more specific. You don't have to say necessarily that something is 'Bad', but what you COULD do is simply state that 'in your opinion' you feel that such and such is better than such and such. Or, I personally liked this and that a little better than the other pressing; I hope you don't mind my saying this, but I WANT to be able to look forward to your 'shootouts' and KNOW that I will be coming away with something a little more definitive and helpful. Thanks Bro!

Thanks, Steve! Great review! I was wondering... do you think it's possible that AP sent Universal a different cut... since they did over half a dozen... and saved the best cut for the UHQR?

I pre-ordered the sacd, I got a email from acoustic sounds that said it's released date along with the other sacds have been delayed.

Great review! Please understand that the Canadian ABC original was probably cut at RCA in Canada, unlike the black label US ABC original, which I have no idea who did it, but sounds amazing.

UHQR Clarity vinyl is AAA....no digital in the middle. Geffen is ADA. Big difference

I have a 1st pressing Canada ABC dynaflex as well as a 2nd press Canada ABC. There is a difference to my ears. The 1st press dynaflex sounds better than the second pressing. But both Original Canadian pressings sound very good. Great music with great audio sound. Have heard some great things about these new pressings though for sure. Cheers.

Great review Steve! So my understanding is that Speakers Corner cuts from what they have available, so they could be using an EU production tape, with difference Bass EQ. Did you find the bass there “bloated”? Or just super prominent? My UHQR arrives today, I believe I’ll A/B with my Quadraphonic 8-track 😜

Deny Dias, man, he has never failed on a Dan album..

Most MOFI editions are ADA with DSD files. They are putting this on the description of their releases and are DSD..not PCM.

On sale for $26 right now

Have you heard the Command-ABC QS Quadraphonic version? Clarity vinyl is not nor ever has been 'pin-drop' quiet. You can't completely silence the sound of the friction created by the stylus playing through the groove. Different record pressing companies use different vinyl formula mixes. PRC is hit and miss. The PRC pressing will definitely have more surface noise. Different vinyl formula mixes produce different sounds, which can be heard especially in the 'silent' sections of a record. This is evident in comparing both the Rainbo and Optimal Media pressings of the Beatles "Stereo Box". Rainbo used a much better quality of vinyl than what Optimal Media used. The Rainbo pressings have noticeably less surface noise. There are too many 'he said, she said' opinions out there by people who have never A-B'd the 2 different pressings and/or who have never heard both.

Steve you had me until... "Its a digital cut, didnt have that warm feeling" No offense, but really wish you guys would start doing blind tests and stop with confirmation bias on this digital vs aaa. Too bad about the weird Geffen label. That just doesnt look right, does it? I bet this is comparable to the AP in sound quality. Im looking forward to hearing actual evidence online with some blind test vinyl rip comparison samples of the original, the 33.3, speakers corner and the AP UHQR. That will be the real determinator IMO. And cutting is part of mastering. The other guy most likely had to make some moves that will affect the sound differently than the UHQR. Im sure it sounds similar though to the UHQR. We shall see.

I see no big deal with records pressed using a digital source as long as it's done right. I'm taking its faster and cheaper for the labels to use digital files instead of going with production tapes these days.

Got my $30 copy yesterday - sounds great! They were starting with a masterpiece, so they a head start. This is the only SD album I like, I actually can't stand anything else they have released. MY God, do I hate "Rikki Don't Lose That Number." No hype sticker on mine either. Appreciate your in depth breakdown.

I will wait for the 33.1/3 AP pressings 45rpm I had enough of album's being interrupted by flipping to know it's not for me.. Also $265 price tag shipping 🚢 to Australia 🇦🇺 😀 The UHQR is no longer a viable alternative option for Australian collectors in this economy 😊

DSD? You sure? Most digital records are cut from PCM files (eg 24/96, etc.). Not contesting, just questioning.

Yeah $30? It will do just fine.

I have a copy in the basement with no cover I will listen $30 vs $250 Bernie is the man but big bucks just sayin

Lol Canadian bacon!!! So great

What has Bernie the original was excellent excellent I have two copies. I wouldn’t spend the extra money for a Bernie analog DSD. The original is pristine and perfect and the spend 100 bucks plus for this. It’s not God it’s not a Maserati it’s not a Ferrari come on guys this is our hobby don’t make somebody rich because we enjoy vinyl that’s what’s in Fortuna today under $200 and I’ve spent that much on an album. I have the money but most of us don’t and it’s a waste, what are you gonna plant 50 times before you pass on and your wife no one knows what it’s worth come on. This is a hobby guys let’s be realistic anyhow enjoy the music guys.

Why would you think this was mastered from a DSD file???

Yes $30 is okay but not $150 +

I am more worried about some of this new "enhancement" using digital techniques. First thought is those early films that are on youtube after being digitally enhanced and colorized. Then maybe the digital tech is more subtle than that but still worried about deep fakes of music. That is why I like to find nice original pressings. Warts and all. The authentic experience.