this thread begs a question I've been meaning to ask here for a while: are there any very recent pressings of Aja that are worth owning?
The recent Back to Black wasn't bad by any means. However, it has an inner groove distortion issue regardless of setup. It's obviously the way it was cut. If it wasn't for that issue, it would be a pretty good reissue. It's not comparable to the Cisco or an AB pressing but is decent up until the distortion starts kicking in. Shame.
Chris here's a quote from forum member W.B. "I.I.N.M., the stamped "Union Jack" symbol indicates a pressing by Keel Mfg. (then the custom-pressing division of Pickwick International; later rebranded as Happauge Record Mfg. - the plant, that is) of Hauppauge, NY. Pressings from that plant of Aja may've come from the period when Columbia Records' Pitman, NJ plant (which usually handled ABC product at the time) was on strike, during the spring of 1978."
Strange, I don't see Aja in the secondhand bins that often anymore, used to be a time they were 10 a penny! JG
Quite a few still floating around my neck of the woods James. Mostly AA runs. A co-worker gave me a Canadian cut last year I've still yet to spin.
Not even UK/German pressings are turning up. Thankfully I got my AB version years ago when I was in the US! JG
Not in my book. Initially, it sounds like it is more extended in the bass. But the midrange is thick and a bit muddy. The top end lacks air. In contrast, my AB1006, while perhaps is not as extended in the bass as the Cisco, is wide open in the midband, and quite airy on top. Unlike the Cisco, this one sounds fast and breezy. I can vouch for the copies I have. As you may know, there are variables in the pressing of each copy which can make each copy sound different.
You seem to be confusing your AJA variations here. The Cisco has zero groove noise and has nothing to do with the ad copy stating/approximating "back to vinyl". That would be an entirely different reissue.
There is a Jap 200 gram pressing from a few years ago likely from a DSD source. Sounds pretty good from memory. I think my US copy bought sealed is the AA version. These and the Cisco all have their merits. Later UK MCA copy from the 80s I had sounded poor in comparison.
There were two reissues - one on the Cisco label and the other Back to Black, it is not Cisco Back to Black! https://i.imgur.com/3Mj2wph.jpg https://i.imgur.com/CR9yW0K.jpg https://i.imgur.com/13v3tKD.jpg https://i.imgur.com/vftmptk.jpg JG
they're on to us!! can't remember if anyone's blamed them yet, but by "they're" i'm clearly referring to hipsters
That's good to know! I hear so many high praises for the Cisco and they fetch a small fortune. I have a pretty clean AB1006 and an even cleaner AA1006 but the AB smokes it on dynamics.