According to the online seller CD Japan, the series of SHM-CDs of the first ten Prince albums are set to be re-released in August along with various other Warner Music Japan titles:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/...eased.html

I didn't spring for these the first time around, hoping that real deluxe editions might be around the corner. The reviews seem to have been mixed, with some saying there was a noticeable improvement in sound quality and others saying there are no significant differences other than the SHM-CDs being louder. Did anyone compare these to the vinyl remasters of Dirty Mind, Controversy, and 1999, which came out more recently?

Great news! I can finally get Parade on SHM-CD because that was the only one I missed the first go round. But I actually loved the 2009 SHM-CDs and I have a feeling that the is the closest we're ever get to good sounding Prince discs. Vinyl is still the best way to listen to his early stuff, but these discs are nothing to bat an eye on. I always say great equipment, with a great eq set-up and an excellent pair of headphones get the job done always. Sign o' the Times sounds so amazing now...

I won't be buying any this time around.

Whew!

I don't know if I wanna pay 31 bucks for a single album, let alone the whole bunch.

Guess I should be content with my LPs for the time being until a proper official US remastering takes place.

Definitely going to cop this time.

What's so special about an SHM-CD?

Milty said:

What's so special about an SHM-CD?

The mini-LP packaging really and sometimes the sound, as it has a protective layer that makes it of collector's interest. In this case, those Prince SHM-CDs are collectables now. I love them. They aren't remastered, but they sound miles better than the crappy originals alot of people have. They are on the expensive side, but they are worth the investment for collectors and music lovers alike.

As for all of this "remastered" talk, it ain't happening ever...and if it does, Prince is gonna try everything in his advantage to butcher everything.

[Edited 6/16/12 10:30am]

I might pick them up for collection sake.

Just for fun, I would like to buy them and make a really cool framed collage for my music wall. I would not display the CD's, but make a cool collage of the covers and inside sleeves for nostaglia sake.

I'm not sure if I would go as far as making the poster frame purple, but it's a thought.

[Edited 6/16/12 10:35am]

[Edited 6/16/12 10:36am]

Thx 4 posting, I'll buy the whole set...again!

serpan99 said:

Thx 4 posting, I'll buy the whole set...again!

If you already have the whole set, why bother?

TheDigitalGardener said:

serpan99 said:

Thx 4 posting, I'll buy the whole set...again!

If you already have the whole set, why bother?

Some collectors like to have a backup copy in case something happens to the first one (or to sell if they eventually need the money). I've considered doing that with the vinyl reissues. These SHM-CDs will almost certainly go out of print again at some point, as will the vinyl.

[Edited 6/16/12 13:02pm]

^ I see.

TheDigitalGardener said:

serpan99 said:

Thx 4 posting, I'll buy the whole set...again!

If you already have the whole set, why bother?

It's a collectors thing...I buy every pressing of everything, some people won't understand but it's what I do...and I njoy it.

So 2 me it's cool news there'll b another whole set 4 me 2 buy!

serpan99 said:

serpan99 said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

If you already have the whole set, why bother?

It's a collectors thing...I buy every pressing of everything, some people won't understand but it's what I do...and I njoy it.

So 2 me it's cool news there'll b another whole set 4 me 2 buy!

It's not clear that this pressing will be any different from the previous one, just that they will be back in print. The catalog numbers look to be the same. We'll see if there are new matrix numbers on the CDs.

I'd be happy if they reissued the whole thing on vinyl...

Why not?

Is there restriction to it?

silverchild said:

Milty said:

What's so special about an SHM-CD?

They aren't remastered, but they sound miles better than the crappy originals alot of people have.

[Edited 6/16/12 10:30am]

If it wasn’t remixed/remastered they will sound the same. The only difference is the plastic used. The audio data has not changed, and there is nothing about standard CD technology that makes read errors likely unless either the disc or player is dirty or damagaed. If you are really worried that your original CDs may read incorrrectly just rip regular CDs to losses audio files using an error checking ripper like CD Paranoia. But SHM CDs are just one more way the music and electronics industries scam idiots out money by convincing them that they are audiophiles who hear differently than everyone else.

jpnyc said:

silverchild said:

They aren't remastered, but they sound miles better than the crappy originals alot of people have.

[Edited 6/16/12 10:30am]

If it wasn’t remixed/remastered they will sound the same. The only difference is the plastic used. The audio data has not changed, and there is nothing about standard CD technology that makes read errors likely unless either the disc or player is dirty or damagaed. If you are really worried that your original CDs may read incorrrectly just rip regular CDs to losses audio files using an error checking ripper like CD Paranoia. But SHM CDs are just one more way the music and electronics industries scam idiots out money by convincing them that they are audiophiles who hear differently than everyone else.

I agree with you on the SHM aspect not making a difference. However, previous research showed that the audio data is not the same, but has had the EQ and volume tweaked if nothing else:

http://prince.org/msg/7/314720

As to whether they actually sound better, there doesn't seem to be a consensus on that.

electricberet said:

jpnyc said:

If it wasn’t remixed/remastered they will sound the same. The only difference is the plastic used. The audio data has not changed, and there is nothing about standard CD technology that makes read errors likely unless either the disc or player is dirty or damagaed. If you are really worried that your original CDs may read incorrrectly just rip regular CDs to losses audio files using an error checking ripper like CD Paranoia. But SHM CDs are just one more way the music and electronics industries scam idiots out money by convincing them that they are audiophiles who hear differently than everyone else.

I agree with you on the SHM aspect not making a difference. However, previous research showed that the audio data is not the same, but has had the EQ and volume tweaked if nothing else:

http://prince.org/msg/7/314720

As to whether they actually sound better, there doesn't seem to be a consensus on that.

It's basically the EQ and volume tweaked, but SHM-CD remains a controversial format among many audiophiles and technology guys. It's relatively new as well. It's gotten alot of mixed reception from many people. As for the Prince SHM-CDs, there's not a dramatic difference, but it is louder and it's more detailed than those crappy originals which is a plus. Some of the originals weren't that bad, such as Parade and Dirty Mind.

TheDigitalGardener said:

serpan99 said:

It's a collectors thing...I buy every pressing of everything, some people won't understand but it's what I do...and I njoy it.

So 2 me it's cool news there'll b another whole set 4 me 2 buy!

I'm a collector too, but I don't buy reissues if they remain completely unchanged since their original release. Unless they are very cheap.

I'm thinking mayb the artwork will mention 2012 and that's already reason enough 4 me 2 buy the set.

I bought them all a few years back,

will not buy them again, but cool Serpan..

You are a true collector.. it seems to me...