Aja SACD - is it worth it?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Phan71, Oct 27, 2010.

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  1. Phan71

    Phan71 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Does anyone have the Aja SACD? Is it worth the price? I would buy it in a heartbeat is it were, say $30-$40, but $76 (current price on Amazon) is a little hard to justify.

    I have the original CD, and it sounds fantastic. It's probably one of the best sounding CDs I own. On the other hand, I have a few SACDs that are just amazing to listen to, but some that are just kind of "meh".

    So, where does the Aja SACD stand? Is it going to blow me away, into a state of musical bliss? Or will I be underwhelmed?

    Basically, is it worth the price of the upgrade?

    Sorry if this has been addressed already. I did some searching, but couldn't find anything directly related to the sound quality.

    Thanks.
     
  2. bru87tr

    bru87tr 80’s rule

    Location:
    MA
    I can't say it is worht the price upgrade, the original sounds pretty darn good.

    I wouldn't for near $80, but I did for under $50.

    Is it not available through cdjapan anymore ?

    I think the SACD is excellent!
     
  3. PROG U.K.

    PROG U.K. Audiophile-Anglophile

    Location:
    New England
    If you can pick up a copy of Steve's for cheaper, you are not going to miss the SACD very much.
     
  4. Robert Lan

    Robert Lan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Taipei
    I agree. To my ears/room/system, Steve's Aja is superb. If you can find a copy, by all means do not hesitate. The SHM-SACD is also superb, but significantly more expensive. It's a toss up for me.

    All the best,

    Robert
     
  5. Phan71

    Phan71 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    That's the thing, my CD copy of Aja sounds pretty amazing as it is - I could already have Steve's mastering, but how can I tell?
     
  6. Here's an overview of Aja masterings and EAC peak levels from a different thread, 7 is Steve's mastering, while 3 & 6 appear to be clones from the same mastering although not 100% identical:

    Mastering 1:
    93.8/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.2

    MCA Remaster 1999 (Made in EU) 811 745 LC01056 UN899 / Matrix: 50117 811745-2 03/(Made in Germany by Universal M&L)
    Columbia House ?? / Matrix: 088 112 0562R1 01$ Q (Etched on inner ring: MADE IN USA BY EDC / IFPI 0396)
    SHM-CD: UICY-90764 / Matrix: MVCZ-10077-1 5W V IFPI L244

    Mastering 2:
    81.4/99.6/89.1/97.2/100.0/89.1/95.0

    MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD4109814 Y3C1C MFD BY JVC

    Mastering 3:
    90.8/91.7/90.6/88.7/96.3/86.2/97.6

    MCA Japan for USA 1984 MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-T5E21
    MCA US for US MCAD 37214 DIDY 55 (no barcode) / CRC club version (Disc: MCAD-37214 above DIDY 55 above CRC) / Matrix: CI 5650-1 (plus another code that has been scratched out)
    MCA UK MCA DMCL 1745 (disc: MCA US MCAD-37214) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-1T24
    MCA US DIDX 55 / Matrix: DIDX 000055 3
    MCA US DIDX-000055 / Matrix: MCAD-37214 DIDX 55
    MCA US MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214 3T21 MFD BY JVC
    MCA Germany 250 449-2 (MCAD 37214) / Matrix: 252704-2 TOOLEX ALPHA 03
    MCA Japan for USA 1984 MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD 37214 M2E14
    MCA US MCAD-37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214 U7C14

    Mastering 4:
    81.4/100.0/100.0/97.4/99.8/100.0/90.4

    MCA US MCAD 37214 DIDX 55 (no barcode) / Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1C15 MFD BY JVC
    MCA Canada MCABD 37214 DIDX 55 ("Price Code I") / Matrix: MFG BY CINRAM #921120H MCA-37214
    MCA Canada MCABD 37214 Cineram / Matrix: LT40 MCABD37214 #40830V04 11
    MCA US MCAD 37214 (no DIDX anywhere on discs)/Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1C MFD BY JVC
    MCA US MCAD 37214 (no DIDX anywhere on discs)/Matrix: MCAD-37214-1 1J MFD BY JVC

    Mastering 5:
    66.7/62.4/85.8/72.2/79.1/57.6/85.4

    MFSL Ultradisc UDCD 515 / Matrix: MANUFACTURED BY ULTECH UDCD 515 SMF8084-1A

    Mastering 6 (nearly identical to mastering 3):
    90.7/91.7/90.8/88.9/96.3/86.2/97.5

    MCA Germany MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 / Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5627/MCD01745 A1
    MCA Germany MCD 01745 DMCL 1745 / Matrix: Made in Germany MCD 01745 50169033 01 (same artwork, slightly different disc?)

    Mastering 7 (confirmed as Steve Hoffman's mastering, nearly identical to 3 & 6):
    90.7/91.7/90.8/88.9/96.3/86.1/97.5

    MCA UK MCLD 19145 "Mastered by Nimbus" / Matrix: A1388 DMCL 1745 : 1:0 IFPI L123
    MCA UK DMCL 1745 / Matrix: "DMCL 1745 1:2 Mastered by Nimbus"

    Mastering 8:
    100.0/89.5/95.8/100.0/100.0/96.5/97.0

    MCA Japan 1984, VDP-27 / Matrix: VDP 27 1 1
     
  7. Phan71

    Phan71 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    It's currently listed at $52.03 on cdjapan. How much do they charge for shipping to the US?
     
  8. Phan71

    Phan71 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    I'll have to wait until I get home to check the markings, but how can I check the EAC peak levels? Is there a program for OS X that easily does this? The only program I have (Peak LE) shows peak values as dB levels, not as a percentage.
     
  9. audiomixer

    audiomixer As Bald As The Beatles

    :righton:
     
  10. LeeS

    LeeS Music Fan

    Location:
    Atlanta
    I find it to be worth it but I'm a big fan of the album.
     
  11. art

    art Senior Member

    Location:
    520
    I think so.
     
  12. therockman

    therockman Senior Member In Memoriam




    This is my personal experience; I had a copy and sold it. There is not much difference between the original CD and the new SHM SACD. YMMV, MOTC. :cool:
     
  13. fatcat28037

    fatcat28037 Forum Resident

    Put the AJA sacd on your Amazon Wish List where you can keep an eye on the price. I do this all the time with CDs I'm interested in but want to pay less for. You'll be amazed at how the prices fluctuate.
     
  14. steeler1979

    steeler1979 Darren from Nashville

    Location:
    Nashville,Tn. USA
    You got that right!
     
  15. LeeS

    LeeS Music Fan

    Location:
    Atlanta
    Well my mileage varied greatly on this one.

    The new SHM-SACD has loads more detail than any Aja CD I have heard. It is musical and the best digital version in my experience.
     
  16. art

    art Senior Member

    Location:
    520
    Same.
     
  17. Phoney Baloney

    Phoney Baloney Member

    Location:
    Michigan, USA
  18. Davidmk5

    Davidmk5 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Marlboro , ma. usa
    I have never owned this Album on cd , but it is among my favorites , i should fidn a copy of Steve's mastering , so that's the only one that says "Mastered by Nimbus" on it ?
     
  19. Newport

    Newport New Member

    Location:
    Newport
    Save your money and stick with the original CD. After listening to the SACD, I determined it was not worth the additional cost and I sold it.
     
  20. Claus

    Claus Senior Member

    Location:
    Germany
    SHM-SACD
     
  21. Myke

    Myke Trying Not To Spook The Horse

    I sold mine in less than 12 hours of receiving it. Heard less than nothing special.

    Prefer this : MCA UK MCLD 19145 "Mastered by Nimbus"

    After receiving this, I sold all the other CDs too. All that remains is this, and the original 1977 vinyl + the Cisco vinyl.

    YMMV
     
  22. audiomixer

    audiomixer As Bald As The Beatles

    I will agree with the "more detail" comment, but there is nothing organic about the sound. It sounds cold to me...but detailed. ;)
     
  23. A UK disc with DMCL 1745 in the matrix should be Steve's mastering. But if you can't find one, the much more common mastering 3 is nearly identical.
     
  24. LeeS

    LeeS Music Fan

    Location:
    Atlanta
    I don't find it cold.
     
  25. audiomixer

    audiomixer As Bald As The Beatles

    Do you own Hoffman's remaster?
     
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