Difference in Asian CD's?
 

Sorry if this is the wrong forum to post in, I gave it as much consideration as I could :yes

This may be a bit of a newbie question so please don't judge me but could someone explain the difference in Japanese, Korean and Hong Kong CD's of the same album? I've never fully understood - is there actually any difference in the sound quality and/or quality of the booklets inside?

I'm specifically asking in regards to Ayumi's albums. The prices fluctuate so much!

Japanese presses usually have the best quality (in terms of packaging). Hong Kong presses (and Taiwan presses) are the closest to the Japanese presses. Their packaging may be slightly lower quality but the sound is the same. HK looks really similar to JP, its only when you look in the booklets and on the desks that you will see its a HK press. TW presses have Chinese words written on the obi.

Chinese and Korean presses are the worst (and being Chinese myself, I know the cheapness of products from those places). I would say Korean presses are slightly better than China presses but ONLY because they don't have those nasty stickers on the album booklets.

The Japanese record labels give the license/right for record labels outside of Japan permission to produce HK/TW press of an artiste's material as well . Which's why sometimes for an OS single/album , there will be a note written 'not for distribution within japan'

Polyrhythm already wrote what I want to say but I have to admit OS press are really such a lifesaver , $ wise . Purist Japan press people will say that Japan press have the best quality but to me , I really can't tell the difference

If an artiste I support/listen has OS press of his/her material , I will get it . I don't see a point to buy a Japan press where I can pick a cheaper option & it's still an original that I bought , nothing to be ashamed about in it not being a full fledged Japan press item

I should say the worst release are the indonesian ones actually..We have to say that sometimes bonus tracks can be different

I'm curious, just how exactly can korean presses be almost just as worse as china presses? I'm looking to buy a bunch of korean presses of hikki albums and maybe a shiina ringo album from yesasia, since all the hongkong presses are out of print. Taiwan presses get a BIG no from me since i absolutely despise TW press OBIS

personally to me , Taiwan press has the best quality if I compare against Hong Kong & let alone Singapore pressings of albums/singles I have

An OBI to me is just a piece of paper at the end of the day so :shrug but I noticed if an artiste's under Sony BMG or Universal , the OBIs wouldn't be white & light blue in the centre unlike for avex

For me, Overseas version's booklet is better than Japanese version's booklet. I have (miss) understood Japan ver and its booklet is just too bad compared to Overseas version which uses thicker papers. :(

^I've always loved the smooth paper and the fine printing quality in Japanese press booklets. IMO, the thick, rough paper used in the HK press isnt that great.

They are, trust me. The paper quality used in the booklets, the printing etc, isn't good at all. But the absolute worst thing is the binding. I bought a korean press cd once and the booklet was attached to the casing using glue. And the glue just peeled off from the sides so now it looks REALLY UGLY :/
In fact, whenever I've bought korean press, be it a korean release or a japanese, there's always something disappointing.

The only ones that haven't disappointed me are the Japanese and Taiwan press so I'd always go for those. HK is great too, if I'm looking to save some cash.

^ OMG I don't know that the Korean press is that bad.... O___O

I have the Korean press of a couple B'Z albums as for some reason there wasn't HK or Taiwan released of the albums and i wasnt paying for the JPN Presses. In the MAGIC album the one CD is a bit loose and slips right out, so I changed cases with a spare one I had laying around. Bit annoying. The C'MON album had the slipcase so tight over it I ended up ripping it just to get at the jewel case underneath. However, aside from that I haven't had too much trouble with Korea Presses. Oh except that I had the Korean Press of Kumi's "feel my mind" and I think maybe just cause it's an older release but the Copyright Protection was SOOO bad on it that I couldn't sync the CD to my iTunes on my computer. As for KPOP Korea releases, some are decently packaged, but not a ton. Often its cheap paper and the way they're wrapped or put in makes it easy for them to become loose or leaves them open to the outer packaging making it easy for them to scuff or scratch. Actually, I recently bought 2NE1's newest mini album. The piece in the middle holding it in place was SO stiff that after 2 weeks, I was trying to take it out and the disk cracked 1/4 of the way through. Now I just needed to buy a new copy, and when it comes in I'm removing the CD and putting it in a regular jewel case as well. In all honesty, a lot of the older KPOP CDs I have like from Lee Soo Young, BoA, Lee Jung Hyun etc all used to come in regular jewel cases, and I wish Korea would go back to using them.

I have to say i have bought a lot of OS Ayu and other jpop cds but thailand edition is just worst. I have A best 2 of Ayu both black and white version printed in Thailand and the booklet is printed badly. The case is crack and broken inside (i only found out when i torn the seal and open the case. And the cd tray could not hold the cd :( other than thay, the sound and dvd quality is the same