The Steely Dan Aja UHQR is making big waves in the audiophile vinyl community!
In this video, I have a listen to five different pressings of this audiophile classic.
The Steely Dan Aja UHQR is an all analog mastering done from a non EQ tape copy by the original mastering engineer Bernie Grundman. It is pressed at Chad Kassem's Quality Record Pressing on 200 gm Clarity Vinyl, and housed in a beautiful high gloss Stoughton gatefold jacket. All UHQR releases come in the signature dowel spine slipcase with gold embellishments and inset artwork. This edition is numbered and limited to 30,000 copies.
I have had Oswaldo Martinez of Let There Be Sound provide hi resolution audio files for two songs from each version under review. These are best downloaded and heard over your own system or with headphones. There is allso a link to a video of Black Cow playing through seamlessly from one version to the next. I hope you enjoy this shootout. I know I loved revisiting this audiophile masterpiece, with its excellent songs, musicianship and production.
Thank you to Oswaldo for hosting the first part of the shootout and for providing the OG AB and Canadian pressings. Youll find his system listed below.
Aja UHQR Files:
www.dropbox.co...
Aja Cisco Files
www.dropbox.co...
Aja US AB Files
www.dropbox.co...
Aja MFSL Files
www.dropbox.co...
Aja Canadian Limited Edition Coloured Vinyl Files
www.dropbox.co...
Oswaldo's Video AB for Black Cow:
• THE GREAT STEELY DAN A...
Let There Be Sound System:
• VPI HW-40 Anniversary Direct Drive (turntable)
• Black Goldline (moving coil cartridge)
• ModWright PH9.0T (tube phono stage)
• Herron Audio VTSP-360 ESP Reference (tube line stage)
• Prima Luna EVO 400 (tube stereo amp)
• System Audio Legend 60.2 (full range loudspeakers)
• Isotek Aquarius V5 (A/C line conditioner)
• Assorted Nordost cables
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Reference System
-Basis 1400 Turntable
-Rega RB300 Tone Arm
-Audio Technica AT33EV MC Cartridge
-Hana SL ML Cartridge
-ModWright PH 9.0 Tube Phono Pre
-Cayin A-50T Integrated Tube Amplifier
-Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 Loudspeaker
-Magnapan MMG
-Tributaries Series 8 Interconnect
-Herron Audio Interconnect Cable
-Definitive Technology ProSound Sub
-JM Labs Cobalt 816 (for this video)
-Soundstring Tricomaxial Speaker Cable
‪@acousticsoundsks‬