Best Sounding "The Nightfly" Vinyl?

I found a sealed QUIEX II vinyl copy of Donald Fagen's The Nightfly.
Is there anyone here familiar with the sound quality of this Warner Brothers vinyl?
How does it compare to the other vinyl releases like Speaker Corner and MFSL?
Your input will be appreciated.

Thanks,
AudiophilePhil

 

I would rank them this way (did not know about a Speakers Corner reissue):

1. 12" singles
2. 180 gm German reissue
3. Quiex II (or regular domestic)
4. MFSL

 

Thanks Randy. Since you prefer the Warner Bros QUiex II over the MoFi, it tells me that it is a good buy.

 

The Canadian or US Warners pressings sound dandy. Mastered by Bob Ludwig at MASTERDISK.

 

Agreed. My regular US pressing sounds great. Haven't heard any others, though.

 

Normal US pressings sound good, it seems. My Quiex pressing sounds better, noticeably.

 

I would rank them this way (did not know about a Speakers Corner reissue):

1. 12" singles




I totally agree with you on that. I've got a promo 12" copy of "New Frontier" that sounds terrific!!!

 

The Quiex mall's the MFSL. Dont know about the speaker's corner.Peace Todd.

 

I have three versions of The Nightfly.

Standard German pressing (with Masterdisk in the dead wax).
180 gram German Vinyl Revival series (no Masterdisk in the dead wax).
Japanese pressing (with Masterdisk in the dead wax).

My preference would be for the standard German pressing.
The 180 gram version sounds dull, lifeless and flat.
The Japanese pressing is very quiet, but has a hard edge to it (like most Japanese pressings, IMO).

JG

 

I disagree about the 180 gram German Vinyl Revival series.

I think it sounds great and more analog than any other pressing I've heard.

I had the 12" single of The New Frontier which was very good as well.

 

I have about 5 of the Vinyl Revival series: Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Donald Fagan, Phil Collins and The Doobie Brothers. None of them sound anywhere near as good as the original pressings (IMO).

If you have the Masterdisk version of the Nightfly play 'Walking Between The Raindrops' and then the Vinyl Revival Series version, it just doesn't have that swing or weight that the original has (IMO).

I may not be right, but I am never wrong (ha!ha!).

JG

 

The Nightfly Shootout!

As James suggested, I played "Walk Between The Raindrops" using four pristine LPs....
Side 2 matrix information:
1. Quiex II WB US: + (triangle) 2607-X 1-23696. B. SH3 MASTERDISK RL
2. regular WB US: + (triangle) 2607-X 1-23696. B. SH INT MASTERDISK SP 0-1
3. regular WB US: 1-23696. B. E7 MASTERDISK RL
4. German 180 gram Revival Series: WMME Alsdorf 759 923696-1-B

I must agree with James...the MASTERDISKS are winners...no contest.

The "CUP" belongs to the Quiex II...quiet and natural sounding "RL".
Copy 2 sounds just as good except is a bit (and I mean a tiny bit) ...less quiet.
Copy 3 is also great but again with a bit noisier vinyl and less resolution.
The German pressing is unfortunately infested with occasional ticks and pops (not the result of scratches or play back, record looks pristine, I bought it new)...there is considerably less bass and a bit more high frequency information.

IMO, the MASTERDISK pressings sound just right!

EDIT: If you search among the vast number of "Nightfly" threads, you will find posts where I have recommended the 180 gram German LP. I still recommend it. At the time I was using a Benz Cart and I did not have the Quiex II. The differences between the German and Quiex are indeed noticeable, but small enough so that a change in cart could tilt the preference to the other disc. Bottom line, all four records I used in the shoot-out above are recommended.

 

Donald Fagen The Nightfly Trivia

Donald Fagen The Nightfly Trivia

Have you noticed some covers have Donald Fagen in Turquoise while others in blue? Both versions are WB regular US pressings.

 

Interesting, Ben. I have not noticed that. Mine has both in blue. I bet KeithH has noticed, though

 

There is NO Speakers Corner AFAIK.
There is a German WEA Revival Series 180 gram.

 

Thanks to everyone who responded. I actually went ahead and ordered the sealed copy of QUIEX II (Warner Bros. U.S. Pressing) of Donald Fagen's The Nightfly on vinyl.

Ben, I thought the German pressing of the Nightfly was pressed by Speaker Corner.

 

What kind of money are you paying for it? If you don't mind me asking?
JG

 

Dave, if I were more into vinyl, I probably would have noticed. Sadly, I don't have The Nightfly on vinyl yet. I'll be on the look out for Masterdisk pressings now, though.

 

Just in case....When I say "MASTERDISC pressings", I mean records mastered at MASTERDISC, not pressed at MASTERDISC. "RL" = Bob Ludwig.

 

Ben,

Try taking the album out of your two-tone-title covers and hold it up to the light. Can you see through the Lp?

 

I'm afraid that the only LP I can see light through is the Quiex II.
A good idea though!

 

Just a guess--if it were a later pressing, it's possible they may have skimped on reprinting the cover, and used only a single blue ink color, vs. the turquoise/blue variation. IIRC, the LP I owned had the turquoise/blue variation, and I probably bought it after it had been out about 4-6 months.

 

I recently did a shoot out of "The Nightfly" by Donald Fagen on vinyl and have revised the order in which I prefer them. My pre amp, phono stage and room treatments have changed so that may account for my new findings.

1. 12" US singles
2. Quiex II (significantly better than a regular pressing)
3. Regular US
4. 180 gm German reissue
5. Japanese
4. MFSL

 

I bet the Quiex II and the Regular US vinyl has 'Masterdisk' RL in the deadwax.
JG

 

Yup!