UK

There is a newer 4K restoration by L’Immagine Ritrovata, which should be of better scan quality. The 4K restoration used on all current 4K disc releases stems from a low-quality Cintel scanner. The newer restoration has yet to be released on home video.

Subtle difference in encoding to the Criterion in encoding, trading blows in different shots, with Plaion taking a slight edge with less highlight blocking

Criterion's 2.0 sounds muffled due to noise reduction and EQ.
Plaion's 2.0 lacks bass and has a very bright EQ, more resembling the 5.1 remix. Plaion’s 2.0 doesn't have any filtering unlike the Criterion, see https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23831289&postcount=110

UK Second Sight 4K Blu-ray is FiM encoded and superior to French Severin or German 4K Blu-ray: see comparison

Different color gradings, 88 Films disc is encoded by FiM but Vinegar Syndrome encode (by Marcus Johnson) is more than robust

Vinegar Syndrome potentially has better audio than 88 Films, due to VinSyn possibly having EQ'd the audio mix after Fortune Star scanned the track in a way that makes it sound too hot, whereas 88 left it alone without addressing that issue. However, no direct comparisons exist

> US Kino Lorber

Arrow fixed the audio glitches found on Kino Lorber's disc.
The 5.1 remix on Arrow's disc sounds terribly tinny.

> US Kino Lorber

Criterion or UK 88 Films Blu-ray are from director-approved 4K restoration with minimal differences see caps

Both Criterion and 88 Films have the same audio

US Criterion Blu-ray : See caps. Criterion and 88 Films share a regraded and brighter master; Carlotta didn't follow the regrade and its image is very dark.

Mono spectrograms

Arrow US/Britain Blu-ray has dupe-y sounding music from optical elements. The VHS has much better-sounding audio from the original magnetic sources.

Japan 4K Blu-ray beats the other 4Ks and includes English subtitles

All 4K releases are upscales of the same master with a substantial amount of DNR.

Due to budgetary constraints, the original theatrical mix was mono. It was replaced with Dolby Surround for all subsequent releases and was never re-released.

LaserDisc is the best souning version of the original home video mix, as all later releases attentuate bass significantly and lower dynamic range. Comparison

The Japanese audio was remixed in 5.1 twice, first time in 2001 for the DVD release, and second time in 2009 for the BD release ("Hypersonic" remix). While the 2001 remix remains mostly faithful to the 1988 mix, the 2009 Hypersonic remix is highly revisionistic. However, its fidelity is outstanding, and despite many changes made, it's a worthwhile alternative experience for fans of the film. The 4K release includes the Hypersonic mix, but with a tonne of unnecessary noise reduction and unbalanced levels.

Comparison between mixes, list of changes between mixes

> Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

1990 CBS/Fox LaserDisc: Original Ultra Stereo mix on the Shout Factory 4K is sourced directly from the 1990 Laserdisc

Film Whisperer's restoration is better

Censorship changes for Blu-ray: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=224122