I didn't want to write it in the dub thread because I think it would go under. Besides I think the topic itself (foreigner point of view) could be interesting.
It's a translation of my German DBZK DVD Volume 1 review from my blog.
So beware of a huge amount of text.
Oh and please don't let this thread become a "English dub VS Japanese version" topic.
Here we go!
I watched all 13 episodes in English. On the one hand it was a pleasure, but on the other hand also a torture. Chris Sabat and Co. promised a better dub and yes it is. It's a bit better than the DBZ dub. There is a pretty accurate script, some attack names (Makankosappo, Kienzan) and pronunciations (Kaio-ken) were rectified and the voices of some characters are more natural.
In general, the dub is closer to the spirit of the original Japanese version. Too bad it's not close enough to be simply „good“, in my opinion.
There are still some silly name changes (Tien, King Kai, Tri-Beam etc.). You have to bear with some of them, because FUNi has the copyrights for the names and I think otherwise it would be a waste of money. But please … if you can change „Special Beam Canon“ to „Makankosappo“, then you can also change „Tri-Beam“ to „Kikoho“.
Like I wrote before on my blog, some voice actors were changed. Among the changes were two actors who have always been an nuisance to me: Bulma (Tiffany Volmer → now Monica Rial) and Gohan (Stephanie Nadolny → Colleen Clinkenbeard). Bulma is just better, but for me a little too generic. Also she could be more high picthed and a little bit more bitchy (or better: annoying), but it's okay. Gohan is just … wow. Really a damn good job. From a nuisance to a highlight of the English dub.
Also some more examples of the good voice directing are Goku (Sean Schemmel), Kuririn (Sonny Strait) and Tenshinhan (John Burgmeier). Although sometimes they fall back to less fitting voices (Goku often, Kuririn less and Tenshinhan almost never) but it's okay and you can hear how much effort they have put into it to satisfiy as much fans as possible („Dubbies“ and „Subbies“).
Too bad there are still many things which are annoying to me, when I watch the show in English. Chris Sabat still voices at least four characters (Piccolo, God, Vegeta and Yamcha) and – damn it – you can hear it. Yes, the voices itself are a little bit better than before. The Piccolo voice is almost okay for me, but the other ones – sorry – I think they're terrible and even embarrassing.
For example: Vegeta. This is just not a voice for a character. You can't act if you use a voice which causes fictive pain in your throat when you listen to it. Besides that it has nothing (not a bit) to do with the original Japanese voice and (most importantly) it doesn't fit to the face. Sure, Sabat's acting as Vegeta is better this time, but the voice itself is crap.
Another example: God (or Kami if you prefer). Chris Sabat as an old man. He uses a voice like a young guy (who he is) who badly fakes an old man's voice. Sure, as far as I know, real old actors were rarely cast in English dubs and so you have to „imitate“ (How silly. Imagine that in a German dub for a prime time TV show such as „Flash Forward“ or „Heroes“). But the thing is for Sabat's voice it sounds cheesy and silly. It makes sense, because he also does Piccolo but I think it doesn't work out well.
Wow, so much text only for Chris Sabat. Actually, I think he's a pretty nice and cool guy.
More voices I can't stand: Oolong, Yajirobe (both are totally opposite to the Japanese versions), Gyumaoh (Kyle Hebert. The voice just sounds mentally handicapped, sorry), Muten Roshi (Mike McFarland does his silly „old man imitation“, but at least the pure acting is good), Nappa (Phil Parsons just sounds not bulky and old enough, so he yells the whole time in an extreme forced an unnatural voice) and Kaioh-sama (Sean Schemmel) of course.
Kaioh-sama sounds less drunk and over the top than before, but the idea of this voice itself is just so terrible. Yeah sure, he looks like a tiny, funny and wacky guy so he has to sound like it. No. Just no. The thing is Kaioh-sama is wise. Yes, also Jouji Yanami sounds a bit funny but that's not an excuse to use a voice for this character, which makes your ears bleed.
Oh well, what else? I think I'm done.
So, most things were improved (most of them only a little bit) but it isn't enough for a „B“. Rather a a „C“.
There is the knowledge and the skills. Chris Sabat and co. proved it. They put in so much effort and for that I thank them. Too bad FUNimation didn't abandon the old „DBZ dub“ legacy. I can understand it, because FUNimation wants to make money and so they won't scare off the „dub fans“. However, for someone who want to see a very good dub of Dragon Ball Z Kai in an understandable language, it's just a little bummer.
She/Her 
I've grown fond of Kamesennin's voice, so I wasn't bothered really. As for Kaio, let's face it, he's supposed to be an annoying, if not wise, old jokester. The voice goes fine with the character. A lot of the voices, for all their annoying quirks, aren't as bad with an accurate script. And many are even still further improved with better voice direction.
