Steely Dan aja MFSL?

[glenn7623]

The best sounding Steely Dan discs were mastered by Robert Ludwig of Sterling Sound Studios. There's usually a "RL" inside a circle in the trail off of the records. Some have a "Sterling" stamping also. I'm not sure if MFSL uses Robert Ludwig masters or just virgin vinyl....Glenn

 

[Klownschool]

The best sounding Steely Dan discs were mastered by Robert Ludwig of Sterling Sound Studios. There's usually a "RL" inside a circle in the trail off of the records. Some have a "Sterling" stamping also. I'm not sure if MFSL uses Robert Ludwig masters or just virgin vinyl....Glenn

I've never in my life seen a Sterling RL of Aja. Can anyone confirm that one exists?

Thanks,
Rick

 

[GreatTone]

I've never in my life seen a Sterling RL of Aja. Can anyone confirm that one exists?

Thanks,
Rick

I believe Bernie Grundman cut the AB as noted in the liner notes and his distinctive writing in the deadwax.

 

[GreatTone]

GreatTone,

Is this the first time Mobile Fidelity has issued this album?

Don't know, sorry.

 

[glenn7623]

The 1978 Steely Dan's Greatest Hits was RL mastered and it includes "Peg" and "Josie" from "Aja". The 1980 "Gaucho" is also a RL Masterdisk.

 

[iwilson]

This thread made me pull out my Aja copies. What an album!
I own 2 copies of Aja and a few other albums from Steely Dan.
I think that the ABC version could be a first pressing from 77? How do I check that? I got it for a buck in NYC.
The other one is a rare Canadian yellow vinyl version. Pretty cool!
Is it true that coloured vinyls do not sound as good as black vinyl? I can't hear the difference.

I got that canadian yellow, sounds great and is pristine except for one pop at the beginning of side one :sigh:

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Is this the first time Mobile Fidelity has issued this album?

I got my Mo-Fi copy in 1980.

 

[Skylab]

There is no "new" MoFi of Aja - just the original from the 80's.

I have the original MoFi Lp, and the Cisco, and while both are excellent, the MoFi is slightly better, IMHO. Both are definitely better than the standard ABC pressing for sure, but even that sounds pretty good.

 

[Unabubba]

I have MFSL copies of Aja and Katy Lied, both sound great.

I've had some sonic difficulties with ABC records in general, where available, I've actually had better luck with MCA pressings of Steely Dan records as far as sound quality goes. Collectablilty is a different issue altogether.

 

[91r100gs]

The 1978 Steely Dan's Greatest Hits was RL mastered and it includes "Peg" and "Josie" from "Aja". The 1980 "Gaucho" is also a RL Masterdisk.

On my copy of Steely Dan's GH, only two of the sides have the RL in the deadwax. But all sides are stamped Masterdisk

 

[the_nines]

Got the Cisco copy and a Japanese press.

They both run neck-and-neck, slight advantage to the Japanese press, but only by a hair or two.

 

[Sanc]

I too am a big fan of the Mofi copy. Agreed that it can run a tad hot, but if your cartridge can handle it, it will sound awesome.

 

[zenith2134]

Have got the ABC records late 70s pressing of "Aja" it's a gatefold.
I think it sounds great honestly.. and it was one of the cheaper records I've acquired.
Surely the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs version bests it?

 

[ranch 22b]

I'm playing around with my "new" Grado cart (thanks Marc!) today and thought I'd do a comparison of the AAB (B scratched out) aja and the MFSL May 1980 copy (pressed in Japan).

On my DCM Timeframe 600's, they really do sound different. To my ear, the MFSL has recessed vocals and a less "full" sound. But what the listener gets in return is more detail, more "air" and a wider and deeper sound stage.

It's kind of interesting, on the Timeframes, the MFSL is the better listen. On my other system with "stacked" Advents, I prefer the regular recording.

 

[jlovda]

What is MFSL? It is meaningless if you "only" have a Dual turntable?

 

[iLUVanalog]

What is MFSL? It is meaningless if you "only" have a Dual turntable?

M obile
F idelity
S ound
L ab

Google it.