[P.P.A.]

The original one for me. The music matches the rounds a lot better and each one has a tune that spans through all the time zones. At first I was shocked by "Sonic You Can Do Anything" and "Cosmic Eternity", but after I listened to them a few times I've grown to like them even better than "Sonic Boom". ...Almost...

[Bilan]

Whichever option = Jap/European soundtrack

[Groudon]

Gems, simply because that's the only version I've played.

[PsyBorg]

The Japanese soundtrack is less realistic in terms of blending in with the stages, however, with the exception of Starlight Speedway (Good Future), it is highly superior in all cases.

[Auriman1]

The Japanese soundtrack is much better

[eggFL]

The Japanese soundtrack is overall FAR better. Admittedly, the USA soundtrack has a few good songs. (Sonic Boom, Stardust Speedway, special stage, and perhaps that's about it) For a while since my initial outrage from the localization many years ago, I began to think that both soundtracks are quite good. But after playing Sonic CD for the first time in years on Gems Collection, and downloading both soundtracks last week from Shadow Of A Hedgehog, I got to see things in perspective. I guess we should be fortunate to have two soundtracks, (and the USA one could have been far worse, I imagine) but it still seems to me that the USA soundtrack was made out of jackassery and was probably invoked almost entirely from the Japanese intro song and not so much the gameplay music. (although when me and my bro first heard You Can Do Anything and Cosmic Eternity, we thought they were hot) And You Can Do Anything will always win for the line "The powah is in your mind to save the planet and conquer tiiii-e-iiime!!!" *air guitars*

I just played the song in front of my bro. And he got giddy and nostalgic. Wow. o_o

The USA version kept the Japanese music only for the "Past" stages, but really that just made the overall package of depravity that much bigger, especially with the game's stupid time travel mechanic. It was hard enough creating Good Futures with the stupid system of tagging a sign (one-time use) and getting one chance to speed up without accidentally tagging another sign. But being taunted with inferior music always made it worse. It's sad. Before I even knew about the Japanese soundtrack, I noticed how the Past stages music consistently kicked ass.

I never even knew about the boss music until last week. WTF

Quartz Quadrant past is my current passion. And also, the stage completion music always has and always will kick so much ass.

[sonicandamy]

american's FTW! nuff said.

[Magnezone]

These soundtrack arguments are silly because both are good and sound enjoyable. :[

[Thorn]

^I'd say SkyLights wins the topic, but I think his comment would need humor for me to be allowed to say that.

RPG if I hadn't sent you some of the tracks on MSN you'd've never heard the American soundtrack, and I get the feeling you're limiting your opinion to the seven I sent you.  Groudon, if you haven't heard the Japanese sounds, do so.  Here is the link to both soundtracks on Shadow of a Hedgehog.  Knock yourselves out.

If you want an opinion out of me, I say that the Sonic CD 510 Beta Speed Shoes music should've stayed.

[Marth]

The only one I've heard is the US soundtrack (Gems Collection), but
it's great, anyway, so if the Japanese one is better, it must be pretty awesome.
I think it seems like the "Japanese is better" thing, or maybe the Japanese one
is "better" simply because it's first. I don't know. I'll have to hear it.

Also, I thought the Past stages tended to have more boring (or even annoying, after hearing it
for too long) music compared to the other stages. If I had to choose, I'd probably pick Good Future.
Anyway, the Past music is usually good, but I don't think it stands out,
and it shouldn't be listened to for extremely long periods of time. Actually, nothing should.

[eggFL]

I think it seems like the "Japanese is better" thing, or maybe the Japanese one is "better" simply because it's first.

Don't fall into that trap. Like I said the MegaCD soundtrack really is better overall. I admit the SegaCD soundtrack is quite good, and some of its tracks are better than the MegaCD versions. But I think it's pretty clear that MegaCD is hands down better in general. And not only that, it goes much better with the Past songs than the SegaCd soundtrack which pulls the Past songs from the original and they feel kind of out of place.

Bottom line is every Sonic fan should hear both. I'm actually really surprised there are people here who haven't. It's not hard guys. Galbadia has you covered:

http://gh.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/view-all

[P.P.A.]

To complete the list, Shadowhaxor.net has them too:
SEGA CD: http://www.shadowhaxor.net/downloads.php?do=file&id=513
Mega CD: http://www.shadowhaxor.net/downloads.php?do=file&id=512
So there's no excuse for not listening to it.
And the Past music does sound a lot better in context with the rest of the Jap. soundtrack.