Best Buy CD vs. Japanese SHM CD

[Moonlight J]

OK, here it is folks.

It took me a while to really figure it out, but I think I have, at least for this particular comparison. I didn't want to post something where it could just be psychological, ie. me thinking the import was superior just because I paid twice what Best Buy charged me.
 
As far as presentation goes, the Japanese version wins, hands down. Now, this could be because they care about presentation more there than they do here in the U.S.A., or Best Buy may have taken a more cost effective avenue. Perhaps a dash of each? The logo on the import version is a way better fit for the cover. Same logo, just has some red in it. Surprising what that bit of red does. The booklet has better paper and ink. The star on the BB version looks dark pink in comparison. With the disc itself, for you old timers, it's like being in 1990 and comparing a store bought CD to that tripe BMG music club used to send out. Basically, the SHM one is slightly embossed, and looks delicious and legitimate.

On to our friend "Sound", which was the hardest to pinpoint, as it can be very subjective. I began by attempting to see if I could hear things on the SHM that I couldn't on the BB one. Nothing real significant noticed. Unfortunately, I tried this for a while, switching CDs back and forth. At some point I realized I had to figure if anything sounded different. My findings reminded me of when I first got that last batch of leaks. They sounded pretty shitty, but some dude at the Metal Sludge boards cleaned them up some how, and I ended up blasting that shit on the car stereo all summer. Now the difference here is no where near as extreme as that, but it's that type of difference. What it's called, technically speaking, I have not a clue. Perhaps one of you do. A good example of this, is the outro  for "Chinese Democracy". I stand by what I say with these two particular discs I possess. Of course, there's always other possibilities, such as:   

1. The import could be a better pressing.
2. I'm confused.
3. etc.

In conclusion, if you've got an extra $30 laying around and dig the record as much as I do, boys and girls, buy the SHM.

[wadey]

or you could just save your money...........collectors will buy the SHM just to stick it in the box with all the other stuff...
to the average guy the sound will be more or less the same.

[Skeba]

It is digital music. It has (or then it's remastered) exactly the same bits. Ones and zeros. If your cd-player reads the normal disc well, it will read the SHM version exactly the same. It has exactly the same amount of data, or else the cd-player couldn't read it. If you have an average cd-player with a reasonably good reader, and both the cds are in perfect condition, the only difference you would be able to hear is distant ringing of the cash register from the guys' offices who invented the whole concept of Super High Material CDs.

To me the SHM CDs are in the same league as Shakti stones stones or $5000 speaker cables...

[HBK]

ChinDem. Latinoamerican Version Is UGLY...

 

[ppbebe]

i hear shm cds usually sound louder.

ChinDem. Latinoamerican Version Is UGLY...

 

you mean the package? can you post the image?

[Moonlight J]

I'm not saying that SHM is the reason it sounds better, but I think it does in this case for whatever reason. Best Buy sucks?

[Loaded NightraiN]

I'm not saying that SHM is the reason it sounds better, but I think it does in this case for whatever reason. Best Buy sucks?

Wow really? You're gonna blame BB for the product itself?

They only bought it buddy, they didnt print it 

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

You kids fool around with your CD's and mp3 digital downloads, I'll spin my vinyl.

 

[HBK]

i hear shm cds usually sound louder.

ChinDem. Latinoamerican Version Is UGLY...

 

you mean the package? can you post the image?

Sound Is Low Quality

 

[estebanf]

I have an american and an argentine physical copy of the album and they're exactly the same...

what it does really occured with a big ammount of argentine copies is they got ''Prostitute'' with a small glitch at the last seconds of the song.

Except for that, they're the same. I am not really sure if this is the correct way to prove this, but you get identical properties in all audio aspects even opening the waves in Sony Soundforge from the different discs

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

i hear shm cds usually sound louder.

ChinDem. Latinoamerican Version Is UGLY...

 

you mean the package? can you post the image?

Sound Is Low Quality

 

Did you buy it from some bootleg swap meet or something?

[HBK]

i hear shm cds usually sound louder.

ChinDem. Latinoamerican Version Is UGLY...

 

you mean the package? can you post the image?

Sound Is Low Quality

 

Did you buy it from some bootleg swap meet or something?

No Friend, From The Store.

 

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

i hear shm cds usually sound louder.

ChinDem. Latinoamerican Version Is UGLY...

 

you mean the package? can you post the image?

Sound Is Low Quality

 

Did you buy it from some bootleg swap meet or something?

No Friend, From The Store.

 

Ahhhhhh, "The Store."  Such a fine establishment.

[estebanf]

about production and mastering process, bumblefoot says:

Let?s talk about Chinese Democracy. Production-wise I think that was one of the best-sounding albums to come out last year.

Mastering was such a big issue and they were so meticulous about everything about it to make sure it stayed clear and the vision was realised. Mastering was a big part of making that happen. I think it was the first album of hopefully a lot more to follow that decided that quality was more important than the volume war ? it would rather be not as loud and in-your-face, but something that keeps its dynamics and bandwidth. It?s such a full recording. There?s so much going on in it, so much information to be processed as you listen, that it needs to be clear and pulled back so you can really get it without it being just this giant square wave. So I?m hoping that with other albums that follow, people will start realising, ?Hey, we can just turn up our stereo, turn up our iPod??

and, about GNR:

What are your favourite moments on Chinese Democracy? For instance, my favourite track is ?Better.? What?s going on there?

There are little things I added to it. Besides the rhythm track I put in, there were some little bluesy riffs at the end of the second verse, just little things like a five-beat break after the Buckethead solo, then there?s the loud, screaming part going on? after all of that there was a break that was just keyboards and I just put in a simple thing with my fretless guitar. Just little things where, knowing I contributed something of value. But there are so many little things where you can go through it and find something that?s so interesting about the production, or musically, or performance-wise?

Are there any plans for more G?n?R touring?

There have been a lot of plans, it?s just that when it comes to battling the economy? there are so many variables that could make it not work. I?m guessing at this point that if something is confirmed, management would let everyone know. So at this point if I said anything it would be premature, so I should just wait for them to say anything.

http://www.iheartguitarblog.com/2009/08/interview-bumblefoot.html

[Saul]

No Friend, From The Store.

 

Ahhhhhh, "The Store."  Such a fine establishment.

Funniest thing I've read all day - starts now! 

[Jdog0830]

i hear shm cds usually sound louder.

ChinDem. Latinoamerican Version Is UGLY...

 

you mean the package? can you post the image?

Sound Is Low Quality

 

Did you buy it from some bootleg swap meet or something?

No Friend, From The Store.

 

Ahhhhhh, "The Store."  Such a fine establishment.

He said in another thread he LIVES in Taiwan you know a island right by China the one at one point Americans viewed as the real government of China