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The difinitive recording of AJA

I have just listened to the SHM SACD recording of Steely Dan's AJA. I am not overwhelmed with the sonics. The cymbals are still too faint, the bass lacks punch and snap and the vocals still seem hidden behind a piece of cloth. I much prefer the MFSL gold CD of this title. As far as vinyl goes, the current Cisco version seems more lively than MFSL. So, which is the ONE COPY of this album that is THE MUST HAVE? I am also looking for the MUST HAVE recording of Supertramp's CRIME OF THE CENTURY. Again, I have the new SHM recording, the MFSL gold CD, the MFSL vinyl pressing, and the Speakers Corner vinyl addition. I like both vinyl versions over the CDs with the Speakers Corner version being better -- more punch, imaging, and gutsy. Feedback please.
128x128dramapsycho
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,198 posts
 
When Aja came out, it was a popular demo disc in audio shops because the sound on the original vinyl was top notch and the music had wide appeal.

I've heard some decent CD versions that are pretty good over the years, but nothing that betters the original standard issue vinyl that can be foud and had for not much. If you have a phono rig, I would not waste money trying to better this particular recording with more $$$$s.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
I have first pressings of bogh and never heard them really topped and certainly not some alleged hot stamper.
paanders
43 posts
 
I was just reflecting on this very question as I listened to an beat-down LP copy of AJA from 70s or 80s. I need some of the mid-range magic and punch of good vinyl, but where to turn with this oft re-released classic?

I was eyeing the CISCO 180g version and then found the "hot stamper" (sic) link to their "review" of Cisco versus their $800 "hot stampers," the very sound of Shangri-La.

Hot Stampers In Heaven. Now that is one idea --buying perfection at top dollar-- than brothers Fagen and Becker worked hard to disabuse of in songs like "Babylon Sisters" and the sad homecoming of Odysseus in "Home At Last." So the irony is delicious. Similarly dumbfounding is the claim on that website that they listen critically to 100 lps to find the one stand-out of the crowd. And then we learn that they use a $4000 cartridge whose delicate stylus can dig deep, deep into the grooves to find the music that other lps are missing.

Hmm. Are there unbiased blind-tests available anywhere for the claims on the best AJA albums? It seems that Steely Dan tend toward the highly cerebral and ironic and scholarly, so where are the scientific studies on whose groove is deepest, whose vinyl is hottest, whose pressing is finest, when dealing with a mere $5000 set up (all-in) rather than a $100,000 bond trader's showcase?
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Hot stampers.

LOL
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,198 posts
 
For $800 buy 400 $2.00 used copies in good shape and test them one by one.

All will sound really good. Only one will sound best, but you can decide.

Take your time.....
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