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:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/46slij...

Aja Cisco Files
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/qu7uv8...

Aja US AB Files
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/pw9t6l...

Aja MFSL Files
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/zssf66...

Aja Canadian Limited Edition Coloured Vinyl Files
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/3gd2nt...

Oswaldo's Video AB for Black Cow:
   • THE GREAT STEELY DAN AJA SHOOTOUT ! !...  

Let There Be Sound System:

• VPI HW40 Anniversary Direct Drive (turntable)
• Black Goldline (moving coil cartridge)
• ModWright PH9.0T (tube phono stage)
• Herron Audio VTSP360 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

If you particularly enjoyed this video, please consider a small one time donation to the channel! You can do so easily by clicking the "Thanks" button in the row of icons just below the title. Any amount truly helps and is greatly appreciated.

NEW! Link to The Pressing Matters Storefront for many of my recommended titles and series:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/thepressi...
(As an an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases)

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 A50T 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