LP pressings from other countries?


I've got the vinyl bug (again) and now that I'm shopping on eBay I've realized that there are pressings from throughout the world, and I don't know the difference in quality. I have several MFSL and Classic albums and know that they're better than the standard pressings. I've also heard that Japan has the best pressings, but not sure why...

I am looking at rock albums like Queensryche's Empire, which has pressings from Korea, Brazil, and Italy. Anyone have a guideline for best to worst?
axis7

Showing 1 response by inna

Very generally speaking, without referring to particular titles and music from fifties and sixties, Japanese, German, Dutch and some British pressings are usually the best. Also, as an example, Japanese and German pressing of the same recording may both sound excellent but somewhat different. Japanese vinyl is usually the quietest high resolution and most balanced but in some cases may not be the best in dynamics and rhythm.
Say, most people agree that the best edition of Pink Floyd's DSOTM is Japanese EMI/Toshiba for pro use not regular Japanese, not original British which are both very good too.
So this subject is more complicated than it may seem.