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Does Steely Dan sound bright to you?

This is going to sound like a somewhat random question but I’m wondering how many of you find Steely Dan’s recordings to sound a bit bright. I’m particularly thinking of Gaucho, and Aja but some other recent recordings, too, such as Fagen’s Nightfly.

My typical media include streaming (CD and HD quality) and CD’s. I have not played my old vinyl because I’m presently without a turntable.

At first I thought it was my system and it was driving me a little bit mental; eventually, I decided it wasn't my stuff, it was their stuff. Because most other recordings on the same system with no other changes don’t typically have the brightness of Steely Dan.

Whether or not you’re a fan (I am) Steely Dan has often been a go-to for testing out equipment, so I imagine there will be experiences people have had about this.

P.S. Any other recordings which, for you are unnaturally bright?


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sokogear
1,063 posts
 
@speakermaster - it’s not just about the sound quality. I have Gaucho on a Japanese pressing and it is one of my top sounding records, easily. That doesn’t mean it’s one of the best compared to Aja, Royal Scam, Pretzel Logic....

IMO Aja is one of the greatest albums of all time up there with DSOTM and several Beatles records, Dylan, you name it. That’s why you don’t hear more about Gaucho. It is great (all Steely Dan albums are) but not close to Aja.
fleschler
1,938 posts
 
My roughly 30 year old original CDs do not sound unnaturally bright either.  I put Pretzel Logic up there with Aja.   
@Kevlev42  Yeah, until the early 1990s and a couple of Kyocera CD players I felt the same way.  I now have 7,000 CDs and record/produce my own CDs frpm orchestra/chamber/choral groups for over 25 years from digital recorders.   I now listen using COS Engineering D1 and D2 DACs.  There is NO comparison to 1980s/1990s CD players.   As wonderful as great analog through great DACs.
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tonykay
1,298 posts
 
Steely Dan’s "Aja" has always been my reference while listening to vinyl. In fact, I even enjoy the CD version. Is it too bright? Who cares, I love the SD sound. Donald Fagen’s "The Nightfly" is also a favorite.
grubbs's avatar
grubbs
2 posts
 
Always felt some music sounds bright and have tried to taylor my choice of components to minimize this. Aja does sound on the bright side to me, but still sounds amazing, dynamic, and detailef and still gives goose bumps. 
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