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PURPLE RAIN CD I just found the Japanese Edition of PURPLE RAIN on CD at a local store here in Boston for $80.00. Did I get a good deal? I never seen it before and it has something called the OBI which I was told what makes it rare and collectible.
Anyone have any info on this? I am an 80s Music Junkie ! | |
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In the past, Japanese CDs had superior sound quality to US/Euro pressings. That has never been the case with Prince CDs. The sound is just as bad on the Japanese discs(or just as good on newer, better mastered Prince albums). The OBI is just a little C-strip part of Japanese CD packaging.
Unless there are extra tracks involved, Japanese discs are for completists only. If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot. | |
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Japanese pressings of Prince CDs are infinitely better quality than any other pressings. The reason for that is, in Japan, the quality standards for manufaturing CDs are better. A CDs glass manufacturing master is replaced in Japan after far fewer copies are made from it, than in the US or other territories, so you are getting a cleaner pressing that's closer to the original source audio. I've replaced all my Prince CDs with Japanese pressings and am so much happier with the sound quality! However, you can order copies directly from the Japanese HMV website for much cheaper than what you've paid for your Purple Rain disc. | |
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Jestyr said: Japanese pressings of Prince CDs are infinitely better quality than any other pressings. The reason for that is, in Japan, the quality standards for manufaturing CDs are better. A CDs glass manufacturing master is replaced in Japan after far fewer copies are made from it, than in the US or other territories, so you are getting a cleaner pressing that's closer to the original source audio. I've replaced all my Prince CDs with Japanese pressings and am so much happier with the sound quality! However, you can order copies directly from the Japanese HMV website for much cheaper than what you've paid for your Purple Rain disc.
Jestyr, ya know I love ya, but... those Japanese pressings are no better than the US CDs. Side by side. Same audio system. Same levels and output from both CDs. You're right about the glass masters being replaced more often, though.  If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot. | |
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squirrelgrease said: Jestyr said: Japanese pressings of Prince CDs are infinitely better quality than any other pressings. The reason for that is, in Japan, the quality standards for manufaturing CDs are better. A CDs glass manufacturing master is replaced in Japan after far fewer copies are made from it, than in the US or other territories, so you are getting a cleaner pressing that's closer to the original source audio. I've replaced all my Prince CDs with Japanese pressings and am so much happier with the sound quality! However, you can order copies directly from the Japanese HMV website for much cheaper than what you've paid for your Purple Rain disc.
Jestyr, ya know I love ya, but... those Japanese pressings are no better than the US CDs. Side by side. Same audio system. Same levels and output from both CDs. You're right about the glass masters being replaced more often, though. Love you too 'grease. But I worked in audio engineering long enough to trust my ears. Same playback equipment and output levels, but better pressings. The wave forms imprinted on the discs are of higher quality and the key element is the noise floor is lower on the Japanese discs. Listen to the silent moments between tracks on Sign O the Times on both the US and Japanese pressings and you will understand. [Edited 3/27/08 16:57pm] | |
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Jestyr said: squirrelgrease said: Jestyr, ya know I love ya, but... those Japanese pressings are no better than the US CDs. Side by side. Same audio system. Same levels and output from both CDs. You're right about the glass masters being replaced more often, though. Love you too 'grease. But I worked in audio engineering long enough to trust my ears. Same playback equipment and output levels, but better pressings. The wave forms imprinted on the discs are of higher quality and the key element is the noise floor is lower on the Japanese discs. Listen to the silent moments between tracks on Sign O the Times on both the US and Japanese pressings and you will understand.
[Edited 3/27/08 16:57pm] My beef is not with noise levels, which are cleaner on the imports, but with the overall sound output. They're just too flat and muted. I really don't want folks to expect the CDs from the land of the rising sun to be anywhere near what a proper remaster will sound like. The Girl 6 and Ultimate compilations are at sound quality standards that blow away the import discs. My comparison is based on the Lovesexy, Dirty Mind and Controversy Japanese vs. US pressings. I don't have SOTT from Japan. If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot. | |
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THEY SHOULD MAKE A "PURPLE RAIN" DISC W/ALL THE EXTENDED VERSIONS AND B-SIDES....A DOUBLE DISC PERHAPS????? WISHFUL THINKING!!!!!
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squirrelgrease said: My beef is not with noise levels, which are cleaner on the imports, but with the overall sound output. They're just too flat and muted. I really don't want folks to expect the CDs from the land of the rising sun to be anywhere near what a proper remaster will sound like. The Girl 6 and Ultimate compilations are at sound quality standards that blow away the import discs. My comparison is based on the Lovesexy, Dirty Mind and Controversy Japanese vs. US pressings. I don't have SOTT from Japan. Oh man! I have to agree with you there. A remastering would be something else and no release based on the current masters would be as extraordinary, from a sound perspective. Then again, I am oddly accustomed to the authenticity of the original sound of these albums after having listened to them for several decades and it may be a shock to the ears to discover elements never heard before or hear them from a new perspective. And please be aware that louder is not always better! | |
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Jestyr said: Japanese pressings of Prince CDs are infinitely better quality than any other pressings. The reason for that is, in Japan, the quality standards for manufaturing CDs are better. A CDs glass manufacturing master is replaced in Japan after far fewer copies are made from it, than in the US or other territories, so you are getting a cleaner pressing that's closer to the original source audio. I've replaced all my Prince CDs with Japanese pressings and am so much happier with the sound quality! However, you can order copies directly from the Japanese HMV website for much cheaper than what you've paid for your Purple Rain disc.
What is the url to the Japanese HMV I am an 80s Music Junkie ! | |
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1DirXtion said: Jestyr said: Japanese pressings of Prince CDs are infinitely better quality than any other pressings. The reason for that is, in Japan, the quality standards for manufaturing CDs are better. A CDs glass manufacturing master is replaced in Japan after far fewer copies are made from it, than in the US or other territories, so you are getting a cleaner pressing that's closer to the original source audio. I've replaced all my Prince CDs with Japanese pressings and am so much happier with the sound quality! However, you can order copies directly from the Japanese HMV website for much cheaper than what you've paid for your Purple Rain disc.
What is the url to the Japanese HMV http://www.hmv.co.jp/index.asp?lang=en | |
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