I've used this option for the last four or five big orders I've had from CDJapan. Despite this, I've been charged Duty and a Post Office handling fee twice. It seems to be a bit of a lottery.
It does seem to be a bit hit and miss in the UK, however over the years I'm pretty sure stuff gets through more often that it gets customs charges. Having said that every package I've ever had from CDJapan has had customs charges. There are a few good guys on ebay.
I don't use CDJ for that very reason. Luckily I always manage to find the SHMs I want elsewhere and don't get the problem.
I've heard nothing about "Platinum SHM-SACDs". Who's Next was released as an SHM-SACD a few years ago, and the SHM-SACD is slated for reissue in about a month. I wouldn't be concerned about a Platinum SHM-SACD. As I recall, the SHM-SACD and Platinum SHM-CD of Who's Next have the same mastering. I'm a bit confused by your comment about At Fillmore East. First, are you referring to the 6-CD set or the 3-disc Blu-Ray set? Regardless, why do you have to buy the Japanese version, which will be more expensive than the U.S. or European version? Second, the box set has more music than the standard album that would be released on SACD. So you could buy the box set (especially on hi-rez Blu-Ray) and be done with it. Third, At Fillmore East was previously released on SHM-SACD. The SHM-SACD set has the same mastering as the earlier standard SACD set released by Universal about 10 years (not my favorite mastering). So I wouldn't expect a new SHM-SACD. Fourth, Analogue Productions has announced an SACD set of the standard album, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it. It was announced over a year ago, and we've heard nothing about a release date (MFSL announced the standard album on SACD as well, but it has been canceled). So, I would buy the box set without hesitation (especially on hi-rez Blu-Ray).
From what has been said in other threads, the Genesis Platinum SHM-CDs will be reissues of the 2007-2008 remixes. I believe SHM-SACDs will be released as well. Assuming they are reissues of Nick Davis's work, I will not buy them.
In fact we don t know yet which mastering they ll use for those genesis. Someone who speak japanese could'email universal japan maybe. They ll give the information i Think. A small part of this platinum shm collection used existant master ( emerson lake palmer reissues ) ...all'others are new fresh mastering, almost flat transfert. So we can hope for a good news !!!
I'd assume it's the same mastering they use for the existing SHM-CD's. From personal experience, stay away.
Guys, I just posted proposed text of the petition to Genesis (page 2, post 41) at http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/genesis-gabriel-era-shm-and-platinum-shm-coming.381244/ Please take part in the discussion.
New releases (December 3, 2014) UICY-40108 The Beach Boys- Shut Down, Vol. 2 UICY-40109 The Beach Boys - All Summer Long UICY-40110 The Beach Boys - Today! UICY-40111 The Beach Boys - Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) UICY-40112 The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds UICY-40113 The Beach Boys - Smiley Smile (December 17, 2014) UICY-40114 The Band - Music From Big Pink UICY-40115 The Band - The Band UICY-40116 The Band - Stage Fright UICY-40117 The Band - Cahoots UICY-40118 The Band - Rock of Ages UICY-40119 The Band - Moondog Matinee UICY-40120 The Band - Norther Lights - Southern Cross UICY-40121 The Band - Islands The release information from HMV Japan explains that all these titles will use 2014 DSD masters from American original analog masters.
I`ll try a couple Beach Boys.I had really hoped The Police Outlandos and Ghost In The Machine would be announced.Oh well.
New Releases (December 17, 2014) UCCU-40013 Joe Sample - Rainbow Seekers UCCU-40014 Joe Sample - Voices in the Rain UCCU-40015 Joe Sample - Camel UCCU-40016 Crusaders - Street Life UCCU-40017 Crusaders - Rhapsody and Blues While these continue the jazz series on Platinum SHM-CD, we should note that the previously-announced Diana Krall titles (UCCU-40009~12) were all canceled. I failed to add John Lennon titles in the previous new releases post. They are (Release Date: December 3, 2014) UICY-40100 John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band UICY-40101 John Lennon - Imagine UICY-40102/3 John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Sometime in New York City UICY-40104 John Lennon - Mind Games UICY-40105 John Lennon - Walls and Bridges UICY-40106 John Lennon - Rock 'n' Roll UICY-40107 John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy
UCCU-40013 Joe Sample - Rainbow Seekers UCCU-40014 Joe Sample - Voices in the Rain UCCU-40015 Joe Sample - Camel UCCU-40016 Crusaders - Street Life UCCU-40017 Crusaders - Rhapsody and Blues I always wanted to have a couple of good sounding albums of the great master of piano, who left us in September. What will you recommend from this list, guys? P.S. It is 2014 DSD Transfer from Original Tape - they said.
I'm sure these will just be the existing 2009 masters reissued on SHM-CD, not unique masters like we have been discussing in this thread.
But people will buy them anyway especially if or when Disk Union boxes are out. There won't be anything new to hear.
It is a wishful thinking: Beatles on SHM-CD 12/17 - such a pity, they are not Platinum! P.S. No DU boxes ever been allowed with Original Art Works, neither for Stereo, nor for Mono 2009 releases. It was specially designed tall black box for Stereo and standard white one for Mono.
