Definitive Audiophile pressings

MikeH said:
I actually like this album…just not at the one step price.

It’s gonna be interesting if Chad follows up with his promise of looking into more modern releases and if MoFi sees that and tries to do the same…
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Yeah it’s a brilliant album. Not quite at the level of S/T or Graceland but some killer singles on fhere. Issue with it is that is a very available one, both as an OG and with very good modern presses, that a one step wasn’t going to be hugely necessary.
 
Joe Mac said:
Yeah it’s a brilliant album. Not quite at the level of S/T or Graceland but some killer singles on fhere. Issue with it is that is a very available one, both as an OG and with very good modern presses, that a one step wasn’t going to be hugely necessary.
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The RKS one is well done. Think that’s the one I have. See two copies for $30ish then the rest are crazy prices.
 
MikeH said:
I actually like this album…just not at the one step price.

It’s gonna be interesting if Chad follows up with his promise of looking into more modern releases and if MoFi sees that and tries to do the same…
Click to expand...
Chad's idea of more modern is 1970's.

MOFI - maybe some, but it's hard to sell something recorded ProTools 16/44 as audiophile.
 
This video is interesting and has provided me some enjoyment tonight. It is a shoutout between 5 versions of Aja — an OG (details in vid), Cisco, MFSL, the new UHQR, and a Canadian special edition in colored vinyl.

That in and of itself isn’t interesting. There are plenty of comparison vids out there.

The interesting part is that he provides download links to 192/24 high-res files for the same two tracks on each version — Black Cow and Aja, all created in a professional sound studio on a “reference” system (there word, not mine). I’ve been a/b/c/d rapid-fire comparing them w my DAC/network player. That was an interesting exercise. Then I popped on my 1980 Japan Victor press, which is dead-silent so a good way to compare to a digital file bc there’s no surface noise to interfere with comparisons of discrete instruments/vocals/sections. The Victor sounds really good but has some of the limitations JP pressings are notorious for (and I think Victor may be the guiltiest among the JP manufacturers).

I have some conclusions about my preferred version and how these different cuts sound on my system. I don’t know if a poll can be set up here, but if anyone else is interested in this and wants to do similar comparisons on your system and then contribute to a poll, reply to this and, if there’s enough interest, I’ll figure something out for the poll if it’s not easy here.

 
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Portland Sheriff said:
This video is interesting and has provided me some enjoyment tonight. It is a shoutout between 5 versions of Aja — an OG (details in vid), Cisco, MFSL, the new UHQR, and a Canadian special edition in colored vinyl.

That in and of itself isn’t interesting. There are plenty of comparison vids out there.

The interesting part is that he provides download links to 192/24 high-res files for the same two tracks on each version — Black Cow and Aja, all created in a professional sound studio on a “reference” system (there word, not mine). I’ve been a/b/c/d rapid-fire comparing them w my DAC/network player. That was an interesting exercise. Then I popped on my 1980 Japan Victor press, which is dead-silent so a good way to compare to a digital file bc there’s no surface noise to interfere with comparisons of discrete instruments/vocals/sections. The Victor sounds really good but has some of the limitations JP pressings are notorious for (and I think Victor may be the guiltiest among the JP manufacturers).

I have some conclusions about my preferred version and how these different cuts sound on my system. I don’t know if a poll can be set up here, but if anyone else is interested in this and wants to do similar comparisons on your system and then contribute to a poll, reply to this and, if there’s enough interest, I’ll figure something out for the poll if it’s not easy here.

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I've been avoiding these vids as of late, lol. Against my better judgement the UHQR should be here in the next day or so, I have an AA OG of Aja that I've found to be pretty solid and while I know many look at Steely Dan as over-polished yacht rock, it's not, but to each his onw ;)

I was on the fence on the UHQR's, picked up Can't Buy A Thrill and Pretzel Logic, those two and Aja were the ones I was interested in, so far we're 50/50 on these. CBAT is fantastic, PL leaves a little to be desired, if I ever find a decent OG copy in the wild I'll pick it up. Early Steely Dan just hit in my wheel house of just starting to really appreciate the musicality, composition and instrumentation of what I was listening to, so they're a favorite although that fell off a bit after Gaucho.

Probably my last AP purchase unfortunately, they're showing inconsistencies in their pressings and the price point makes it a tough dice roll, I could talk myself into justifying the price if I really tried, but the increase in the minimum purchase for free shipping AND the UHQR's not qualifying for free shipping at all, kind of tears it for me.

We'll report back Aja :)
 
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Mather said:
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