Michael Jackson – Thriller

I picked up this pressing from a collectables store in Melbourne and the owner and I knew little about Hong Kong pressings, so I gave it a go and what a revaluation. I have the SACD version and this is probably even better.

There’s a slight sibilance issue on the Girl is Mine, which is annoying, but otherwise this is among the best versions of this album that I’ve heard.

I have a VG copy of the US Pitman 1st pressing, which sounds fantastic. I chanced upon this Hong Kong CBS pressing at a very cheap price (and NM condition) and thought I'd give it a chance. Wow! I was floored by how great this pressing sounds! I then A/B compared it to my US pressing. Now, both are amazing pressings and sounded quite similar. But I've got to say that this pressing sounds slightly better to me. The highs are not as sharp and it has a fuller overall tone. And it's extremely quiet. Get this if you see it!

Totally agree with other positive comments on this particular pressing: it's simply phenomenal and better than any "domestic" (US/Canada) copies I have had. Who would have thought this Hong Kong pressing could have that much energy, dynamic, clarity, spaciousness (HUGE sound stage), and retain perfect focus and distortion-free presence? Wow I am glad I took a chance bought this one.

Finally got my hands on a beautiful copy after a few months of searching...

I have owned literally dozens and dozens of copies of Thriller from all over the globe - UK, Holland, US, JP, Brazil, MoFi etc.

After years of hunting and trying different presses, the US Mastersound was easily the best of them all. For what it lost in the low end, it more than made up for in having the most natural and beautiful sounding vocal presentation of any of the pressings. My main issue with the oft-lauded US and JP 1st presses is that they shared the same sibilance issue on basically all of the tracks, with the issue becoming worse as you got closer to the end of each side. Given the coding, I was initially suspicious that the Hong Kong press might just be using the same stampers as the JP press, but this is, without question, a completely different master. The first thing I noticed when dropping the needle is that this pressing is LOUD and HOT in the best possible way - extremely warm and audiophile, and really jumps out of the speakers.

While I don't think that this Hong Kong press manages to completely eliminate the vocal distortion like the Mastersound does, it is, in my opinion, absolutely better than the US and JP 1st presses. The bass is rich and deep, the drums kick you in the chest, and the clarity of the production really shines. Is it BETTER than the US Mastersound? That's subjective. For me, the vocals still sound best on that pressing... but the Hong Kong is an incredibly engaging listen, and might be my go to copy from here on out.

Absolutely recommend this pressing if you can get your hands on it.

I bought this on a whim and imho this sounds 100x better than my Mofi pressing. The Mofi is nice to listen to, but this is so much more fun and hits harder. Maybe it really is a sleeper pressing. Buy if you can get one.

The reference record is still the Hong Kong pressing. It's a little warmer/more audiophile, a little more deep bass than the Pitman. The Pitman plays a little more forward, but not quite as deep. Nevertheless, both are references, but I very much doubt whether the MOFI One Step Pressing can do it!!!

I recently picked this up for nothing and compared it to the half speed master - this is THE ONE to get -HOT MIX- just jumps out - sleeper pressing, seems not many found out about it until now

I have this and a Canadian Epic label pressing. I am usually impressed by Canadian pressings but the Hong Kong CBS blows that one out of the water. The attack and decay is so much better.