Steely Dan – Aja

Anyone comment on how this sounds against the 1980 VIM pressing?

Turns out the left/right channels on this pressing are reversed!

You can tell on the title track - at the end of each chorus (after “I…run….toooo…yoooooouuu”), you hear a triplet line being played on what I assume is a Rhodes piano from the left channel. (I’ve listened on both an original US AB stamped pressing and also digitally on Tidal to confirm this).

On this pressing, the Rhodes comes in on the right channel!

If you have a channel reverse on your amp, switch it to flip the channels back correctly to where the Rhodes comes in on the left.

I have a needle drop of my copy with the title track here: https://youtu.be/O5RUf-G19N8?si=tXNyDmYGwrpISexm

Single greatest piece of media I've ever heard, even compared to other AP/QRP albums. Emotionally good sounding, even on a budget-oriented setup. Can't wait to listen to this after every system upgrade in the future but so good even now.

Wow…. I’ll start off with the fact that I am a Steely Dan fan and Aja is probably my second favorite album from them (Gaucho being my first). After hearing so much hype from the UHQR pressings I decided to treat myself with this album. Wow (again)….. this album comes to life even on my modest system. The fullness of this pressing… the separation of instruments. It’s beautiful. I’ve listened to this album countless times in my life but never like this. Absolutely fantastic. Set up: Pro-Ject EVO 2~ Ifi Zen Air phono pre amp~ pair of Klipsch R-51 powered speakers

So I had a chance to get one vg copy of this version. But I can say it’s sound fantastic. I also have the 2023 version in mint quality but this pressing blows it away even in a vg condition.

Some people making negative comments should just come out and say “I wish that my wife would let me spend $150 dollars on a record like you guys”! 😂 Seriously these UHQR’s are awesome, flat and and incredibly clean and the sound is like Lord Vishnu’s voice welcoming you to samsara .

People wax lyrical about the newer AP SACD and its certainly impressively clean but theres a punch and dynamism to this one that is almost preferable. They are pretty close overall its a pick your flavour to suit job. Obviously, an upside to the AP is the hybrid redbook layer.

The hype is real on the AB-1006 pressing. I’ve heard many pressings and masterings of this, one of my all-time favorite albums. None of them sound like this. It is punchy and alive in a way I’ve never heard before. If you can find a nice copy for the right price, grab it.

My copy has AA-1006 in the runout on one side, and AAB-1006 (B scratched out) on the other. Is this an AB first press?

It‘s a satisfying crisp pressing, but not as warm sounding as the earlier german ABC pressing.