[BradJudy]

I was noticing the Japanese "Definitive Collection" release of LZ's work - http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=WEACD79904

It looks like there are some reports that it's the same content as the 1993 remastered box set, whereas Mothership was a newly remastered subset.  As can be expected, there is debate as to any sonic improvement of the Japanese-pressed CDs. 

Has anyone heard the two versions and can comment on any sound difference?  Or a comparison to Mothership?

The packaging of the newer Japanese release is cool, but I don't think it's worth 2-3x the price to me if the content is the same.

[konut]

I, too, have been tempted by the Japanese pressings of the Led Zeppelin set, but via CDJapan.
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=WPCR-13142
The SHM-CD edition. I had not heard that it was just the 1993 remaster done in Japan though. If the ad copy is to be believed, "The discs have a much more refined shape that is exquisitely round with manicured edges and a perfect center hole. Such physical perfection facilitates a drastic reduction in jitter, or unwanted signal variation." what difference in sound would be perceived if one ripped the domestic 1993 edition to hard drive, and streamed, eliminating the disc altogether?

[kitten]

I had (have) Led Zep on vinyl, then purchased 1 to 4 on CD in 1988, which were pretty rubbish, followed by the Jimmy Page Remasters box sets in 1990, which were better but still nowhere near as good as the vinyl.

The Japanese remasters of 2003 are supposed to be very good. Here's one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005J8J8/ref=ase_discogs-20/104-8999800-2351157?s=music&v=glance&n=5174&tagActionCode=discogs-20#moreAboutThisProduct

The vinyl replicas produced in Japan in 2007 sound significantly better than the early 1990's Page remasters. I ordered these individually from Amazon UK early last year (ironically, I was living in Japan at the time and couldn't find them in the shops). Here's one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Led-Zeppelin-IV-VINYL-REPLICA/dp/B00005J8J6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1239488749&sr=1-1

It's unclear to me whether the vinyl replicas are the 2003 Japanese remasters in repackaged form.

konut, it seems to me that your link is to a repackaging of the 2007 vinyl replicas (Warner Bros Japan, WPCR etc)

I haven't heard the 1993/94 (US) remasters.

[BradJudy]

I found this thread over on HeadFi - http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f9/led-zeppelin-buy-412436/

Which indicates that the versions mastered by Barry Diament are the best.

It also links to Tower for a cheaper price on the mini-LP style CD box set - http://www.tower.com/definitive-collection-mini-lp-replica-cd-boxset-led-zeppelin/wapi/112488050

I just read the first page of this thread they linked to on the Steve Hoffman forum - http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/archive/index.php/t-88238.html 

Here's a thread that covers the 40th edition box set, sounds like they are indeed the prior remasters, re-released with some extras - http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=159033

The thread contains several posts from Diament.

[honesthoff]

Am I the only one of my era (born in '66) who doesn't like Zepplin?  I love Floyd, Sabbath, Bad Company, Seger, etc., but I just don't get the LZ worship.  Boomy, dreary, and banal.

[kitten]

BradJudy:
If you want to start off with one of the Diaments, I can always lend you the equivalent Japanese version so you can decide which you prefer before buying everything.

[BradJudy]

kitten,

Thanks for the offer.  I need to dig up the liner notes for the couple of albums I have and see which versions they are.  Then I'll hit up the local used CD shop and see what they have in the bins. 

[funkmonkey]

count me in as interested into where this discussion leads.  Long time fan of Zep, but have not filled out my CD collection, and would like to do so.  I have several albums on CD but not satisfied with the quality.  This thread brought the current box set release to my attention, the ones I have are not remasters but the original CD release versions.  Sonically, is it worth picking up the box?  Or do you guys think the difference is not enough to re-buy the collection?  Hard to tell without hearing for myself...

Cheers,
Funk

[woodsyi]

I picked up a Mothership LP set as it was on sale at Barnes & Noble for $36.  I like it.  I understand that Stan Ricker remastered it from a digital copy of the original analog tape.  He has done a great job from it.  I am hearing a lot more detail of instruments at listenable volume.  It's spooky to hear clear distortions of Page's guitar.  I don't know if it's because of or despite the digital filtering, but the music is clean and has a lot of air -- a lot of room.  I remember original LPs being very noisy and congested.  I will have to go back and compare all LPs including the Song Remains the Same (the latest remaster).  Mothership is very enjoyable.