JAPAN-pressed CDs : Do they Sound Better?

I've got a Japanese version of Exodus' SHKM in a jewel case and an European one in a digi-pak. I can't detect any difference in the sound quality. Just the fact that the Japanese version has cover of Sex Pistol's Problems, ... which has inferior production quality to the rest of the album.

I had friends who swore up and done that Japanese vinyl was better soundwise. My joke was it was the slip of paper on the side with all the chicken scratch on it. (O.B.I)

Well, I do know that the entire country of Japan, even with the extra radiation, is not as delicious tasting as the original Japanese pressing of 'Dark Side Of The Moon' sounds. Of course you're not hearing the record as it's meant to be heard unless you pick up the very first copy ever made, the copies that followed are OK but you're kind of wasting your time. Still better sound than anything else ever made after that year, unless you want to destroy your ears and not know what music sounds like.

I've only got about a dozen Japanese CDs in my collection, tops, and as I said in an earlier post, most of the time I listen to my CDs either on the stereo in my truck or on the lil' piece of crap boom box on my desk at work so if there is a major difference in audio quality I've never been able to tell.

However, Japanese discs make great conversation pieces because of all the cool extra junk that's usually included with 'em. In addition to the ubiquitous OBI strip, some of my Japanese discs have "extra" booklets inside the "regular" one with all the song lyrics/liner notes translated into Japanese, lengthy essays about the band/album, or mini "catalogs" that show all of the other releases available on the same label. It makes me wish I knew how to read Japanese!!

James B. wrote:

I had friends who swore up and done that Japanese vinyl was better soundwise. My joke was it was the slip of paper on the side with all the chicken scratch on it. (O.B.I)

I'm no expert but to my ears Japanese vinyl usually sounds better. Don't know about CD's though.

For me Japan releases Id only get if they had bonus tracks I already didnt have For example I bought the new David Bowie album the deluxe which came with 3 bonus tracks , the Japan release came with 1 but that 1 bonus track wasnt on my deluxe I was not happy......

stepcousin wrote:

James B. wrote:

I had friends who swore up and done that Japanese vinyl was better soundwise. My joke was it was the slip of paper on the side with all the chicken scratch on it. (O.B.I)

I'm no expert but to my ears Japanese vinyl usually sounds better. Don't know about CD's though.

My post didn't state that they sounded better/worse. Like usual, humor was the intent.

I only have some Scorps and MSG stuff from Japan on vinyl and they are the heavier vinyl similar to what is used nowadays on new and reissued titles.

One thing I know is if you guys need obscure prog that sounds great, look to Japan, only over there have there been remasters in mini-LP form of a whole lot of old prog rock from France, Spain, Italy, Canada....... Clearlight, Pulsar, Island, Pollen, Weidorje, whatever....