JAPAN-pressed CDs : Do they Sound Better?

I don't know if I'm in the proper forum but It is a question that baffled me for Ages, There are numerous articles in the Web written about this, and based upon the suggestions and deliberations from others, Japanese pressing sound better, hence the heftier price tag...so far I only have 2 CDs in my shelf that I can Compare with, Exodus' "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" (Jap & US) and Helloween's "Rabbit Don't Come easy" (Jap & Germany)...I don't know if this is just an effing sonic illusion or something but they DO sound better (at least to my auditory perception), any thoughts on this one specially to those who own dual pressings?

I don't know......but 1/2 hour after listening you're hungry again.

I don't know if they sound better but they usually have some bonus tracks on them.

I'm not sure about the sound, but i like japanese records because they always have some extra material.

I think you're referring to the SHM CD?

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The high quality SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing, SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc, allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players.

I doubt there's much difference but it would be interesting to compare

I don't think they sound better - it all comes down to the production of the album not how it was pressed imo. Digital is digital no matter where it was pressed in the world.

The only difference in quality, if at all, is that Japanese CDs may be more durable and longer lasting but I think we discussed this before, I've had some CDs for over 2 - 3 decades now and they sound as good as the day I first bought them.

The real difference is that Japanese CDs come with bonus tracks and from time to time different packaging - they have mini lps and various types of digipacks and you may also get a more elaborate booklet. That will always dictate the price difference between Japanese and rest of the world releases.

Maybe if you have a super duper advanced stereo system that costs thousands of dollars, you'd be able to tell the difference. If you just play your CDs on a plain ole piece of crap boom box it makes no nevermind.

Alex Dee Rokket wrote:

I don't think they sound better - it all comes down to the production of the album not how it was pressed imo. Digital is digital no matter where it was pressed in the world.

The only difference in quality, if at all, is that Japanese CDs may be more durable and longer lasting but I think we discussed this before, I've had some CDs for over 2 - 3 decades now and they sound as good as the day I first bought them.

The real difference is that Japanese CDs come with bonus tracks and from time to time different packaging - they have mini lps and various types of digipacks and you may also get a more elaborate booklet. That will always dictate the price difference between Japanese and rest of the world releases.

I like the bonus material a lot in most cases but sometimes the prices can be pretty high.

Alex Dee Rokket wrote:

Digital is digital no matter where it was pressed in the world.

There is actually what they call 'localized' remaster, means that if a CD is released 2 or 3 years after, that's where the secret remastering is done. I swear to God I can hear audible differences, albeit subtle, Japan versions sound clearer and punchier, Tho I need to further confirm this from other people who own dual pressing

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Japan versions sound clearer and punchier

I'm no expert and my set-up isn't top of the line but I know the Japanese versions I own of Overkill's Killing Kind and Diamond Head's Death and Progress sound, as you described, "clearer and punchier". I recently got X - Blue Blood and Anthem's s/t as Japanese imports and the sound of them on my car stereo was noticeably better than when I popped in a regular new release.

I only buy Japanese imports when I find them cheap. Love the bonus tracks. And though I can't read Japanese I also love the large fold-out liner notes.

I've heard very few Japanese CDs that weren't at least some improvement over their US counterpart. Meticulous attention to detail in transferring, mastering and pressing, by a country that still values physical product.

Sound is a pretty universal trait. Most CDs are pressed at the same, similar or indistinguishable bitrates, so no, they don't "sound better."

It is cheaper for Japan to import CD's than it is for them to sell them domestically. This is why many albums have bonus tracks or special artwork when released through Japanese record labels. It is their way to combat the price fluctuation and get Japanese consumers to buy domestically.

They don't sound any different, but you get more bang for your buck.

They sound the same. The reason they are priced more highly is because they can. Thus why artists are always putting extra songs on Japanese releases to make up for it. I was in Japan for a year and bought quite a few releases there and it was a pretty hefty price to pay for CD's and other stuff.

Lurideath wrote:

They sound the same. The reason they are priced more highly is because they can. Thus why artists are always putting extra songs on Japanese releases to make up for it. I was in Japan for a year and bought quite a few releases there and it was a pretty hefty price to pay for CD's and other stuff.

They do not "sound the same", I've done side-by-side comparisons of hundreds of Jazz CDs pressed in US, Europe and Japan. The Japanese CDs almost always have a different quality to them, this doesn't "always" mean they sound the best, but they are unique.

Usually with jazz recordings the Japanese masters have more dynamic range and aren't compressed as severely as their US counterparts. They seem to lean towards a warm sound ala vinyl instead of the crisp digital sheen. I would rather own the Japanese versions of the entire Blue Note catalog, I've never been happy with the US reissues.

Identical track/s from 2 different pressings have different WAVEFORMS when viewed under the Audacity software, the Japanese pressing is definitely less compressed, but only marginal thus less-Metallic/Digital sounding, As to all people insisting that "It is impossible because there is only one Digital source" I'd say take a closer look, It may sound ridiculous but the fact of the matter is, they don't sound exactly the same, the Japanese has a very ingenious way of improving the sound quality of a recording.

I've never done side by side comparing mainly because I've never had nor probably ever have 2 copies (domestic & foreign) of a certain release. I fall into the category of wanting the japanese versions for the bonus material (on a side note:why do Japanses releases always have the bonus tracks?).

That said,I wouldn't be surprised in the least that the foreign version do indeed sound better.

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I was in Japan for a year and bought quite a few releases there and it was a pretty hefty price to pay for CD's and other stuff.

I've always wondered what Japanese prices were in Japan. I take it they are still high even if you are there. Or is the conversion to yen bad? Always wanted to make the trip myself.

Well I remember specifically 3 albums I bought over there.

One was Metallica's S/T (Black) album on CD and it was $25.00 US. Needless to say it was the worst 25 dollars I ever spent and the CD flew out the 6th story window of the barracks I was living in 40 minutes after I bought it. Japanese CD's seem to fly better than American CD's! This CD came with the bonus track "So What" by the Anti-Nowhere League

Another CD I bought was a 3 disc set of Black Sabbath The Ozzy Years. I remember that one costing me $55.00 US

And the other I specifically remember buying was Slayer's "Decade of Aggression" which ran me $35.00 US. It had 3 extra songs than the American release.

I remember buying more but can't remember the prices on them. I am sure they were all close to $25.00 though.

This was also 1991/1992 time frame and I was living in Okinawa. Maybe Okinawa's prices were higher than the mainland Japan's prices? Not sure on that.

S.D. wrote:

I've heard very few Japanese CDs that weren't at least some improvement over their US counterpart. Meticulous attention to detail in transferring, mastering and pressing, by a country that still values physical product.

Exactly what he said. So yes, they do sound better. I've ditched alot of stuff for it's Japenese counterparts over the years.

S.D. wrote:

Meticulous attention to detail in transferring, mastering and pressing, by a country that still values physical product.

THIS

I have lots of Japanese releases. They do sound better but I don't know if they are of a high enough quality to justify the price. I will say the Japanese Dio remasters are excellent. Glad I got those.

I have some japan versions and I dont notice a lot of difference.

On the note about secret remastering and someone also mentioned the Dio albums sounding better - yes I can see that point and I am sure it occurs from time to time for certain albums.

It's not all that unusual that certain albums get remastered editions in particular territories / countries around the world so I think Japan is no exception here except maybe it might happen more often than we know about it.

Damn, Me want those Dio Re-Masters, These Standard Dio releases that I bought sounded too 'mushy' to my liking except for the modern "Strange Highways"

I'm no expert in the technical aspect of this but I can tell Japanese pressings sounds better than their US and Germany counterparts.