“New” Collector’s Edition on SHM-CD
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| The new “New”, also available as SHM-CD |
Paul McCartney’s “Collector’s Edition” of “New” has been announced in two variations. One features regular CDs, and a more expensive one has the 2 CDs in the package manufactured as “SHM-CDs”.
The high quality SHM-CD (Super High Material Compact Disc) format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies’ research into LCD display manufacturing, SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc, allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players.
The format was introduced in 2007, and audiophiles are still arguing whether or not the actual audio is enhanced by the material the discs are made of. These discs are only produced in Japan, which probably explains why the SHM-CD edition is offered by Amazon.co.uk at £93.99, whereas the same product on regular CDs is currently priced at £22.35.
Egad. I sometimes think 'audiophiles' must be paid shills of record companies, especially given this SHM-CD topic and the price variation from normal CD. Let's not waste time by listening to testimony from hardware owners and their modified ears (they'd need them) since we're talking about a difference in plastic costing about 450% more but with the same data track.
I'm sure the same audio purists will welcome future analogue transfers to concrete as an alternative to vinyl given its superior density (remind me to write an article about that somewhere to test gullibility to its limits. I'd probably be surprised what those are.)
Please don't give the record companies this extra money. It only encourages them.