| gastelllo 04.12.2006 09:32 |
I'm going to purchase japan CDs. They are expensive, but I suppose they recorded with better quality them original. (Remastered etc). Is it true? Thanks |
| Jjeroen 04.12.2006 10:19 |
In the vinyl-days, yes, Japanese pressings were significantly better then whatever other pressing. Mainly because the quality of the vinyl they used was superiour. In the digital era, on cd, there is no difference anymore. The same masters are used worldwide and a cd is a cd. There is no good cd or a bad cd or anything in between like the vinyl. The only appealing plus on Japanese releases these days is the extra booklets, the obi-strip and of course the bonus tracks. |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 10:23 |
link Standard disc $12.99 Audio CD (March 5, 1991) Original Release Date: February 22, 1991 link Japan Edition $45.49 Audio CD (April 13, 2004) Original Release Date: December 18, 1976 Number of Discs: 1 Format: Import, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered 2004 VS 1991(1976) |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 10:25 |
It looks like japan remastered all old albums. |
| Jjeroen 04.12.2006 10:47 |
I thought your question was in general. In this case: yes, these discs feature remasters that are exclusive to the Japanese cd's. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE BETTER! Although if you like a remaster or not is always a matter of personal taste - some of these are just plain awefull. On the other hand, some are realy good! My quick survey, by heart: Queen I - Good Queen II - Very good SHA - very good ANATO - the new euro one is better ADATR - good enough NOTW - good Jazz - good The Game - reasonable Flash - nothing spectacular, decent enough Hot Space - decent The Works - doubtfull Magic - doubtfull Miracle - awesome! Innuendo - utter CRAP! Made in Heaven - doubtfull |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 10:51 |
It was general question, because I have all standard CDs in my collection than now I thinking abouyt this japans products. They remada all albums and I need to know - is it realy different than old ones or no? |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 10:58 |
>ANATO - the new euro one is better What you mean euro? 30th univ edition? |
| onevsion 04.12.2006 11:04 |
That's the one indeed! |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 11:08 |
BTW link Good review about this re-issue. |
| Jjeroen 04.12.2006 11:34 |
If you have the old EMI first cd issues then YES there is a BIG difference with the remasters. Especially with all the older albums. If you have the Hollywood Records or Digital Remasters series editions then NO the difference is not so big. (Lots of people would probably not even notice the differences - you need to be an audiophiliac to REALY hear the difference.) With a few exeptions: Miracle sounds significantly better. It's fuller, fatter and more powerfull. Magic and Works sound less good and Innuendo is just realy realy horrible. The production of this album is already thin to begin with (like everything from the early 90's!), but for this remaster they took out a lot of the 'middle', which makes the whole album sound very weak, light and empty. Oh, and 'yes' the 30th anniversary version was the ANATO I meant :-) |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 11:40 |
In 1991 all albums were re-release but were not re-mastered. I did not see Queen II or Queen re-masterd fro EMI or Hollywood record. But Japan did it. I was in store yesterday - yes I saw couple disks like Live Killers with re-mastered stickers, but not them all. If you look in amazon - you can not find re-mastered Miracle from EMI or Hollywood records because they did not do this work. (the same about Innuendo and etc). Sorry for my English. Thanks |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 11:46 |
link Miracle from Hollywood records $13.98 Audio CD (October 22, 1991) Original Release Date: June 6, 1989 link Audio CD (October 24, 2001) $36.49 Number of Discs: 1 Format: Original recording remastered, Import link Audio CD (July 20, 2004) $45.99 Original Release Date: June 6, 1989 Number of Discs: 1 Format: Import, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered 2th and 3rd - the same I think, just different papers. But HR firs one - it's old one. |
| Jjeroen 04.12.2006 11:56 |
gastelllo wrote: In 1991 all albums were re-release but were not re-mastered. I did not see Queen II or Queen re-masterd fro EMI or Hollywood record. ===>Yes, they WERE released! Queen and Queen II BOTH have appeared as Hollywood records and also Digital Remasters!! But Japan did it. I was in store yesterday - yes I saw couple disks like Live Killers with re-mastered stickers, but not them all. If you look in amazon - you can not find re-mastered Miracle from EMI or Hollywood records because they did not do this work. (the same about Innuendo and etc). --->True. There IS a Hollywood version of both the discs. But officially they have the same masters as the EMI/Parlophone versions. (Though I Want It All has a different version on the first pressing on Hollywood - by mistake!) Untill a couple of years ago it was useless to remaster them because they were so recent albums. They were supposed to be up to the newest standard already. |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 12:03 |
>Queen and Queen II BOTH have appeared as >Hollywood records and also Digital Remasters!! No information about it. |
| Wilki Amieva 04.12.2006 12:05 |
Hollywood Records DID remaster all albums up to (but obviously not including) INNUENDO in 1991. Then Parlophone released its own 'Digital Master Series' in 1993/4 including all albums to THE WORKS. And then were the 1998 remasters, made only in Japan and USA, comprising from QUEEN to THE GAME. And then the 2001... This is getting sooo boring now! |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 12:14 |
link This is message about my question. 1991 EMI added bonus only. NO Remastered! 1994 EMI did remasterd in Europe and Japan, 2001: All albums re-issued in Japan on CD in with improved sound quality. 2004: All albums re-issued in Japan on CD (using the 2001 remasters). "Mini Vinyls", card sleeve. QOL Shop: Mini Vinyls This answer. Queen albums 1973-1995 Timeline for CD releases: 1984-1985: Greatest Hits I on CD for the first time. 1986: Albums 1973-1986 are released on CD for the first time. 1989: The Miracle released on CD for the first time. 1991: Innuendo released on CD for the first time. 1991: USA CD re-issues with bonus tracks (Hollywood Records) 1991: Greatest Hits II on CD for the first time. QOL Shop 1992: Live At Wembley -86 on CD for the first time. 1994: All albums re-issued on CD in Europe and Japan. (EMI Digital Remaster Series) QOL Shop 1994: Greatest Hits I re-issued on CD in Europe and Japan. QOL Shop 1995: Made In Heaven on CD for the first time. QOL Shop 1996: Live Magic released in the USA on CD. 1998: Albums (1973-1978) re-issued in Japan on CD with a card sleeve. "Mini vinyls". 1998: MFSL issues in the USA. (Different sleeve and gold CD.) MFSL 2001: All albums re-issued in Japan on CD in with improved sound quality. 2003: Live Killers re-issued in September 2003 in Europe with the same quality as the Japanese 2001 re-issue. QOL Shop 2003: Live At Wembley -86 re-issued in the USA and Europe with improved sound quality, new sleeve. QOL Shop 2004: All albums re-issued in Japan on CD (using the 2001 remasters). "Mini Vinyls", card sleeve. QOL Shop: Mini Vinyls 2005: A Night At The Opera remastered version for its 30th anniversary. QOL Shop 2005: A Night At The Opera Collector's Edition (CD+DVD), remastered for its 30th anniversary. CD: Remastered. DVD: Studio album presented in both DTS 5.1 Surround Sound and the re-mastered stereo mix. QOL Shop |
| Deacon Fan 04.12.2006 13:40 |
"1998: MFSL issues in the USA. (Different sleeve and gold CD.) MFSL" re-issues perhaps but I bought these in 1993 Everyone's opinion is going to differ of course.. for example "The Miracle" sounding fatter and better.. that's because they re-EQ'd it and cut down the midrange which some won't find so pleasing.. it's a matter of listening preference. I've tried to answer these topics several times with comparisons and such, but it really comes down to each series of releases having advantages and disadvantages. I would recommend the 2001 Japanese remasters because overall the sound is decent, and if you get them in the 2004 card sleeves (paper jackets, mini-LP, whatever) it makes a very nice collection I think. I don't recommend buying from places such as Amazon though. It's slightly cheaper to import them yourself from link (allow cookies and select the English option) or link. Back in 2004, even with rather expensive FedEx shipping from Japan (which HMV has now dropped in favor of EMS) I got them all at just under $30 each, which is a much better deal than starting at $35 plus shipping to have them pre-imported. But I'm speaking only for Americans.. in the UK they were imported and shipped to stores for local sales. |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 13:51 |
I found 2004 Japan Edition CDs on ebay for $15 each yesterday. Not all but five of them. Amazon offer this stuff for $45-50 but it looks like same stuff. I bought one of them (ebay) and waiting for delivery. |
| Deacon Fan 04.12.2006 14:14 |
Yeah, Ebay is also a good option. I have nothing against Amazon in general.. I use them all the time, but when it comes to most imports they really take advantage of people with their prices. CD Universe is slightly better at times. They even had domestic-like prices for the new Freddie releases before Hollywood finally put the CD out. And I've seen the card sleeves there for under $30 before which is much more reasonable. |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 14:15 |
I think miniLP japane 2004 edition - best purchase for now. |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 14:41 |
link MFSL did only 3 CDs. But yes - it interesting. |
| Adam Baboolal 04.12.2006 15:05 |
It is a very tricky thing this because, as Bubbles said, it can be a very personal thing. We all had a listen when some were posted and while some of the 2001/4 ones were better, two things showed up: 1) Bubbles showed that they might be more compressed (audio-wise NOT compressed like an MP3). This can lead to less dynamic range in the tunes. Believe me, this is important as others will tell you. 2) Some of the later albums after 1982 seemed to sound worse off than the previous albums. Those were our thoughts at the time. So, while I don't know if the old thread exists, I'm sure it has been brought up in the last 2 years, so there should be some blurbs about it. If you're really interested! My own opinion leads me to think that newer doesn't always mean better and that certainly applies to the 2001 remasters. However, the 2005 NATO was done extremely well. That feels good with no extreme changes like the 2001 versions have had done to them. My advice is to listen to the 1993 and 2001 versions and see what you think. Adam. |
| Rock It 04.12.2006 18:55 |
Where do the "Crown Jewels" stand in this comparison?, because i want to buy this box. link Thanks, RockIt |
| Adam Baboolal 04.12.2006 19:06 |
Personally, I don't really know. I hear that some people say there's a lot of noise reduction on the 1998 jewels box stuff. I have Jazz from the crown jewels box, but alas, someone has my 1993/4 Jazz so I can't compare. Adam. |
| Deacon Fan 04.12.2006 19:09 |
Ouch. Ok, the Crown Jewels box consists of the 1998 remasters.. nearly everyone I've heard talk about these agrees that they have a 'flat' over-noise-reduction sound to them. They're not terrible, but they kinda suck.. hehe. The other thing is.. the artwork used for this version of card sleeves is very poorly done. Some are grainy, even have scanner-like artifacts (patterns) and they really don't hold a candle to the beautiful authentic reproductions done for the 2004 series. On the plus side, you can pick up this box very cheap. Don't pay full price from a retailer! Get a brand new one on Ebay... look for it.. they sell as low as $35 new and sealed.. no kidding. It's a steal and a good way to start a collection if you don't mind the quality issues. I bought mine in late 2003 from 'DisneyDeals' on Ebay for $35.. kept it til mid-2004 when I'd finished replacing the discs with the nicer card sleeves, then I sold it back to Secondspin.com for the same $35! heh The velvet-covered box is nice, though it attracts dust like mad.. and they've collected all of the lyrics and liner notes into a cd-sized booklet. Seriously though.. don't pay Amazon's or anyone else's price.. you can get it new for less than half of that. If you decide it's worth getting. |
| Deacon Fan 04.12.2006 19:15 |
Adam, we really need some folks to pitch in and make some sort of permanent comparison page on a site with flac samples of each album and each edition (not full tracks of course, but maybe a minute's worth). It seems people ask about this all the time and there's no easy answer. If we could point them somewhere where they could compare on their own, that would be fab. I no longer have webspace after switching ISPs or I'd offer to host it. I can certainly provide Hollywood and 2001 samples though. Oh, and Crown Jewels as well, since I sneakily kept CD-R copies of those before selling ;) |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 19:43 |
Rock It wrote: Where do the "Crown Jewels" stand in this comparison?, because i want to buy this box. RockItHollywood label before 2001 than this is first remastered attempt in new form (actually 1991). |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 19:45 |
Mary Potts wrote: Adam, we really need some folks to pitch in and make some sort of permanent comparison page on a site with flac samples of each album and each edition (not full tracks of course, but maybe a minute's worth).Great idea. |
| radio_what's_new 04.12.2006 19:57 |
|
| radio_what's_new 04.12.2006 19:57 |
Mary Potts wrote: Ouch. Ok, the Crown Jewels box consists of the 1998 remasters.. nearly everyone I've heard talk about these agrees that they have a 'flat' over-noise-reduction sound to them. They're not terrible, but they kinda suck.. hehe.The crown jewels box has the same mastered versions as the 1998 japanese mini-lp versions. Just take a look at the record collector magazine of 1998 were they review the japanese 1998 releases. The artwork of the japanese versions is better I agree but soundwise the jewels box is great... |
| gastelllo 04.12.2006 20:00 |
1991 EMI added bonus only. NO Remastered! 1994 EMI did remasterd in Europe and Japan, ============================================= Jewels were made here. :) 1994 remastered. ============================================= 2001: All albums re-issued in Japan on CD in with improved sound quality. 2004: All albums re-issued in Japan on CD (using the 2001 remasters). "Mini Vinyls", card sleeve. QOL Shop: Mini Vinyls ============================================= But now we can buy discs from 2001. :) ============================================= |
| Deacon Fan 04.12.2006 23:19 |
radio_what's_new wrote:Indeed. It's the U.S. version. Japan and the UK got 2 sets of 4 discs or something and the U.S. got them all in this box.Mary Potts wrote: Ouch. Ok, the Crown Jewels box consists of the 1998 remasters.. nearly everyone I've heard talk about these agrees that they have a 'flat' over-noise-reduction sound to them. They're not terrible, but they kinda suck.. hehe.The crown jewels box has the same mastered versions as the 1998 japanese mini-lp versions. Just take a look at the record collector magazine of 1998 were they review the japanese 1998 releases. The artwork of the japanese versions is better I agree but soundwise the jewels box is great... I'm sure there's gonna be good and bad reviews of anything. But I've heard time and time again, and agree myself, that these 1998 masters used too much noise reduction. They are not the same as the 1994 ones.. nor are they the same as the 2001 ones. They were a weird little batch of 8 discs only and fortunatey abandoned before any further albums were done. Brian himself commented about this 1998 series being sub-par when announcing the 2004 card sleeves and stated that they decided to start over using the 2001 versions. The 2001 remasters in Japan covered almost everything.. even Greatest Hits I & II. And there are now card sleeves available for the live albums as well as the studio albums. I'm hoping they'll do the hits albums too.. |
| user name 05.12.2006 03:46 |
Just in case it hasn't been answered yet, CDs imported from Japan are always up to 2-3 times the price of domestic CDs, regardless of quality - even if the CDs are identical. |
| gastelllo 05.12.2006 06:59 |
I think its good reason to pay $35 for good product insteed old noisy record. |
| Jjeroen 05.12.2006 10:01 |
I don't know where you get those statistics you keep copying and pasting in here, but they are obviously not correct! There ARE both Hollywood and Digital Remasters Series versions of Queen and Queen II PERIOD. Only thing I can think off is that those are the ones that have been long out of print - logically they might have sold the most because those are the two albums that benefitted the most of the remasterting. Then: The MFSL cd's were indeed released as early as 1993. The did Opera, Races and NOTW. All three titles on 180 gram audiophile heavywight vinyl as on high fidelity carat gold discs. The vinyl as well as the cd's are stunning! in audio quality and the best ones to get (apart maybe from the 30th anniversary Opera...) BUT if you have a 'regular' cd player with 'regular' speakers - forget about paying so much money for these releases as you will NOT hear the difference! On a final not: there actually IS a website in the making that compares all the editions of all the albums. Watch this space. |
| gastelllo 05.12.2006 10:09 |
>There ARE both Hollywood and Digital Remasters >Series versions of Queen and Queen II PERIOD. We did not refuse it. But Japan did it in 2001 one more time. Second - of course cheap audio system can not recognize differents. MFSL did three labels - this is correct. But yesterday I saw active auction on ebay ...ok...here you go link MFSL The Game Sealed :) Is it fake? :) My point is still clear - Japanese edition 2004 (2001 remastered) - the best choice for now. (excepct Night at Opera) |
| Adam Baboolal 05.12.2006 12:26 |
jeroen wrote: On a final not: there actually IS a website in the making that compares all the editions of all the albums. Watch this space.I hope it's straight forward and not biased in any way. My own comparisons back in 2004 seemed to point to a lot of the important midrange in the post 1982 releases being butchered. And the bass/treble being upped, so maybe that's how it's happened. I still feel like someone meddled and altered them too much. I can't imagine why, after such things being said that, someone who asked for this information would then go ahead and say they're the best choice for the moment. Adam. |
| gastelllo 05.12.2006 12:30 |
>I can't imagine why, after such things being >said that, someone who asked for this >information would then go ahead and say they're >the best choice for the moment. Don't try so hard. |
| Adam Baboolal 05.12.2006 15:10 |
Hey dude, your money. I'm just passing on what you wanted to know. Adam. |
| user name 05.12.2006 15:15 |
Adam Baboolal wrote: Hey dude, your money. I'm just passing on what you wanted to know. Adam.Why do you advertise those obviously fraudulent websites in your signature? |
| gastelllo 05.12.2006 15:44 |
>Hey dude, your money. Exactly. |
| Jjeroen 06.12.2006 03:00 |
No, the The Game is not fake. You are right; I forgot about this one and there were indeed FOUR MFSL discs! ;-) |
| Adam Baboolal 06.12.2006 05:16 |
<b><font color=666600>Music Man wrote:They're not. I know people who have had their ipods after going through the process. So cynical.Adam Baboolal wrote: Hey dude, your money. I'm just passing on what you wanted to know. Adam.Why do you advertise those obviously fraudulent websites in your signature? Btw, G, just saying, you either take our advice or not. It IS your money. I'm not saying anything otherwise. Just trying to help out. Adam. |
| gastelllo 23.12.2006 16:26 |
Bought today - Live at Wembley (2003 from Hollywood record). Very good quality. |
| Adam Baboolal 23.12.2006 16:53 |
gastelllo wrote: Bought today - Live at Wembley (2003 from Hollywood record). Very good quality.That one IS worth buying, if you didn't already have the dvd. Did you? Still, it's better than the 92 version. More highs and details not in the previous one. Adam. |
| Deacon Fan 23.12.2006 17:56 |
It's nice. Incidently, it is the exact same version as the 2004 Japanese card sleeve, except the card sleeve doesn't have the 19 minutes of bonus tracks and I guess the UK version doesn't either :-P Of course, they're on the DVD except for the Budapest track. |
| bitesthedust 28.05.2007 05:08 |
flapdrol wrote: If you have the old EMI first cd issues then YES there is a BIG difference with the remasters. Especially with all the older albums. If you have the Hollywood Records or Digital Remasters series editions then NO the difference is not so big. (Lots of people would probably not even notice the differences - you need to be an audiophiliac to REALY hear the difference.) Magic and Works sound less good and Innuendo is just realy realy horrible. The production of this album is already thin to begin with (like everything from the early 90's!), but for this remaster they took out a lot of the 'middle', which makes the whole album sound very weak, light and empty.I own both the original EMI versions & the Japan mini vinyls of Magic/Innuendo, and agree the sound quality is different...especially on the Magic album (for the better, sound is more powerful). However there is very little difference between the UK Digital Remaster & Hollywood Records versions of Sheer Heart Attack (picked up the HR version for a fiver this weekend) and between the HR & 30th Anniversary versions of A Night At The Opera. |
| Adam Baboolal 28.05.2007 06:05 |
<font color=maroon>bitesthedust wrote: ...and between the HR & 30th Anniversary versions of A Night At The Opera.NATO??? No no no no no no NO! It's obvious the difference between old remaster and the 30th anniversary version. Are your men on the right pills? Adam. |
| bitesthedust 29.05.2007 13:37 |
Adam Baboolal wrote:Could you kindly explain the obvious differences then, please?<font color=maroon>bitesthedust wrote: ...and between the HR & 30th Anniversary versions of A Night At The Opera.NATO??? No no no no no no NO! It's obvious the difference between old remaster and the 30th anniversary version. Are your men on the right pills? Adam. |
| Adam Baboolal 29.05.2007 17:00 |
I don't have a copy to hand, but I remember a smoother overall sound. The low-end was tighter and the high-end was clear. I really need to listen to it again to remind myself. But there have been a couple of threads where I'd put forward my comments about the 30th anniversary cd's sound. People thought it was a waste, remastering it again, that is. But of all the remasters over the years, the NATO 30th cd is THE best amongst the Queen catalogue remaster-ings! And I have not been particularly impressed with the 2001/4 remaster series past Hot Space. Adam. |