Steely Dan UHQR

I believe it is a "Limited Edition" of 30,000 pressings!

I just received the UHQR Aja, and it sounds amazing! Dead silent background, stellar clarity and definition, and the Steve Gadd drum solos have that live impact that makes you sit up and take notice. A reference pressing for me.

I ordered it last week; should be showing up any day. This is the kind of thing I've been wanting to hear since I upgraded my speakers a few months ago.

'Aja' was like an 'audiophile' recording when it came out. Another great audiophile-quality recording from a few years later I was listening to the other night was ABC's 'Lexicon of Love', with its epic production by Trevor Horn. I'd like to hear THAT on a double-45. I hope Chad gives it a listen some day.

@rbertalotto - do keep in mind that this has sold many millions of copies worldwide over the decades. 30,000 is a drop in the bucket compared to that. 

After purchasing this album so many times at $1 price tag in near-new condition, I doubt that $150 will justify even for UHQR.

The point of this post is that those $1 pressings were done with compromise to audio quality so they would play on a cheap turntable. Does this mean that a CD of the same album could easily sound better just because it does not need to be compromised?

"He talks about how they had to modify the sound of albums in the past so they would play on crappy turntables"

Really?  That sounds like a lot of marketing BS to me.  We didn't have quality TT and cartridges when Aja was recorded?  Color me cynical.  

We didn't have quality TT and cartridges when Aja was recorded?  Color me cynical.  

I've heard this comment about having to cut the discs for the majority of playback equipment a few times in the past. Many of us might have had Audiophile turntables and cartridges but most didn't......And "Most" did the majority of buying albums.....

Here is a VERY interesting review of this Aja release and a few digital downloads if you would like to play along

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrpTT7Yo6dI

Goodgrief...

Aja again?!

Everyone just needs to pony up, get a proper table/ phonostage and spend $3 bucks on a AB 1006 stamper at Goodwill.

CBT,CTE,PL ...Katy Lied and Royal Scam.

There is more to SD than Aja and...Gaucho.

The point of this post is that those $1 pressings were done with compromise to audio quality so they would play on a cheap turntable.

that is so delusional... 

AB 1006 stamper is sounding  PERFECT on both pricey and cheap equipment. The dynamic range I bet can even be larger than UHQR version. Paying $150 for pop music record released in tens of millions copies is definitely gullible. 

There is more to SD than Aja and...Gaucho.

Bite your tongue!!! 

+1 tablejockey, recommending AB 1006 stamper.

I ordered the sacd and I preorder Gaucho uhqr.

I listened to the entire interview, and while there was a reference to TT's, I don't believe he was saying they tuned down the quality due to poor quality equipment.  He said they didn't go to extremes and produce a groove that was only readable by the very top end of audiophile equipment.  I would think that philosophy would hold true on this latest re issue as well?  In fact, he seemed to be putting more emphasis on producing a master that sounded best on his speakers, compared to the bookshelf speakers being used by Fagen/Becker?  In the end, it's mining the archives to squeeze out every dollar possible.  My existing copies on vinyl and CD sound great.  If the latest and greatest version makes you happy, that's all that matters.  

I don't believe he was saying they tuned down the quality due to poor quality equipment.  He said they didn't go to extremes and produce a groove that was only readable by the very top end of audiophile equipment. 

Sounds like different way of saying the same thing......

I had already moved on from Steely Dan by the time Aja was released but it got radio play and was a demo record back in the day. I always found it dry sounding, and the Cisco cut even more arid. Does the horn on Deacon Blues really wail like it should on this latest version? I have great respect for Bernie, going back to his days at A&M, but I'm not really a buyer of classic rock warhorses these days. I did buy good copies of their entire catalog a decade and a half ago but have gotten out of the habit of yet another "better" copy-- I guess if this record is important to you, you should have it. I kind of stopped back in the day with Countdown and have a children's blocks copy from the old days; did buy the Chad UHQR but I doubt it will get any more play than the old copy. 

Let’s why Digital is leading the way ,records are so limited 

by putting = amount into good digital such as theT+A200 dac , LPS power supplies and quality cables there is so much more flexibility ,tuning, and frequency response 

records 12.5 bits Max vs true 20 bit, and digital keeps progressing. 
and Quobuz Millions of choices to save or pick from your tablet, 

turntables worst certainly can sound great but takes a lot of time and $$ monies .

that’s from someone who had well over a $15k setup.

That’s good news that they say they finally got it right.  It only took 45 years and a much bigger price tag I guess. 

Meanwhile all these high end demos using that record have been deficient all these  years it would seem.  
 

Go figure!   A congressional investigation might be in order for this level of incompetence.  

Man! I am so fed up with this BS about how, back in the day, they had to

"modify the sound of albums in the past so they would play on crappy turntables and how this album, at 45rpm, is designed for the best turntables and cartridges."

This is the same argument people keep making about why the Tone Poets reissues MUST be better than any Van Gelder version. Meanwhile every one of those I hear is easily demolished by a half-way decent RVG.

If this UHQR of Aja comes anywhere close to the better early pressings of this album I'll be absolutely astonished.

So, I just had to look. In my stacks I currently have three copies of this record with the AB 1006 stamper. One is a yellow wax version. One is a really clean (looking) regular wax version and #3 is also very nice in regular wax. Completely forgot about the yellow one. I may have to see how they compare. Been awhile on this one. Not spending much on records these days. definitely not $150.00.

It’s good… as mentioned, probably one of the most silent pressings I’ve ever heard. Is it better than a really good version of the original? Tough call. I’ve got one, fantastic pressing. Back to back, I’d probably go to the original. If anything, the new version sounds a little too “clean” IMO. Still excellent overall. The packaging is first class.

I have my original LP and it still sounds great. Amazingly, the 70s cartridges didn't destroy it, and consequently I have no need for a new $150 version.

If I would spend $150 on recorded music, of course I would  say I was worth it.

never enjoyed Steely Dan -style, just saying....sounds like elevator music to me

SD is one of my fav bands. I have the MoFi version of Aja that Stan Ricker mastered. Excellent sound. The UHQR version is better - is if worth $150? Depends. I don't think so, but it is definitely better than the MoFi version. Dynamics and quieter. Esp the cymbals at the end of Aja - they are very muddy on the MoFi version and much much cleaner and clearer on this. Dunno what happened on the MoFi version. In any case, if you are a SD fan, then you will like this. I have also preordered Gaucho and Katy Lied. I have the 1/2 speed master of Gaucho by Bob Ludwig.

JW944ts..."never enjoyed Steely Dan -style, just saying....sounds like elevator music to me"

I keep looking through this thread, but I can't find where anyone asked you for your opinion......As Thumpers mother said..."If you don't have anything good to say, Don't say anything!".....Good advise for internet forum trolls ....

$150 is a lot for one good recording.  I just spent $162 on David Bowie Box Set Brillant Adventure and it has 18 records in it and all sound pretty clean and a very nice set.  It is getting fairly crazy the prices for these new/virgin/remastered/200 gram records.  I am sure they sound really good.  But it is really becoming an expensive hobby if you want to purchase some of these titles.  

AJA is sooo yesterday. Another audiophile masterpiece I never take the time to listen to anymore. Life is too short to play the same records over and over and over.

He mixes it just perfect so that other 80 year olds can enjoy it their $150 investment.

Far be it from me to spend $150 on a record.  That said, I love Steely Dan.  

I've been wondering about this for a while, Grundman, Massenburg, Marino, etc., are all in their 70's and 80's, they must have some significant HF loss at the minimum.  Life is hard on ears, that being said congrats to all these legends for such a long lived career. 

OP-

Very good point about 80 YO ears mastering an album.

$150 for Aja?

No thanks, I'm perfectly happy with hearing that album from my Luxman D-03X CDP.

Sure are a lot of people who know how good this is or isn't who have never even heard it. 

Hey  jw944ts

Do you like Steely Dan and the Aja album?  :>)

Part of this hobby is finding the definitive version of a particular 

album. This is the definitive version of AJA

Some folks want the definitive version no matter the cost and 

some don’t. The album also won a Grammy in 1977 for Best Engineered Album of the year. 
Good luck Willy -T

Totally agree with Willy-T on this.

For many of us, back in the day, Steely Dan was the sh*t, and we didn't care how long they took to record an album, we knew it would be worth the wait.

I probably have 8 album copies of this one - various sources.

Although I've pondered buying this one for awhile, I'll probably wait and hope the price goes down.  I'm happy some have already purchased and hope they are enjoying it!    My .02 worth.

I think I already have the SACD, so I am good. 

Didn't Analog Productions come out with AJA maybe 12 or 18 months ago?  Not sure if that one is 45rpm but I'm pretty sure it is.  And was just about the same price. Scott Hull at Masterdisc did that one.

Have seen them a bunch of times (with and without Becker) and when they start jamming on any tune I honestly don't see how they could be construed as elevator music.

Regards,

barts

That boy rides some funky elevators! 

@rbertalotto

@bigtwin 

I saw somewhere on the internet that Becker & Fagan used Magneplanar III speakers--not bookshelf--to master their recordings back in the day.  The IIIa Maggies I used to own had a wonderfully realistic midrange, but were light on low bass.  So mastering with them could have yielded pretty robust bass, although it never sounded excessive to me on any of their LPs, even on speakers with robust bass.

@czarivey 

@tablejockey 

My ABC LP has the etching AB-1006 (RE-3).  Does the "RE-3" signify a later reissue or pressing?  It does sound very good.

@drmuso  I was only repeating what was said in the interview with the guy who mastered the original LP.  No idea if it's correct.  Cheers.

I've had the OG AB-1006 since the day it came out in '77, and it is indeed an awesome sounding record - just listened to it last night, in fact.

Just received the UHQR today and gave it a listen. I find the UHQR to be superior sonically in every way, ultimately being so much more PRESENT in the listening space; the difference is not small or subtle, you don't have to 'listen for it'. 

I would say that if you love 'Aja', have good sound gear and don't mind shelling out the dough, it's a no brainer. It will sound like you've not heard it before. I just wish it was also available in a less fancy packaging for maybe $100, but I can understand Chad wanting this series to have a special presentation.

Also got the 2-45's of Jethro Tull's 'Stand Up' today, which is not UHQR, cost $65, and does not have fancy packaging (though the stand-up is there!) and sounds superb. 

"My ABC LP has the etching AB-1006 (RE-3).  Does the "RE-3" signify a later reissue or pressing? "

drmuso-

it's in here somewhere-

Steely Dan - Aja | Releases | Discogs

As you can see, there are several runs. 

I think I already have the SACD, so I am good. 

Was Aja ever available as an SACD?....I've not seen it.

My UHQR came in and I gave it to the wife to wrap and give it to me for Christmas. She claims I am too hard to find presents for...! She is also giving me a new MacBook Pro...!

My UHQR came in and I gave it to the wife to wrap and give it to me for Christmas. She claims I am too hard to find presents for...! She is also giving me a new MacBook Pro...!

Lucky man!.....Does she have a sister?

+1 larsman - I had no idea I have the ABC 1006 - I listened to the ABC version and the UHQR version last night -  the UHQR is WAY better sound all around. If you love SD, its worth if. As others have pointed out, they don't like SD, so no way are they spending $150. 

Bernie is being honest, not spinning anything. What he’s talking about is pushing the mids for radio limiters of the day and not too much low end for older turntables and the cartridges of the day, plus limited speaker response below 100 hz. Add those up and Aja is a mid forward record with a lot of room to grow. Short enough in length to get much better on modern vinyl with all the skills learned in 45 years What’s great about Aja was never the mastering it was always everything else, and I’m very happy he’s had this opportunity to do it again, full beans for modern time, putting his name on it once and for all.

As to his age ... hearing loss has 0% impact on listening skill. As the hearing goes away the brain compensates and the skill portion that matters most is always going up, we hope! So his age is a non factor. If age was a factor young females would be the best engineers, as they have the best measurable hearing.

P.S. If you are interested in how mastering alters things here is an opinion on Aja digitally that I did for myself during the pandemic, using the 80s CD as a basis.

Do not share or sell. This is for educational purposes only, referencing the digital (CD) version of the original (LP) work.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ewryuajc58j4dpz0t06og/h?rlkey=43h8t7huoafmw8rlyoxb4vps3&dl=0

Send me a PM that you grabbed the data files.

Rbertalotto yes it’s available on sacd preorder 

Aja was done as a Japanese SHM-SACD back in 2010. Chad does shootouts in his office to make sure the UHQR beats the original.  He thinks they nailed it on this one.  Not sure if he takes the same care with the SACD.