The Beatles in Mono

Will this set make you or someone on your list VERY happy? Read on... First off, don't worry. I will let the other reviewers speak about Mono vs. Stereo or Vinyl vs. CD or the comparison between this and other box sets. Instead, I will review the experience itself as a whole: I NEVER thought that in my lifetime I would EVER get to have and hold and open a BRAND NEW Beatles album, let alone this ENTIRE SET. I'm in my 30s and a so-called "new age" Beatles fan, and I really got into the group a few years before the Anthology hit in the early 1990s. I had bought many albums used but when vinyl records stopped being sold, I knew if I ever got a sealed Beatles record I would probably never open it and never get to experience that feeling like so many people had back then. Here I am 20 years later, and here is the BEATLES IN MONO VINYL BOX SET. It arrived at my door on release day, triple-boxed and foam padded. I still couldn't believe it! It's 2014 and here before me is a stack of sealed, brand-new, straight from the press, cut from the master tapes, Beatles records. I washed my hands 3 times before opening the box. It's THAT special. As I carefully slid off the slipcover and opened the top something came over me: That smell!! The combination of new vinyl, crisp paper, fresh ink, and a dash of Silica Gel (do not eat!). I couldn't get enough of it. This was the feeling! This is what it feels like to open a NEW BEATLES RECORD!! My mom even snapped a pic and joked that I looked like a little kid at Christmas, sitting on the floor cross-legged checking out each and every detail of a new toy. And detailed they are... every color, every corner, every label, everything is so painstakingly perfect in this set! THE BEST HIGHLIGHTS: Each album comes in its own protective resealable plastic sleeve (which are good, but I replaced them with even thicker ones I already owned). Also, once you remove the square foam padding from the box, there is enough room to store the remaining 3 Stereo albums (sold separately) to make a truly complete Beatles Box Set. I read every cover, marveled at the shiny new surface of every record, and a full two hours later I was still looking at the poster that came with The White Album, and I had not even put a single LP on the turntable yet. I was still taking it all in... Buy this set. Buy it with all your heart.

It seems pointless to add another glowing review of this wonderful set, but I really wanted to throw my two cents in. First, lets get the negative out of the way. Although these pressings are a huge improvement to the stereo box set that I returned for a refund, I am just ever so slightly disappointed that these records are not as dead quiet as I would have liked. They do have some audible surface noise between songs that have not improved much after two complete cleanings. That said, these do not justify what I would consider defects. After all, this is vinyl and there will always be that physical connection with the stylus, although I do have some records that are dead quiet. Even though I wanted perfection, I do realize that perfection is a unrealistic expectation; especially with a release of this magnitude. That being said; for the most part the majority of the records are really quiet. As a first generation Beatles fan I have been completely blown away by the mastering on this set. I hear things on these albums that I knew were there, but now I hear them in a totally new way. One would think that mono would sound flat, and one dimensional, but these records direct your ear through the layers of sound with such precise detail. In mono they all feel fully formed and far more powerful than the stereo mix. If you love this music and you want to hear it as the artists intended, then these mono masters are without question the way to go. Some of the earlier reviewers have gone into great detail as to the differences between stereo and mono, and I found them all to be insightful. The bottom line is: Does this set warrant the price tag? From my perspective the answer is yes. If you love the sound and feel of vinyl and you are a fan of The Beatles, then you really can't go wrong with this beautiful collection. As long as you let go of any perfect pictures, you will not be disappointed. Everyone involved in the creation of this set should be extremely proud of the finished product. Finally, we get an all analog set of the most important music of the 20th century, and I couldn't be happier.

This visually impressive and physically heavy package is a landmark achievement that no hardcore fan will want to be without; the included book alone is quite special in its own write. That being said, I did compare my mono CD copy of REVOLVER right after auditioning it on the new vinyl, and to my ears, there was little or no difference in the sound quality. But for many reasons stated in other reviews, the release of this set is a momentous event that, in my opinion, should be judged solely on its own exceptional merits. One thing I've never experienced, before listening to this set, is TOTAL SILENCE between the tracks of a record. There were a few snaps and crackles hear and there, but all the pop was in the music itself. Aside from that brief observation, I concur with the rave reviews already posted. I only have some minor complaints to add, and they concern the packaging. The flipback cover of my copy of WITH THE BEATLES was not firmly attached at the corners in the back, REVOLVER had a little but noticeable ding on the cover, again involving a flipback tab, and the MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR booklet was slightly loose from one of its staples. Also, the White Album's resealable plastic sleeve has torn, something that probably is going to happen fairly often with these sets. A little Elmer's Glue cured my WITH THE BEATLES separation anxiety; the other problems, while worth noting, are not,in my view, worth devaluing this entire amazing set. It's not for everyone, but for those who must own the ultimate, definitive edition of The Beatles, it's hear and it's gear.

Okay, I'll admit it. I bought the hype. Especially all the stuff about how The Beatles themselves were physically present in the studio and paid close personal attention to (and spent more time on) the mono mixes while they were content to allow engineers to deal with the stereo mixes unsupervised. As you read the notes in the accompanying book you will discover this is only partially true. Nothing wrong with a good sales pitch and let's face it, they have to give you a compelling reason to buy music that you've probably already bought more than once. Nonetheless, you will find the quality of the sound (especially if you have a decent sound system) to be really astonishing. It all sounds phenomenal but the clarity and punch of the rhythm section is particularly noteworthy. I am hearing detail in these mono recordings that I had never noticed—despite countless prior listenings to my stereo albums. All of my stereo Beatles vinyl is of the American, Capitol Records releases (purchased new in the 60s, for the most part) and is very well-played and full of pops and scratches. Having these obviously high-quality pressings of the British album versions is really great. They did an outstanding job with this project. Well worth the high price.

My playback system: Parasound Halo A21 main amp, Audible Illusions Modulus 3A preamp, Thorens 125/SME 3009 (original) turntable-tone arm combo, Denon 102 mono cartridge (3 grams tracking), ProAc Response 2.5 speakers, situated in a 14x18 drywalled, carpeted (on poured cement floor), dropped-ceiling room. Speakers are spaced 10 feet apart, 3 feet from rear and side walls, on spikes, each turned in 2.5 inches towards listening chairs that are set back 8 feet from speaker faces. My vinyl experience and circumstances: 55+ years, owner of all first edition mono and stereo Beatles LP and 45 recordings, owner of many multiple copies of subsequently-released Beatles material. When testing audio equipment, I use first edition Revolver and Please Please Me (and Brian's Pet Sounds) as reference disks. Reaction to this purchase: These albums provided the perfect synergy for my system/setup. I felt as though I was transported back in time to when I first heard these recordings broadcast. It was a remarkable stop-dead-in-your-tracks experience. When compared to the original first pressings, The Beatles in Mono vinyl set sounds clearer with better-defined and articulated vocals and instrumentation. You can tell that the frequency response has been widened but not in any way that alters or diminishes the musical performances. There's no hint of subjectively-introduced equalization. I approached these LPs with some trepidation given my experience listening to the previously-released Mono Box set on CD. That box set, while clean and quiet, messed too much with the Beatles "sound" (for example, I found that McCartney's bass lines were overdone and seemed to dominate certain performances which consequently diminished the other instrumental, as well as vocal, elements). Also, I did not agree with the many other equalization choices -- it's entirely subjective of course but had I been the one making those decisions I would have placed greater emphasis on Lennon's rhythm guitar, among other things. In short, the CD set left me feeling as though I was listening to someone else's interpretation, not that of the original artists, of previously-recorded material. That set should have been more accurately (and honestly) titled as: The Beatles in Mono as Interpreted by Rouse, Massey et al. Here, for this vinyl box set (each album now available separately), Sean Magee and Steve Berkowitz did exactly what was needed -- nothing more, nothing less. This presentation is what I have been waiting a long, long time for. I had the feeling during playback that I was sitting at the REDD 51 mixing console, in Studio Two Control Room, at Abbey Road Studios, during each Beatles recording session. That's the magical, Holy Grail, vintage experience I chase and that this set delivered on my gear.

Just opened her up...listening to misery right now and it sounds awesome! Update: well now it's midnight, and after a twelve pack of premium ipa I am wrapping up Sgt pepper and all I can say is wow...these vinyls sound great. I had Sgt pep in stereo on vinyl, and the rest if the Beatles catalogue on mp3, and this absolutely blows it all away. Tomorrow brings magical mystery tour, the white album, and mono masters... 2nd update: ok,I finished the set (in order) and it is worth every penny. I'm a broke audiophile (pro-ject carbon debut, Sony reciever) and this still sounds better than any other Beatles I have ever heard. If you love Beatles and sweet sounding music, pick these up. You can't beat them. I felt like i was sitting in the studio sometimes. The rockers (it's yer birthday, revolution, Heller skelter, etc.) are unbelievably good. And the ballads almost brought tears to my eyes, except I was too dehydrated from last night's Beatles-a-thon. I'm not a mono or stereo enthusiast...everything was meant to be heard a certain way. Queen? Stereo. Beatles? Mono. If you get any of these albums, you won't regret it. If you get the box, you will be fully stoked, I promise.

I'll let everyone else talk about the LPs themselves. There are not not enough superlatives to do them justice. I was 15 years old when I first saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, and subsequently started buying and collecting their records. This box set is amazing. Someone with a keen eye, and a good ear, plus the period sensibilities to say, this is how it originally came out. How could it have been made better, if Parlophone had had an unlimited budget to work with? This is their fantastic result. That's all well and good. As a collector though, this is what I want to say. I order a lot of stuff online, and then I hold my breath. Will it arrive in the same shape it was shipped, or will the corners be smashed, and worse? Condition means everything to collectors, and the price tag on this puppy compounds the problem exponentially. Let me put your mind at ease. The method of packing these collector records is, simply put, the best I've ever seen. I don't see how, given the tremendous lengths the manufacturers have gone, this set could be damaged in shipment. Kudos. It arrived at my home triple boxed, with the unmarked inner box encased in flexible soft foam padding forms generously positioned around the both ends of the box. That was placed in an unmarked second sturdier box, and that sturdier box placed inside a third, even sturdier, Amazon box. I kept all of the packing materials, except the Amazon box, for later storage. If you care about the collectible value of your records, you should know this. There is no reason why this item should arrive at your home in any condition other than pristine.

Exclusive Report: White Album 50th Anniversary Reissue Details! Posted on September 20, 2018 by beatlefanmagazine A report on what the upcoming 50th anniversary White Album reissue … Two media listening parties for the 50th anniversary reissue of The Beatles’ White Album are set for Sept. 26 in New York City. And sources tell Beatlefan that the various configurations of the White Album reissues look like this: A 4-LP set (2 discs of the new stereo remix + 2 discs of Esher demos) A 3-CD set (same material as above). Apparently two of the CDs are the new remix and the third CD is the Esher demos. And a Super Deluxe CD Box (3 CDs as above + 3 CDs of outtakes). Plus the box will include a Blu-ray disc that will be audio only. There will be no video. The outtakes include “Hey Jude,” “Revolution,” “Inner Light,” “Across the Universe,” “Lady Madonna,” and nonalbum tracks/jams/improvisations. Of the latter, Beatlefan has been told that at least a couple are previously unknown. There also are some rehearsals. Included will be the 12-minute version of “Helter Skelter” that previously was boiled down to about 5 minutes for the “Anthology,” but the legendary 27-minute version of “Helter Skelter” will NOT be included. We’re told that the new remix of the album by Giles Martin has “incredible clarity and more bass and drums present.” An official announcement of the releases is expected soon. The release date is expected to be Nov. 9. Advertisements Report this ad

Poco puedo añadir al magnífico comentario anterior del colega Pyotr Petrovich, me ratifico totalmente en el mismo. Llevo 6 vinilos oídos y disfrutados como nunca, tengo los originales pero solo en mono "Help" y la nueva edición se oye mejor, sin ningún tipo de pérdidas ni modificaciones digitales a las que se ven sometidas las reediciones malas.Es un placer, para mí inconmensurable, volver a oír los discos de los Beatles en perfecto estado como si estuvieses en los años 60 y te acabases de comprar los discos británicos en el momento de su salida. Oír cada uno de los discos es un ritual, mirar las carátulas originales y deleitarse con cada uno de los temas sin renunciar al sonido original (si ya tienes una cápsula mono, como dice Pyotr, ya puede ser apoteósico, con la mía estéreo ya disfruto como nunca, lo volvería a comprar sin duda, Tuve un problema con alguno de los discos y como siempre AMAZON me ha solucionado el problema de inmediato, por supuesto considero que vale la pena comprar en Amazon, en mi opinión nadie tiene un servicio tan bueno como ellos, yo les compro hasta las maquinillas de afeitar.

It took me several months to work my way through it, but this WONDERFUL vinyl boxed set was WELL WORTH the wait! Unlike the nightmare experience I had with the stereo vinyl boxed set, this one was a DREAM to listen to, both on a dedicated mono system and a standard stereo system. The audio quality was WAY BEYOND my expectations and the packaging is incredible. The accompanying book is actually worth the read and the box itself is handsome and a great way to store the complete set of vinyl records. The attention to detail is remarkable all throughout this set. Every record played flawlessly and there is none of the infamous white noise of the stereo set. The vinyl is all beautifully pressed and mine have no warping whatsoever. The jackets are wonderfully reproduced as originally released in the 1960's, as are the inserts. Each record has a card insert with background info about the remastering process and has a poly-lined paper inner sleeve. I had this set shipped to the USA from Canada and wasn't aware of all of the customs charges and fees that would be included upon delivery. I called to address this with Amazon.ca and they offered to cover ALL of the extra fees. I was very pleased with all aspects of their customer service. I am THRILLED with this Beatles in Mono vinyl boxed set and would HIGHLY recommend it to all Beatles fans.

Received the box today and couldn’t be any happier! Item is in gray condition! Best price for the condition!

I recall buying all the Beatles singles and most of their LP's and EP's over the years, but this boxed set is special. The book that accompanies the set is worth it alone, very good photos , info and technical comment. With three high quality audio record decks I have started playing the set bit by bit. No surface noise ! Absolute silence. No pre-echo either ! Detail and quality is excellent, and whilst there are differences between the LP's as regards recordings, the amount of detail is enough to get me to jump at certain times. I am using an Ortofon 2M Black top of the range moving magnet (stereo) cartridge at 1.6 grams VTF , which has a similar recommended stylus profile for these vinyl grooves. (You can get a Mono version from Ortofon). My cartridge is still running in after 19 hours, and the sound will get even better over time. On another deck, an Ortofon 2M Blue sounds very good too. These vinyl discs are more enjoyable than the CD's I have of them, and they are not bad, either. More bass is apparent on many of the tracks and a more refined top end, more impact and cohesiveness overall. I noted a bit of distortion on peaks to parts of tracks like 'This Boy' which is on the Mono Masters three LP set. I suspect this is overload on the original master tape, and also noted it on the original record. But that doesn't matter, it is not digitised and true to the recording. The presentation of the boxed set is excellent with individual record sleeves in cellophane and foam in the pack to keep it stiff for transport. The Mono masters three record set have lots of internal sleeve notes and photos. I bought "The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions" separately, and this has additional detailed notes on most of the studio recordings, and alongside with the book in the boxed set make a comprehensive background to listening to the tracks. I went to school with Ivor Cutler as one of my teachers, and he was in the Magical Mystery Tour Film, so that record will bring back some special memories. (He used to wear one red sock and one blue sock and write very wierd poetry !) The impact of the recordings is so good, considering many of these were recorded over 50 years ago, it quite honestly, puts most CD's and MP3's to shame ! I don't think many have really heard vinyl audio potential at it's best. I did think that having so many LP's in mono would detract from the listening experience, but it doesn't. There seems to be very good separation between the instruments and also the voices, and that's without stereo ! Admittedly, when I first heard the Beatles as a lad, I used to play their singles and LP's on pretty naff equipment compared with now, but the records were not really produced for quality, as few had hi-fi audio. Just playing "I Feel Fine", and it sounds fresh and alive. The plucking of guitar strings is very apparent. Ringo's cymbals and drums have never sounded better. But it ain't perfect. The blending of the chorus could be better in technical terms. But I didn't buy the set for perfection. I bought it for authenticity. "She's a Woman" has Paul belting it out, and the Rickenbacker Guitar sounds rich and tuneful. "Only a Northern Song" has an organ at the start and is quite spooky sounding with loads of reverb. You need a well-balanced audio system, and that does not mean a vinyl system that costs a fortune. Take the time to select a good amplifier, speakers, cartridge, turntable and arm, and you will be amazed how good vinyl can sound. Avoid those all- in-one horrible record players as this boxed set would be wasted on it. My favourite Beatles LP is 'Rubber Soul' I mislaid my mono copy and it was the first LP I owned so was pleased to listen to it again, but what a difference ! The clarity on the recordings is so much better, and I do have a second-hand copy to compare it with. Overall, really pleased with this set, and will give me years of listening pleasure. I may record one or two to computer hard disc for posterity, through a high quality Focusrite preamp interface for my personal use. If you grew up with the Beatles, this is a must have set. If you have only heard a few Beatles tracks, this is an opportunity to be educated on quality songwriting technique. Brilliant !

Que dire de ces enregistrements mythiques? Qu'ils sont toujours plus beaux, plus novateurs après des années d'écoute. La remasterisation est impeccable. On nage en plein bonheur. On entend les Beatles tels qu'ils voulaient être entendus. Il ne faut pas oublier que les enregistrements en mono étaient le must pour les Fab Four au début de leur carrière. Les albums étaient enregistrés d'abord en mono et ensuite un mixage stéréo était effectué. Le standard stéréo est venu plus tard avec les albums Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road et Let It Be. A déguster sans modération!