SHM-CD Vs Regular CD Experiment, Which Sounds Best

SHM-CD Vs Regular CD Experiment, Which Sounds Best
I tested Paul McCartney's regular McCartney III CD vs the Japanese SHM-CD version, to see if I could determine one as being better than the other, and if so, why?

- - - - - - - - - - - -

*DISCLAIMER: If the description contains links to purchase products mentioned in this video, then these are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission, at NO extra cost to you!
This helps to support the channel and allows me to continue creating videos like this.
Thanks for the support!

[markplank]

You answered my questions concerning this, very educational. ( I am awaiting a copy from a friend that lives in Japan).

[astrosjer]

The Japanese still support physical media more than UK or US fans. That is sad. SHM-CD’s have been claimed by the Japanese to be superior quality for years. US record companies never gave the format a chance 😢

[dalewilliams]

Thank you for this info, Andrew Dixon. It is something I've been wondering about.

[ratspam]

Very useful video, thank you but while we can’t listen to the audio for ourselves I think the conclusion has to be the following:

1) bit are bits and have been since the inception of the CD and the Red Book Spec. If the bits are the same, the same player will output the exact same audio.

2) Any SHM CD that sounds different is a result of the mix being different and bits being different.

Audacity won’t show the differences: only a hex editor will.

[TheNorliss]

Good vid, mate. You've reached the exact conclusion that I expected i.e. that the improved construction of the SHM helps in the real-time playback of a CD player but is basically to no advantage when you're doing a proper bit-perfect rip in EAC or dBpoweramp.

[professorabronsius]

Very nice comparison! Muchas gracias from Chile 🇨🇱

[marcdavis]

SHM's totaly come into their own with much older recordings. I have a fairly large amount of Japanese CD Pressings and in general majority of the time they trump their standard commercial counterparts. I have Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, Rolling Stones, Small Faces, The Beatles, Queen, King Crimson they all in my opinion sound far better sonic wise. Not to mention the Japanese Pressings both CD and Vinyl their packaging is dead drop gorgeous.

[stevenkoski]

I’m a 66yr old audiophile, & heard/bought a few of each types of CDs, each being heralded as the best digital technology available. I listen to rock, fusion & jazz, & through time have bought their remastered versions, but the format wasn’t changed. Remasters discs have portions that have better balance & focus at times, but no recognizable improvement in clarity. SHM was developed by JVC, & are only exclusively released by them. They’re also remastered by their brilliant engineers, who unlike Steve Wilson will remain unknown to most of us. Unlike HDCD & SACD which require a dedicated player, SHM plays on a standard one. When I first heard my SHM CD I could immediately notice the improvements, the veil of earlier versions was eliminated, the clarity was most obvious. The best part was how the engineers corrected/eliminated every issue I had with earlier versions. I was hearing nuances I never heard before, being clearly defined. In the end I was Gobsmacked! Prices have dropped recently, enough to where even non-HiFi types can enjoy their favorites, & will certainly hear the improvements.

[milesv]

You’re right, With most consumer grade stereos, you probably won’t hear a difference. Once you get into better hi-fi, you will.

[PeKe]

Hi Andrew,
Totally agree with your rating.
It goes for a lot of SHM-Cd's. In general they have a warmer sound.
The difference is better audible on Egypt Sation.
Take care, stay safe,

Ps Deep Deep Feeling is on it's way being the song I like most on III.

[SBTCP]

Music 🎼 🎵 🎶 question 🙋‍♂️ I bought foo fighters there is nothing left to lose album and the back cover says 3:58 on the back cover of the album but when I put it on my mom’s cd 💿 player it shows 3:55 are full second and half second are the same or are they different from each other and which runtime do you think 💭 that is correctly based upon runtime and are both runtime that I mentioned count?

[martinrobinson]

Hi andrew great video mate 👍. Where did you get the SHD CD from please do you have a link thanks martin.

[alanbatty]

Interesting video, thank you for posting. I have about a hundred SHMCD's and have been buying them since about 2000 - obviously I would not have got so many if I didn't think them worth it. That said, your review is of a digitally recorded source, and SHMCD, great though it is, does less for new recordings than for old analogue master tapes. For example, of all the CD issues I have heard, which is a few, the SHMCD of the original "Band On The Run" album mix sounds best on SHMCD (in my view). Anyway - thank you for posting.

[strose]

Enjoyed the video. Usually buy the SHM pressing, plus it had the bonus tracks. I'm at the age that if there's a sonund difference, it's my ears!

[pepparchips]

Thanks for this video. I will order the Japan CD too, also the bonus tracks is a plus
.

[marianochvro]

Very nice and accurate review. However, the difference between the 2 materials are not poly vs aluminum. Both are poly but the SHM has a special formula which makes its injection to the mold more precise. Hence a CD player can read it better

[NoMoreHeroesPunkPostPunk]

Thanks, Andrew. I also use the same two programs that you mentioned in this video. Good job, Sir!

[PeterPersson]

Great video, very interesting Thank You!

[WOA]

thank you very much not only do you have cool Beatles ralted stufff I lrean something I been wondering about for ages

Thank you so much

[spiritualarchitect]

That "McCartney 3" cover shows that Paul is STILL playing the "Paul is Dead" gimmick. Look at that album cover @0:10. What you see is a DIE. Your are NOT looking at a DICE. It takes 2 DIE to make Dice. But there are not 2, only one. And the DIE does not show the number 4. So symbolically that cover reads "McCartney DIE", with 3 black spots for the other 3 Beatles.

It's the most OBVIOUS "Paul is Dead" cover since "Anthology 3". On the "Let It Be" cover - released AFTER the Manson murders exposed the "Paul is Dead" scenario - Paul is the one who looks different. Paul is the only one not surrounded by white. Paul is surrounded by brown (dirt), because Paul is the one who is supposed to be dead. On "Anthology 3", that same Paul photo is stripped away to reveal the younger, original Paul, the one that was supposed to have died. "Anthology 3" from 1996 and "McCartney 3" from 2020 prove that Paul is the one promoting the "Paul Is Dead" hoax.