Does it matter where a CD is manufactured?

Columbia House CDs are wretched! They are harsh and edgy. I've heard that it may be because of double-speed mastering? I don't about that, I just know they sound awful.

I've been told that the answer is YES. Alot of it depends on the format of the "master" sent to the duplication plant and how they handle that format. If you send a DAT tape or a CD-R to the duplication plant, they will then convert it to an Exabyte tape format (done via an audio dedicated computer) from which they will produce a glass master for stamping purposes. This transfer process, while entirely digital, is not completely transparent. Jitter and clocking issues could be the culprits.

Any generalizations about U. S. releases manufactured in Canada?

BMG SUCKS!I agree about Columbia!Japanese CD's are of good quality.Most stuff remasterd is worth it!DECCA sucks!

Maybe I should clarify my comments above. I am talking about remastered CD's of the original recording released at the same time in the U.S.,UK and Japan, not a newer remastered version being compared to an older CD version. I bought copies of each and the UK and Japanese sounded better than the U.S. version. By the way, Vertigo is not some audiophile label or pressing, but in the case of Dire Straits, their UK label. Comparing the Dire Straits Vertigo label from UK to the Japanese LP mini disc packaged disc revealed fairly equal quality. "Blow Away"...what do I mean for Mr. Sugarbrie...I guess better resolution, less grain, and more analog sounding to me...not as smooth as the XRCD's, but very close.