So I, as alot of you I'm sure, bought both the Japaneese version and the regular version. Love having Undercover but does ANYONE notice a sound improvement with SHM?? I have a real nice system and can not determine if the sound quality is any better with the Japaneese version. Anyone with any opinions??

I bought the regular version when it came out and I just received the Japanese SHM-CD's in the mail yesterday.I haven't listened to the SHM-CD yet but,I will by the end of the week.I'll try to remember to post my opinion when I do.

It sounds pretty good to my ears on both (the regular and the SHM) editions and personally I don't notice an improvement.

Anoying on my SHM-edition is the fact that the player I played it first with can't read/play about 20 seconds of I'm Free. Haven't tried it on another player yet but my guess is that disc 2 is faulty. But I'll have to live with it as I don't want to send it back to Japan and wait for a replacement.

it's your disk and your decision, but if the disk is faulty you really should contact the vendor.
point out that you're outside Japan and got a flawed disk. a lot of vendors have quite fair return/refund policies.

Japanese HSM..Instruments more defined...
More dynamic...Increased gain on volume....Smaller booklet..
Lyrics...Card..and THAT filthy funk-jungle work-out of Undercover....



ROCKMAN

>> Increased gain on volume <<

Rockman honey ... can you explain what that means, please and thank you?
in terms a normal mammal can understand without hanging upside down too long, i mean :E

Quote
with sssoul
>> Increased gain on volume <<

Rockman honey ... can you explain what that means, please and thank you?
in terms a normal mammal can understand without hanging upside down too long, i mean :E

Well I guess it's one louder. Well it's just louder I guess......how many db's?

NickB

You can't always get what you want.....

www.myspace.com/thesonkings

could someone provide a link, as to where i can purchase
the Japanese version.
many thanks.

here you go Adrian-L: [www.hmv.co.jp]
if that doesn't come up in English for you, click "English" in the upper left area

Gain .... yeah that's it volume gains quicker.
Play that HMS at the same volume as normal pressing and you'll lift ya wig

[www.cdjapan.co.jp]

[www.hmv.co.jp]

Here ya go both are like geased lightning
with deliveries....order them and if in stock
they fling 'em down here to Aussie land in about 2 days....

*** Don't forget HMS is limited edition so hit it quick



ROCKMAN

thanks Rockman & SSoul



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-04-16 12:54 by Adrian-L.

... sure thing

Thanks...it's ordered

Today I received my copy of the Japanese SHM-CD of "Shine A Light" and I must admit
that I'm surprised how different it sounds to the regular European edition.Having "Beggar" and "LIB" already with no seriously detectable enhancement
to the SACD versions it's quite amazing how it works with "SAL".Crisp sound,definitely louder and a much better channel separation while listening with speakers,not the headgear. I'm happy to have ordered this and enjoy "Undercover" as a welcome bonus.Go for it now-it's a limited edition.

Quote
too_rolling_stoned
Today I received my copy of the Japanese SHM-CD of "Shine A Light" and I must admit
that I'm surprised how different it sounds to the regular European edition.Having "Beggar" and "LIB" already with no seriously detectable enhancement
to the SACD versions it's quite amazing how it works with "SAL".Crisp sound,definitely louder and a much better channel separation while listening with speakers,not the headgear. I'm happy to have ordered this and enjoy "Undercover" as a welcome bonus.Go for it now-it's a limited edition.

Really? ...'s hard to believe.
I'd like to read some technical explanation about SHM.
there's not much info floating around so far - if anyone finds it, please post.

'till then I'll stick with "only small dogs & bats can hear the difference"

The limited edition is a different thing of course.

I was sceptical myself and was proved right in regard of the mentioned SACDs.But since "SAL" has just a regular CD release it's quite obvious to detect the enhanced performance with the SHM-CD version.I have no idea about the importance of what player you let it run with,my Denon device-1650 Euros-should be ok to compare both formats.

That does not surprise me,back in the mists of time the Japs got the best vinyl pressings,the Americans got the worst and the Europeans got the inbetweenies

I'd like to read some technical explanation about SHM.
there's not much info floating around so far - if anyone finds it, please post.


Okay...here ya go






ROCKMAN

that's fun,isn't it?
but it might be more efficient to just google SHM-CD,don't you think?

Uhm, thanks Rock - but my japanese is a bit rusty.
whatsitsay?

google & wiki aren't helpful either
[en.wikipedia.org]

whatsitsay? ......Stuffed if I know...!!!!

It's times like these we need ChrisM.....



ROCKMAN

Here is a guy who collects SHM-CD:s and he is very positive about the sound:
[rateyourmusic.com]

Vilhelm
Nordic Stones Vikings

Thanks for that.
but still, I don't get it.

Quote
They use a different polycarbonate plastic for the disc surface, which offers improved transparency and superior optical characteristics.

the material might make a difference in the long run (wear & scratches) but we're still dealing with a digital optical media, which reads pits & lanes in the red-book standard.
2 channels of PCM audio, each signed 16-bit values sampled at 44100 Hz.

SHM-CDs play in normal players, so nothing new on that side.
How can they be louder, they have the same dynamic range?

the only thing that makes sense to me is the CIRC (Cross-interleaved Reed-Solomon Codes) has less to work, i.e less error correction.

but more volume, more dynamic range - nah, nope, no way^^

over-rated hype, IMHO.

Quote
Rockman
whatsitsay? ......Stuffed if I know...!!!!

It's times like these we need ChrisM.....

More like my wife, my Japanese isn't that good! However the venerable Ikuko says that it is a specification for SHM-CDs which are made from the same material to produce LCD screens . Apparently it also has an improved bit rate for superior sound. Finally, it says long life to the Emperor!