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Hearsay, Rumor, Myth or Fact?

Last week I ordered a cd by Lee Morgan called "Charisma" on Blue Note Records from CD Connection. Their database listed a $10 domestic cd and a $25 imported cd...same music label.

I received the $10 cd yesterday. I played it last night and it was thoroughly enjoyable. What do you get for the extra $15 on the imported version?

I was told by a wise old sage and fellow jazz fanatic back in the '70's that imported lp's from Japan were of superior quality than the domestic stuff. Normally in record stores back then, when you saw the Japanese version of an lp, it was generally at least twice the cost of the domestic version.

Has anyone here found this superiority claim to be true? Can anyone cite any specific examples of recordings that they have compared side by side that supports the import superiority claim?

If true, is it generally found that certain record labels sound better on the imported version...or is it generally true across the board?

Or, is it true in just jazz recordings?

Or, is this something that audiophiles do to spend more money to psychologically fool themselves that their system will sound better if the imported recording costs more money than the domestic version?

It would seem a shame for an audiophile to spend $10-50K+ on a system, and then feel like he's cutting corners when confronted with these two choices when purchasing music. I would rather not spend more than twice as much for a piece of music just for peace of mind that I've gotten the best if it's just hearsay, rumor or myth.
128x128mitch4t
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Post removed 
xiekitchen
821 posts
 
Viridian is right on this one: Many Japanese pressings, while sometimes quieter, do not necessarily contain greater detail,"air" or spaciousness. For example, I have (one of my favorite recordings) 3 copies of John Mclaughlin's "Belo Horizonte": one U.S. pressing, one West German pressing, one Japanese pressing. I thought the Japanese would be the best..also cost me the most.. the U.S. pressing is better, and the West German pressing is the best. I have compared pressings of Weather Report albums from U.S., Japan, Holland, U.K... normally Holland comes in first.. Sometimes Japan is better.. also with Santana "Caravansarai" Holland is best over U.S. Now with progressive rock acts like Yes, ELP, King Crimson, Genesis, U.K. pressings are ALWAYS better, and sometimes Japan even better than U.K.
loontoon
301 posts
 
Do to many of the US manufacturers re-grinding thier old vinyl that didn't sell, and NOT REMOVING THE LABELS.

As for vinyl and loonatic fringe, I resemble that remark, but, I fail to see how vinyl chloride monomer, the offender in vinyl is effected by the pressing process.

The monomer is an issue when in it's monomeric form. Not in it's processed polyvinylchloride form aka PVC.

All vinyl is basic pipe grade vinyl, modified in one way or another and plasticizers with carbon black added for static disappation and color.

So I doubt the vinyl formulation would be that different, I would guess attention to detail of the masters, recording and pressing process.

Also the run numbers in non US countries tend to be less and often times the master is not over used, or used up when the piece of vinyl comes to you.

my 2 pence worth,

loon
jay_douglas_2879b79
239 posts
 
manufacturing is now a myth. consolidation in the music industry has caused the labels to manufacture their discs in fewer plants and export to various territories. several years ago the source material was also different in different countries. the japanese were the first to upgrade the source material, and today catalogue and new releases are the primarily the same, no matter who the label is. the additional cost to the consumer for the mini-lp is the packaging, and the cost of additional royalties if there are additional music tracks. as a collector, its still worth it,but the reality today is the the source and the manufacturing standards are the same in the u.s.,u.k.,and japan.
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,610 posts
 
I periodically check eBay to see what my stuff is worth.

I'll never sell any of it though. I like getting a little redemption for holding onto my jazz vinyl for 4 decades.

The sad part is, when I croak, my wife and kids will sell my collection for next to nothing in a yard sale....or give it away.
rja's avatar
rja
2,370 posts
 
I have many Japanese CDs including Blue Note. CDs in Japan cost in the area of US$18-$25 each, so although you're paying a premium in US terms you're actually paying the standard Japanese price. I have, however, seen mini-LP japanese CDs selling for as much as $34 in the US but generally they go for less. Most of my Japanese CDs were purchased directly from Japan. I first started doing this because some titles (mostly jazz) were only available in Japan. It seems that Japanese consumers had more choice in American jazz than we in the US had, maybe they were bigger fans. At least there must have been a better market for US jazz.
As far as sound quality, many Japanese CDs are superior in sound quality but there is no guarantee. Certainly the question needs to be considered about the value of the additional $10-$20 in cost. The additional cost is easier to handle if there is no other choice to purchase a title.
PS: Japanese manufactured DCC and MFSL CD titles are also going for a premium over the same US manufacured titles.
deckhous
7 posts
 
The vinyl formulation is one element of the quality difference. I think another factor is the manufacturing and production standards. The Japanese are renown for attention to detail and LP's, in contrast to CD's, are almost a handmade product. Note the handwritten alphanumerics on each LP!
Post removed 
easy_e
95 posts
 
Viridian,

Are you serious about the "Something Else" LP? I have a beautiful original copy and never dreamed it was worth so much! How exciting.

easy.
nrchy's avatar
nrchy
2,124 posts
 
I was a little perplexed when reading the question because you started talking about CDs and jumped to LPs.

There is a big difference between domestic(US) and some European and Japanese LP pressings. The issue dates back to the 70's when the environmental lunatics determined that the process for producing superior quality LPs caused too much pollution. The manufacturers were forced to change the way the vinyl was made, and this resulted in poorer quality vinyl for LPs. Some European countries adopted these laws too, and their vinyl also was of poorer quality.

Holland, and Japan, for example continued to press LPs with the old recipe for vinyl and therefore were able to produce better sounding LPs.

The new DSOTM is a good example. It is pressed in Holland. Did you ever wonder why Holland was chosen? It wasn't due to the admittedly nice scenery. The quality of the vinyl is better than the UK, and production costs are cheaper than Japan.

This has nothing to do with the manufacture of CDs though. I don't know why an import CD would cost more other than the cost to swim across the ocean. That's a lot of work!
Post removed 
jadem6's avatar
jadem6
1,074 posts
 
I know for a fact that Kasey Chambers first two albums, "The Captain" And "Barricades and Brickwalls" are superior in audio quality from the import EMI Australia label vs. the domestic label. I have owned both on both formats and the imports are far less glare and more natural sounding. I have also bought a few Limited edition imports of Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, and Wishbone Ash. I have found them to be superior too.
J.D.
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