Japan Pressings?

[Grainger49]

I just received a Japan pressing of America History. It looks new.

I have noticed that Japan pressings are mastered quieter than the corresponding US pressing. But the fidelity is exceptional.

I have some questions, 1) Are the master tapes transported to Japan and they take it from there?

2) What the heck is the "OBI" strip about?

The rest of you guys please post your impressions of Japanese presses.

 

[meggy]

Re: the sound quality - like any other Media, not all Japanese pressings are created equal. But in the 150 or so I have for the most part they are of exceptional sound quality.

The OBI is kind of a slide-off wrap-around sealer with information about the product. Pressing, etc.

A used red colored Pink Floyd Meddle OP will fetch as much as an MFSL Meddle. Many others can be had for reasonable money. Shipping is the bear. Right around $18 bucks for a single LP is the normal shipping.

 

[Grainger49]

Thanks meggy. I have heard interesting things in several of my Japanese pressings.

Do they make the masters in Japan? And I couldn't read anything on the OBI strip but that makes sense. Not everyone in Japan reads English.

 

[Hajidub]

I just received a Japan pressing of America History. It looks new.

I have noticed that Japan pressings are mastered quieter than the corresponding US pressing. But the fidelity is exceptional.

I have some questions, 1) Are the master tapes transported to Japan and they take it from there?

2) What the heck is the "OBI" strip about?

The rest of you guys please post your impressions of Japanese presses.

The masters aren't from or shipped to Japan usually. The fidelity comes from the quality of the vinyl used in Japan (they make the best vinyl in the world). The Obi was/is used to give the Japanese consumer an explanation of the album, since the album sleeve is usually in English. The obi, for collectors is a big deal, so don't discard or damage.

 

[Grainger49]

Hajidub, thank you. Meggy mentioned the OBI being information for the Japanese market. That makes sense.

I have heard different mixes on Japanese pressings of albums I'm VERY familiar with which is why I wondered about masters being shipped.

I also have a few LPs with Quiex vinyl from Japan. And they are very quiet.

 

[elcoholic]

My understanding is that recycled vinyl was never used in Japan, so no worries about embedded chunks of label in those pressings. I’ve only found one bad one - ELP’s self titled album on WB is sibilant. The vinyl is dead quiet like all my others. I’m thinking it’s the master.

 

[dosmalo]

Wait till you get hooked on Japanese mini LP CDs...

 

[meggy]

@Grainger49 - barter town is a great place to find Japanese pressings of all genres at reasonable prices with local shipping. They'll typically post in batches and go pretty quick.

 

[Grainger49]

I guess you are telling me to subscribe again.

I'll do that.

 

[meggy]

Try searching for "UIJY" pressings by Universal Music Group (discogs or eBay). They re-issued a bunch of titles in the early-2000's. Can be a little pricey but they are pretty much audiophile quality. Their OBI is recognizable:




And if you like Beatles, there's what they call "Flags" from the 70's. Released by Apple. There's a few others besides Beatles:



And there's Sony "25AP's" and "40AP's". A lot (not all) of the labels look like this.




EMI/ Odeon released some high quality stuff. Search both "Blacks" and the highly collectable "Reds".

 

[icenine]

Try searching for "UIJY" pressings by Universal Music Group (discogs or eBay). They re-issued a bunch of titles in the early-2000's. Can be a little pricey but they are pretty much audiophile quality. Their OBI is recognizable:

View attachment 2359309


And if you like Beatles, there's what they call "Flags" from the 70's. Released by Apple. There's a few others besides Beatles:
View attachment 2359310


And there's Sony "25AP's" and "40AP's". A lot (not all) of the labels look like this.
View attachment 2359313



EMI/ Odeon released some high quality stuff. Search both "Blacks" and the highly collectable "Reds".
View attachment 2359314
View attachment 2359315

That 1976 Japanese version of Rubber Soul (part of the Country Flag series) is not very good. It is pressed on great vinyl, but was not mastered well at all. Distortion on vocals and "What Goes On" sounds downright out of phase or something. The MFSL or a UK Two-box EMI from the early 1980s would be a much better purchase.
I would not pay the $50 I paid for it. Now the Country Flag Abbey Road sounds great.

 

[Grainger49]

I have bought about 10 Japanese mastered/pressed albums. All have been lower in volume than the US pressings I have.

One had obviously been mistracked. Every transient was blunted and distorted. V=But that was the fault of the previous owner, not of the record/pressing.

 

[KeninDC]

For some bands, I prefer original UK and US pressings, but those are highly sought after and pricey. So Japanese pressings are a great, sometimes less expensive option if you are a sound quality freak. Especially for jazz. Original Chet Baker LPs on Riverside are over $200. Japanese LP pressings are around $50. Take your pick.

In my experience, the Japanese are better at mastering jazz than rock & roll, so you gotta know what you are buying. Usually, but not always, Japanese LP pressings come from a first-gen dub of the master. Some Japanese pressings are mind-blowingly good (Stones Emotional Rescue, Band of Gypsys...). Some are just too darn polite (Carol King).

For CDs, early-era Japanese-made CDs are almost always awesome. And most current Japanese SHM-CDs and SACDs are great. I've got my Rolling Stones on Japanese SHM-SACDs. SHM is some sort of special material that jacks up the price.