I'm new to this forum. So I'm unsure if the following question has been answered or not. In any case, I'd like to ask for some information regarding Japanese CD's.

I'd like to know if Japanese CD's are better sounding and better manufactured compared to UK and USA discs?

I do know that they are often better packaged. For example I have "La-Di-Da" by Power Pop group Gladhands. This CD has lyric booklet and even has extra tracks that the USA version doesn't. Also I have album replica CD's for New Wave band XTC, in which the sound is sonically different, but that's only because their back catalogue has been remastered.

So, if anyone knows if Japanese discs are better in terms of their manufacturing or even if they are sonically better sounding, then I'd like to know. Also are there any scientific studies that proving if it is a myth or true? Let me know.

Welcome Chris;

The answer is 'Yes'.

Unfortunately; no one seems to know why.

The same applies to Japanese vinyl.

John.

Hi Chris,

I suspect that like many endeavors, it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. I can say that I have bought a number of Three Blind Mice jazz CDs over the years and they all are among the best sounding in my collection. However, the content is not always as enduring/endearing as the efforts of the established jazz greats such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, etc. I also own about a dozen JVC XRCDs of jazz and classical music re-issues, and they all are quite excellent, though perhaps not worth all of the price premium charged.

Norman

Interesting first post, and likewise it'll be interesting to see the response. Japanese vinyl was undoubtedly superior to my ears mainly because it was so quiet compared to the rest. CDs though - different beasts altogether. Are Japanese CDs taken from the same masters?

I just like to say thanks to all for replying to my question.

If anyone else has any further information regarding my question, please feel free to post them for all to see.

I only have one Japanese disc so I'm not an expert in that area, but my experience of US discs suggests that they are generally made better.

I wonder if it has anything to do with where the materials are sourced from as all of the US ones I have are slightly heavier. Soundwise I only have 3 CDs that are the same, one US and 2 UK copies, and to be honest it's probably not a fair comparison because they are all different pressings (the two UK ones show variations in the picture pressed on the CD). If anything the earlier UK one sounds better!

I'm not sure anybody out there is mad enough to buy multiple copies of everything just to make sure, although I did put a CD in the freezer once...