just wondered how you will know if the recording is going to be better if you order a jap cd?.
i keep looking on hmv.co.jp, do i have to look for japan edition will this be better than u.k. edition?.

cheers

liam

Don't know about the recordings, but I do know that you'll sound better if you refrain from using the derogatory adjective "jap." It's an unfortunate holdover from WWII days, probably before your time.

Fred

japanese cds.

As opposed to Brit CDs.

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
As opposed to Brit CDs.

i have got the yellow magic o. solid state survivor

Liam. There's no way of knowing for sure. Trial and error did it for me. I will now source a CD from Japan if I possibly can. Japanese produced remasters and HDCDs have also mostly been of very high quality. And I'm a sucker for those paper sleeve editions. I read in a comic last month that Japanese CDs do not employ copy protection. If true, this sells it for me up front.

Were you thinking of any album in particular?

Cheers

In my system, Japanese pressings always sound smoother and less edgy than US versions which are usually hotter and, in the case of the domestic Rudy Van Gelder reissues, way too far forward and unpleasant to listen to.

quote:

Harry K

well ive been looking there are a few i have in mind. pink floyds dark side of the moon, kraftwerks minimum maximum. i was so impressed by the oscar peterson trio's - we get requests on gold disc with paper sleeve, my friend lent me the british remaster and my gold disc is so much better.
ive just ordered two vangelis cds on ltd gold disc pressings.
can't wait.

Min Max, apart from being a cracking live performance (performances?) has easily become a live "reference standard" for me - I am impressed at every level. I have the UK issue, so if you get a Japanese copy and care to share your thoughts I'll read with great interest.

I got into the habit of buying Japanese vinyl because I was generally sick and tired of the rubbish on offer domesticly - with some notable exceptions. I was sceptical at first about Japanese CDs - after all, they're all the same surely? Isn't that the whole point? I have to say my doubts didn't last long. But it's still a lottery - they're not all perfect!

Cheers

Buyer beware. The Japanese pressings are not always better. The packaging is usually good but they also tend to be expensive.

The "Japanese Editions" of Kate Bush's albums for example, give you nice packaging but the sound is no better and in some instances, worse than originals.

Apart from The Dreaming - which is the only Kate we have from Japan. Much better than the monocromatic UK fare IMO.

Cheers

quote:

Apart from The Dreaming - which is the only Kate we have from Japan.

Hi Harry,

Not true. I have Japanese Editions of "The Kick Inside", "The Whole Story" and "The Sensual World" In each case the Euro version (not necessarily UK) sounds better.

I have other Japanese CDS that sound better than the Euro equivalent. All I'm saying is it's not certain that by buying Japanese you will get better.

You will usually pay far more though and get better packaging.

Have you got The Dreaming Japanese remaster? If you have and think it's inferior then it's a simple and understandable difference of opinion. If you haven't heard it, what I said above is true. I wasn't contraditcing you. Your comments on some of the other Japenese editions of Kate are noted. Probably wouldn't buy them anyway but a red flag from a fellow audophile is always something worth having in the memory - with the usual allowance for subjective differences in taste/hearing/brain/etc....

Cheers

Sorry Harry, I misunderstood.

I was disappointed with the three Kate Bush CDs that I tried, because I particularly thought The Kick Inside might be better.

A Japanese copy of Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu & Rabbit proved to be streets ahead of the copy i had, but did say "remaster" on it.

The packaging is, as you say, much better.

Regards,

Steve.

I wish they would do something with The Kick Inside Steve. There’s some strong stuff hidden beneath that rather twee, tickly veneer. For some reason the Japanese issue hasn’t tempted us. The Mighty Bush probably needs to gut and renovate the whole set.

I’ve had three big let downs from Japan – two Yes and one Tull. It is always going to be a lottery but the percentage is favourable so far.

Are we sad or what…..?

I don’t care.

Cheers

Liam, you may do well to do a search on ebay for MFSL ( Mobile(?) Fidelity Sound Lab) While expensive, there recordings are (as far as I know) of the highest order. DSOTM turns up fairly regularly, but it aint cheap!