[Folsom]

I have a friend there and he mentioned if I needed any electronics.... Not that I have any idea if any real audiophile stuff would be cheaper. I am just asking incase perhaps some one here knows. I suppose I could have him pick up CD's ? Er are normal CD's in Japan the same as the ones we import that some times are much better then the ones we get locally?

[bubba966]

Japanese CD's usually have 2 more tracks than CD's sold here. And pressings are also usually of higher quality.

They do get a lot of things in electronics that don't get to the US or other parts of the world. Depends on what you're looking for.

Like for instance, if I was going to/able to keep my High-Def LD player (a technology that was only released in Japan) I'd probably ask you if your buddy could find me a MUSE decoder (probably a Sony MSC-4000).

If I was still watching my LD's like I used to I might also inquire about the Pioneer LD-S9.

You might want to go the Yahoo's Japanese auction site to see what's generally available in Japan. And to see what's generally available for CD's you could check out CDJapan.co.jp or HMV.co.jp

[PhilNYC]

As far as high end stuff goes, a lot of it is MUCH cheaper (Accuphase, Harmonix, Zanden, etc).  Also, a lot of the "big" companies (eg. Denon) make really great high end gear that they don't sell here in the US (we only get the cheapo stuff).

As far as music/CDs go, I don't think there's a specific rule, although there are many Japanese remasters of some CDs that I think are unbeatable (eg. Kind of Blue, remastered in May 2000 by Sony International)...

[Levi]

I have a friend there and he mentioned if I needed any electronics.... Not that I have any idea if any real audiophile stuff would be cheaper. I am just asking incase perhaps some one here knows. I suppose I could have him pick up CD's ? Er are normal CD's in Japan the same as the ones we import that some times are much better then the ones we get locally?

Most Japanase go to Hong Kong to shop.

[Hogg]

Try to visit Akihabara, the large consumer electronics section of Tokyo.  You can find everything from DIY with parts bins to the extreme high-end.  If you have time, plan to spend at least half-a-day looking around.

                                                                  Jim

[jqp]

See what sony has that is not available in the US. I'll bet there are some killer camcorders we never see.

[bubba966]

See what sony has that is not available in the US. I'll bet there are some killer camcorders we never see.

Like their W-VHS camcorders they sold?

[Levi]

See what sony has that is not available in the US. I'll bet there are some killer camcorders we never see.

Don't be surprised.  The buttons and instructions are all in Japanese.

[jqp]

OK I'll bite - what is that?

[bubba966]

OK I'll bite - what is that?

W-VHS is/was a HD VHS format. It's the same 1125i that was used for the MUSE encoded Hi-Vision LD's. I forget now if Hi-Vision was what that form of HD was called, or if that was just specific to the LD's that were released. But it probably was what they called that HD standard. It was used for broadcast, W-VHS & MUSE LD. I believe they started selling the W-VHS camcorders in 1991. The LD players were released in 1993.

Here's a W-VHS deck you could buy right now...
http://home.q03.itscom.net/nsa/JvcHR-W5.htm

[Levi]

OK I'll bite - what is that?

W-VHS is/was a HD VHS format. It's the same 1125i that was used for the MUSE encoded Hi-Vision LD's. I forget now if Hi-Vision was what that form of HD was called, or if that was just specific to the LD's that were released. But it probably was what they called that HD standard. It was used for broadcast, W-VHS & MUSE LD. I believe they started selling the W-VHS camcorders in 1991. The LD players were released in 1993.

Here's a W-VHS deck you could buy right now...
http://home.q03.itscom.net/nsa/JvcHR-W5.htm

I just checked the link and it looks like the instruction manual was written in Japanese.