*Correction* The average for the 2025 33RPM Universal release is actually 8.83 and not 8.5. Sorry for the error, but it only increases the value proposition of the $30 reissue.
Thanks for your research. "Katy Lied" has been my favorite Steely Dan album for years (I graduated high school the same time you did and bought it on ABC when it was brand new) because of the jazzy song structures and instrumentation (more Victor Feldman!). If you want an expensive two-disc 45 rpm luxury item that requires you flip or change records every two or three songs, then the UHQR might be just the ticket, but I'd prefer to listen to it the way it was meant to be heard: on two sides, at 33 1/3 rpm. I'm glad that option is still available if I ever feel the need for yet another (3rd?) copy.
Hi David. Thanks a lot for your review and info. I will buy the digital reissue based on your comments and will wait for Royal Scam for another UHQR (I have Cant Buy a Thrill and Gaucho). It will be nice to compare this editions with the 3 songs available on the Robert Ludwig compilation which sounds fantastic. I have a Canadian copy of Katy Lied and certainly the 3 Katy Lied songs on the Robert Ludwig compilation are in another league. My Steely Dan compilation has Masterdisk RL on the side with the Katy Lied songs.
Thanks for another helpful review. I pre-ordered the UHQR 1.5 years ago! it was so long ago that the credit card number I used to pre-order has changed and they weren't able to process my order yet. Now that I'm hearing about the general quality of the recording, I'm considering not getting the UHQR and instead waiting for the SACD. The AP SACDs of Steely Dan seem to be made from the UHQR mix and so far have been fantastic. My Aja SACD sounds exactly like the UHQR. I'm going to say here that I read on some forums how some people aren't as enamored of the UHQRs and think their special OG is better. I've been playing vinyl since the 70s. I have never heard any records from the 70s or 80s that didn't have noisy vinyl except for my early Mobile Fidelity records. I see you don't count that in your ratings but I do. You loose so much subtlety without a quiet background. Instrument decay and imaging information is down near the noise floor. So for my money I'd rather have a high quality vinyl copy or SACD than an older noisy OG. That said if I have an older copy that's pretty good I often pass on the new ones. But I don't have Katy Lied so I will buy a copy.
Listened to the OG Kendun and agree that it is cut hot, to the point that higher range vocals distort on my speakers for example on the last track Throw Back the Little Ones. The UHQR resolves the issue perfectly. It really sounds great, the clarity of instruments and voices is much improved.
Nice they fixed as much of the DBX issues as they could. I always wondered why that happened to this album, but not to Coppola's use of DBX on recording all the sound for APOCALYPSE NOW.
Hi Dave, Hope you are feeling better. Been there. Both you and Tim did not include the Mofi. I have the Mofi and have always liked it and have yet to compare it to the UHQR yet. Did that version Mofi have the smiley face EQ. I am the original owner of the Mofi and am sure I let go of original Kendun because of Mofi. I guess my ears may like the Mofi EQ lol. Maybe it’s the JVC Super Vinyl? I like all Steely Dan (just always admired the engineering and fleet of outstanding musicians in the studio with them) but Katy Lied, Pretzel Logic, Gaucho, Aja in that order. I have done prelim listening of UHQR and am impressed but yet to do direct comparison. Thoughts?
I like how you apply numerical values for each category of the sound review. That was a great explanation of what happened with DBX. I have a white label German pressed original Katy Lied that sounds good actually. However, that UHQR must sound better. Too bad it would cost me over $260 CAD to get it to my door.
I have the Kendun and I like it well enough for the amount I listen to that album but it's great to see there's another option or two depending on where you land. Thank you!
Thanks David. A very helpful discussion of these various pressings for an album which I love. Just one question. Am I missing something? Looks to me like the average for the Geffen is 8.83 rather than the 8.5 shown in the table?
Nice catch! You’re right! In using a previous spreadsheet to make this one, it had an 11 for treble on the 3rd LP listed; I didn’t catch that and reset the formula! I will pin a correction.
Hey David great job on the review I was surprised that the the reissue by Bernie that was pressed at GZ was so good but it was cut at Sterling so that always helps I think it makes a big difference when they master and cut the record in the United States before they get it sent off to Europe for getting pressed those always sound better like the blue notes are mastered and plated in the USA then pressed in Germany Great sounding records Thanks again for the review much appreciated oh yeah we all knew the UHQR was going to be the best again just surprised how good the runner-up was and you can get it for 30 bucks that sounds like a chicken dinner okay bud bye for now.
Not at all im afraid. The quality of GZ media presses seems to depend solely on whether they can be bothered or not. Some of the cheapo/budget Waxtime LPs they press on coloured vinyl are their quietest presses (ive bought 40+ of them for my dining room setup where audiophiles dont gather!). For general releases they vary ALOT though. Too much demand on a plant which has never been bothered with quality anyway. Optimal presses are generally far better but also not immune to issues. Their vinyl compounds are superb but they again seem to be too eager and end up with alot of non filled records.
Thanks David for the effort in this🎸👍🏻 Question: Which parameters do you add up to get the average at the end? (I may not have been paying attention in class)
Thanks for this shootout. I have a Kendun Terre Haute pressing that I'm pretty happy with, though, like you, I'm not a huge fan of Katie Lied so I wouldn't want a 2 LP 45 RPM version of it, though I'd consider that 2025 33RPM release I suppose, but now I'll just stick with my 1975 copy. One thing I think you should add to your table is what you consider the condition of the records to be. I think that some weight should be considered regarding the condition. If you're comparing a Mint/NM condition (new or fresh out of the shrink) against an OG copy in your collection that might be VG, that would speak to surface noise potentially. It's all relative, I suppose, but I found myself wondering what condition those early presses are.
@ Oh my bad, didn't catch that. I have seen some videos here of Chad walking around his office and such at AS. Thats a good place to start a deep dive, or maybe ask someplace on the Hoffman forums.
*Correction* The average for the 2025 33RPM Universal release is actually 8.83 and not 8.5. Sorry for the error, but it only increases the value proposition of the $30 reissue.
Yes...I immediately noticed that there was something wrong with your calculator! Thanks David!
Thanks for your research. "Katy Lied" has been my favorite Steely Dan album for years (I graduated high school the same time you did and bought it on ABC when it was brand new) because of the jazzy song structures and instrumentation (more Victor Feldman!). If you want an expensive two-disc 45 rpm luxury item that requires you flip or change records every two or three songs, then the UHQR might be just the ticket, but I'd prefer to listen to it the way it was meant to be heard: on two sides, at 33 1/3 rpm. I'm glad that option is still available if I ever feel the need for yet another (3rd?) copy.
Great review David! I’m glad you came to similar conclusions that I did regarding improvements with the UHQR. Thanks also for the shout out!
Great comparative review. Your graphic presentation really helps as well. You’ve become my go to for shoot outs. Cheers!
Hi David. Thanks a lot for your review and info. I will buy the digital reissue based on your comments and will wait for Royal Scam for another UHQR (I have Cant Buy a Thrill and Gaucho). It will be nice to compare this editions with the 3 songs available on the Robert Ludwig compilation which sounds fantastic. I have a Canadian copy of Katy Lied and certainly the 3 Katy Lied songs on the Robert Ludwig compilation are in another league. My Steely Dan compilation has Masterdisk RL on the side with the Katy Lied songs.
Thanks for another helpful review. I pre-ordered the UHQR 1.5 years ago! it was so long ago that the credit card number I used to pre-order has changed and they weren't able to process my order yet. Now that I'm hearing about the general quality of the recording, I'm considering not getting the UHQR and instead waiting for the SACD. The AP SACDs of Steely Dan seem to be made from the UHQR mix and so far have been fantastic. My Aja SACD sounds exactly like the UHQR. I'm going to say here that I read on some forums how some people aren't as enamored of the UHQRs and think their special OG is better. I've been playing vinyl since the 70s. I have never heard any records from the 70s or 80s that didn't have noisy vinyl except for my early Mobile Fidelity records. I see you don't count that in your ratings but I do. You loose so much subtlety without a quiet background. Instrument decay and imaging information is down near the noise floor. So for my money I'd rather have a high quality vinyl copy or SACD than an older noisy OG. That said if I have an older copy that's pretty good I often pass on the new ones. But I don't have Katy Lied so I will buy a copy.
Very well presented review, David. I appreciate your effort in these videos. Well done!
Listened to the OG Kendun and agree that it is cut hot, to the point that higher range vocals distort on my speakers for example on the last track Throw Back the Little Ones. The UHQR resolves the issue perfectly. It really sounds great, the clarity of instruments and voices is much improved.
Nice they fixed as much of the DBX issues as they could. I always wondered why that happened to this album, but not to Coppola's use of DBX on recording all the sound for APOCALYPSE NOW.
Nice comparison. Subscribed, waiting for my UHQR copy to be delivered.
Hi Dave, Hope you are feeling better. Been there. Both you and Tim did not include the Mofi. I have the Mofi and have always liked it and have yet to compare it to the UHQR yet. Did that version Mofi have the smiley face EQ. I am the original owner of the Mofi and am sure I let go of original Kendun because of Mofi. I guess my ears may like the Mofi EQ lol. Maybe it’s the JVC Super Vinyl? I like all Steely Dan (just always admired the engineering and fleet of outstanding musicians in the studio with them) but Katy Lied, Pretzel Logic, Gaucho, Aja in that order. I have done prelim listening of UHQR and am impressed but yet to do direct comparison. Thoughts?
great.......... thanks for your effort George Romania
Great job!
I like how you apply numerical values for each category of the sound review. That was a great explanation of what happened with DBX. I have a white label German pressed original Katy Lied that sounds good actually. However, that UHQR must sound better. Too bad it would cost me over $260 CAD to get it to my door.
Great video.
I have the Kendun and I like it well enough for the amount I listen to that album but it's great to see there's another option or two depending on where you land. Thank you!
Thanks David. A very helpful discussion of these various pressings for an album which I love. Just one question. Am I missing something? Looks to me like the average for the Geffen is 8.83 rather than the 8.5 shown in the table?
Old man math 😂😂😂
Nice catch! You’re right! In using a previous spreadsheet to make this one, it had an 11 for treble on the 3rd LP listed; I didn’t catch that and reset the formula! I will pin a correction.
Hey David great job on the review I was surprised that the the reissue by Bernie that was pressed at GZ was so good but it was cut at Sterling so that always helps I think it makes a big difference when they master and cut the record in the United States before they get it sent off to Europe for getting pressed those always sound better like the blue notes are mastered and plated in the USA then pressed in Germany Great sounding records Thanks again for the review much appreciated oh yeah we all knew the UHQR was going to be the best again just surprised how good the runner-up was and you can get it for 30 bucks that sounds like a chicken dinner okay bud bye for now.
Not at all im afraid. The quality of GZ media presses seems to depend solely on whether they can be bothered or not. Some of the cheapo/budget Waxtime LPs they press on coloured vinyl are their quietest presses (ive bought 40+ of them for my dining room setup where audiophiles dont gather!). For general releases they vary ALOT though. Too much demand on a plant which has never been bothered with quality anyway. Optimal presses are generally far better but also not immune to issues. Their vinyl compounds are superb but they again seem to be too eager and end up with alot of non filled records.
Thanks David for the effort in this🎸👍🏻 Question: Which parameters do you add up to get the average at the end?
(I may not have been paying attention in class)
Quiet vinyl is not included in the math. All other sound aspects are used to calculate the average….
Love Steely Dan. Love Black Friday. My favorite Dan is Pretzel Logic..
Thanks for this shootout. I have a Kendun Terre Haute pressing that I'm pretty happy with, though, like you, I'm not a huge fan of Katie Lied so I wouldn't want a 2 LP 45 RPM version of it, though I'd consider that 2025 33RPM release I suppose, but now I'll just stick with my 1975 copy.
One thing I think you should add to your table is what you consider the condition of the records to be. I think that some weight should be considered regarding the condition. If you're comparing a Mint/NM condition (new or fresh out of the shrink) against an OG copy in your collection that might be VG, that would speak to surface noise potentially. It's all relative, I suppose, but I found myself wondering what condition those early presses are.
Hi David - my understanding is LB = Larry Boben cutting engineer MCA USA.
@@marktubeie07 thank you!!!
Oh Geez, I forgot about this one. It's been so Awesome! Now is this all of them??
Royal Scam will be the last.
Interesting that the 45 RPM is the quietest cut, considering all the banter going around that the only benefit of 45 is that it is a few dB louder
Fed Ex just dropped my copy. I can't listen to it yet as it's still frozen from riding around in the truck all day.
Do you or anyone here know what speakers he(Chad) uses for listening playback when he's making decisions on audio quality?
Timestamp 9:15
@@johnsmith9716 Chad from Acoustic Sounds.
@ Oh my bad, didn't catch that. I have seen some videos here of Chad walking around his office and such at AS. Thats a good place to start a deep dive, or maybe ask someplace on the Hoffman forums.