Do not forget that the Stereo remasters were also available separately (boxless) , and this is how many people have them (including myself). The reason the documentaries were also in each disc (apart from the DVD) was so that every single buyer would have them! Excellent video, keep them coming!
Ah true, makes sense, otherwise they would have had to issue the Docs dvd separately or just issue separate variations of the same CD for each album. Thanks!!!
I have both sets, and I've always been glad I do. Each of them has something the other doesn't. One example is Sgt Pepper in mono has the sound of a tape machine being switched on in the Reprise at the end, while Lennon mutters something unintelligible, whereas the White Album has the fade-back-in of Helter Skelter, Ringo's famous blisters on his famous fingers, which the mono does not. In terms of packaging, I prefer the mono box as the colors on the covers are more natural looking, the CDs are kept in those plastic inner sleeves vs the stereo digipaks which enough friction could possibly scuff up the CDs as you slide them in and out. While the rare photos in the stereo albums are nice to see (at last), the colors on the front covers are very heavily-processed. I flinched when you held up the Beatles for Sale covers in both formats. I liked how warm and natural the mono cover looked vs the "I-don't-know-what-they-were-thinking" way they processed the photos on the stereo. Overly glossy, would you say? I would.
Not sure if flinching was the reaction I was targeting, but... I do get your point. Like I said, to me the digipacks are not a bad idea, they're just executed poorly. :(
Simple. If you can afford both , get both. BUT if you can only afford one set get the MONO. The first six albums especially, but after hearing what they did recently with Revolver , fixing up the earlier wonky stereo mix and hearing the new "red album" I am looking forward to remixes of the first six.
Not a bad idea. Although, you know affordability for these sets is weird. Cause if you can afford the Mono, you prob can afford the Stereo, as the Mono is more often than not double. And if you buy the Mono, assuming you don't have the remaining albums already, you still need to buy Yellow Sub, Let it be and Abbey Road separately.
@@BurgundySkies Fourteen years after they were issued, the individual stereo CDs can be found on secondary market shelves all over the country, so price is no hang-up.
IMO, in terms of better listening experience, you will want the mono version, but if you want the complete package (e.g. Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road, and Let It Be) and even the mini documentaries, you will want the stereo box set.
Indeed that would still be the way to go on CD if you can only get one. Although I guess lately one can consider buying the stereo albums separately if they want to get the newer mixes for the 5 albums that have them.
I did the same thing with the inner and outer sleeves for the stereo set. They did such a good job with the mono set, wonder why they didn't do the same with the stereo set.
I guess they kept them cheaper, although they are clearly setup for scuffs. However, I noticed that even the poli inners can be problematic if they are too tight and also depend on temperature and the material they're produced from
What I have done with the stereo discs is put them in plastic resealable sleeves and put the disc where the book is and put the book where the discs where. It works.
I almost accidentally did that in the video, but never occured to me, lol. I am trying this tomorrow. There is another thing that I have to check about these sleeves though, just occured to me they may cause other issues.
With The Beatles, I listen to their songs on how it was originally mastered and released publicly. If a mix originally in mono that’s remixed in stereo is done well (not counting 2009 remixes where vocals exist to the right and other instruments to the left), I’d go for them. For most of their mixes, I go for mono. If there was one recorded and released in true stereo, I listen to them. Doesn’t work for me if they’re mixed down to mono.
For Mono despite some not so good old mixes, I would stick with their original ones, they were made as they ans GM wanted them. For Stereo... the post 2017 mixes are preferable in most cases for me.
I have the mono and stereo box sets both in CD and vinyl, like you on the stereo box set I put them in re-seal able sleeves, also the inner sleeves I used a ruler and sharp knife to shorten them to the same height of the CD, which helps when putting them in the outer sleeve 👍🇬🇧
They've fallen out of favor with some, but I love the 09 remasters. I was lucky enough to scoop up a brand new mono box during the pandemic (probably one of the last brand new mono boxes around) and I've been in love with it ever since, that and the three remaining stereo albums are my go-to way of listening to the Beatles. I am wondering if perhaps I should grab the doubles of the stereo albums while they can still be had for cheap. I like the packaging, I like the added content and frankly there's just something uniquely fun about buying Beatles albums even if you already have them XD. It also bothers me that as more remixes come out, the more those mixes seem to replace these in the marketplace, which I think is a mistake.
@@BurgundySkies I also like it so why not put them in the Mono vinyl box. The vinyl Mono box was so expensive and collectible. Supposed to be a faithful reproduction of the original records so why not original EMI and Apple sleeves in there also instead of plain white poly lined which is what is on them. Daft!
@@BigSky1 aaaahhh. Now I get your point. Tbh I have not checked the Vinyl one too much, due to the absolutely prohibitive price for me... but... it does not include them??? WTF?
@@BurgundySkies No. just standard white poly lined inner sleeves. Unbelievable for a great product to not have them like the CDs do. Apart from Sgt Pepper… in the Mono box which does come with the a repro of the original psychedelic sleeve and the White Album which comes with black poly lined sleeves both Mono and Stereo box’s come with standard white poly lined sleeves and not original EMI or Apple inner sleeves.
@@BurgundySkies I agree. Rubber Soul is the start of the Beatles experimental phase and around the time they started dabbling with lsd . I just think the later albums are more psychedelic sounding in stereo although I've never listened to the Beatles high on acid .
@@craigphillips6308 It would have sounded great in Stereo as well, if not for the hard panning imo. Given the variety of instruments and sounds they started employing, a nice Stereo mix would elevate it even higher.
I agree. I like the overal aspect of them, but functionally they are shit for holding disks. And if you think these are bad, wait till you see the carton sleeves they have for the EP CD collection.
@@BurgundySkies I have seen them. Rubbish! I have managed to get the bonus disc on CD and vinyl. Don’t need the whole box. I have the original UK E.Ps.
@@BigSky1That must be nice... having the originals. Anyway... I am finding it harder and harder to understand and/or explain why they would stinge on such a critical part of a product like this. Especially in limited or special edition products like Boxsets and Anniversary Editions on Albums. Geeez.
@@BurgundySkies The Mono & Stereo CDs are also cut from a Digital source whereas the Mono vinyl box set is all Analogue which is far more faithful to the original sound of the 1960s albums. I have listened to the stereo CDs. They sound ok but not great but the big disappointment for me sound wise is the Stereo Magical Mystery Tour album. It sounds awful. Muddy and no clarity.
@@ethancorrea5370 Yes, especially since you can't put an LP into an I tunes account and transfer it to an I POD / PAD. I do love vinyl, but at this rate, it's like a very high-priced call girl.
Do not forget that the Stereo remasters were also available separately (boxless) , and this is how many people have them (including myself). The reason the documentaries were also in each disc (apart from the DVD) was so that every single buyer would have them! Excellent video, keep them coming!
Ah true, makes sense, otherwise they would have had to issue the Docs dvd separately or just issue separate variations of the same CD for each album. Thanks!!!
I cannot make the documentaries at the end of each album play on my Apple Mac with Quick Time. Only the disc with all will play.
@@BigSky1That's kinda weird, no?
I have both sets, and I've always been glad I do. Each of them has something the other doesn't. One example is Sgt Pepper in mono has the sound of a tape machine being switched on in the Reprise at the end, while Lennon mutters something unintelligible, whereas the White Album has the fade-back-in of Helter Skelter, Ringo's famous blisters on his famous fingers, which the mono does not. In terms of packaging, I prefer the mono box as the colors on the covers are more natural looking, the CDs are kept in those plastic inner sleeves vs the stereo digipaks which enough friction could possibly scuff up the CDs as you slide them in and out. While the rare photos in the stereo albums are nice to see (at last), the colors on the front covers are very heavily-processed. I flinched when you held up the Beatles for Sale covers in both formats. I liked how warm and natural the mono cover looked vs the "I-don't-know-what-they-were-thinking" way they processed the photos on the stereo. Overly glossy, would you say? I would.
Not sure if flinching was the reaction I was targeting, but... I do get your point. Like I said, to me the digipacks are not a bad idea, they're just executed poorly. :(
Can't wait for the video on sound difference!
We'll be starting most probably at the end of this week. 😁
A very nice overview of both the Mono and Stereo Boxsets .
Well done !!!!
Thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to watch.
@@BurgundySkies You're welcome .
Excellent review!
Thank you so much!!!
Simple. If you can afford both , get both.
BUT if you can only afford one set get the MONO.
The first six albums especially, but after hearing what they did recently with Revolver , fixing up the earlier wonky stereo mix and hearing the new "red album" I am looking forward to remixes of the first six.
Not a bad idea. Although, you know affordability for these sets is weird. Cause if you can afford the Mono, you prob can afford the Stereo, as the Mono is more often than not double. And if you buy the Mono, assuming you don't have the remaining albums already, you still need to buy Yellow Sub, Let it be and Abbey Road separately.
@@BurgundySkies Fourteen years after they were issued, the individual stereo CDs can be found on secondary market shelves all over the country, so price is no hang-up.
Well yeah, that's what I'm saying.
IMO, in terms of better listening experience, you will want the mono version, but if you want the complete package (e.g. Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road, and Let It Be) and even the mini documentaries, you will want the stereo box set.
Indeed that would still be the way to go on CD if you can only get one. Although I guess lately one can consider buying the stereo albums separately if they want to get the newer mixes for the 5 albums that have them.
I did the same thing with the inner and outer sleeves for the stereo set. They did such a good job with the mono set, wonder why they didn't do the same with the stereo set.
I guess they kept them cheaper, although they are clearly setup for scuffs. However, I noticed that even the poli inners can be problematic if they are too tight and also depend on temperature and the material they're produced from
What I have done with the stereo discs is put them in plastic resealable sleeves and put the disc where the book is and put the book where the discs where. It works.
I almost accidentally did that in the video, but never occured to me, lol. I am trying this tomorrow. There is another thing that I have to check about these sleeves though, just occured to me they may cause other issues.
With The Beatles, I listen to their songs on how it was originally mastered and released publicly. If a mix originally in mono that’s remixed in stereo is done well (not counting 2009 remixes where vocals exist to the right and other instruments to the left), I’d go for them. For most of their mixes, I go for mono. If there was one recorded and released in true stereo, I listen to them. Doesn’t work for me if they’re mixed down to mono.
For Mono despite some not so good old mixes, I would stick with their original ones, they were made as they ans GM wanted them. For Stereo... the post 2017 mixes are preferable in most cases for me.
I have the mono and stereo box sets both in CD and vinyl, like you on the stereo box set I put them in re-seal able sleeves, also the inner sleeves I used a ruler and sharp knife to shorten them to the same height of the CD, which helps when putting them in the outer sleeve 👍🇬🇧
That's actually a very good point. I might try that. Thanks.
They've fallen out of favor with some, but I love the 09 remasters. I was lucky enough to scoop up a brand new mono box during the pandemic (probably one of the last brand new mono boxes around) and I've been in love with it ever since, that and the three remaining stereo albums are my go-to way of listening to the Beatles. I am wondering if perhaps I should grab the doubles of the stereo albums while they can still be had for cheap. I like the packaging, I like the added content and frankly there's just something uniquely fun about buying Beatles albums even if you already have them XD. It also bothers me that as more remixes come out, the more those mixes seem to replace these in the marketplace, which I think is a mistake.
When you say you grabbed one of the last boxes, do you mean the CD or Vinyl? I guess CD, right?
My main gripe is that for the Mono CD box they gave you the original EMI and Apple inners.
Why didn’t they put them in the Mono vinyl box.
I mean they are a nice touch for the CDs, I kinda like it.
@@BurgundySkies I also like it so why not put them in the Mono vinyl box. The vinyl Mono box was so expensive and collectible. Supposed to be a faithful reproduction of the original records so why not original EMI and Apple sleeves in there also instead of plain white poly lined which is what is on them. Daft!
@@BigSky1 aaaahhh. Now I get your point. Tbh I have not checked the Vinyl one too much, due to the absolutely prohibitive price for me... but... it does not include them??? WTF?
@@BurgundySkies No. just standard white poly lined inner sleeves. Unbelievable for a great product to not have them like the CDs do. Apart from Sgt Pepper… in the Mono box which does come with the a repro of the original psychedelic sleeve and the White Album which comes with black poly lined sleeves both Mono and Stereo box’s come with standard white poly lined sleeves and not original EMI or Apple inner sleeves.
Indeed. Makes no sense, moreover give the price tag.
19:45 You did not mention that MMT mono and stereo has the "Capitol" Rainbow label from the USA and not Parophone
Indeed.
Rubber Soul and everything after that prefer in stereo . Everything before Rubber soul prefer mono .
Overall that makes sense because of how they recorded, but as will be apparent in some future videos, for me it's a very mixed bag.
@@BurgundySkies I agree. Rubber Soul is the start of the Beatles experimental phase and around the time they started dabbling with lsd . I just think the later albums are more psychedelic sounding in stereo although I've never listened to the Beatles high on acid .
Rubber Soul sounds amazing in Mono.
@@craigphillips6308 So I've heard but I'd have to invest in a mono cartridge for my turntable and they are not cheap.
@@craigphillips6308 It would have sounded great in Stereo as well, if not for the hard panning imo. Given the variety of instruments and sounds they started employing, a nice Stereo mix would elevate it even higher.
I always seem to prefer the Beatles in stereo.
Don't tell anybody but... I am starting to... too. :) There are some exceptions though.
@@BurgundySkies same here.
i have a so called fake version of the Mono Set and it sounds bloody fine to me and £375 cheaper
You mean the vinyl one? Cause the CD one is nowhere near that price tag, even genuine and sealed.
I hate The Beatles digipaks. They are ugly and not user friendly.
When will companies learn that cardboard scratches CD’s!
I agree. I like the overal aspect of them, but functionally they are shit for holding disks. And if you think these are bad, wait till you see the carton sleeves they have for the EP CD collection.
@@BurgundySkies I have seen them. Rubbish! I have managed to get the bonus disc on CD and vinyl. Don’t need the whole box. I have the original UK E.Ps.
@@BigSky1That must be nice... having the originals. Anyway... I am finding it harder and harder to understand and/or explain why they would stinge on such a critical part of a product like this. Especially in limited or special edition products like Boxsets and Anniversary Editions on Albums. Geeez.
@@BurgundySkies The Mono & Stereo CDs are also cut from a Digital source whereas the Mono vinyl box set is all Analogue which is far more faithful to the original sound of the 1960s albums.
I have listened to the stereo CDs. They sound ok but not great but the big disappointment for me sound wise is the Stereo Magical Mystery Tour album. It sounds awful. Muddy and no clarity.
Take the Discs out carefully and you won't see scatches anywherel. Very easy.
Talking about CDS during this vinyl revival? Absolute blasphemy lol
And I'm not stopping. 😆😆😆
@@BurgundySkiesAnd don't stop, fellow CD collector and enjoyer
@@ethancorrea5370 Yes, especially since you can't put an LP into an I tunes account and transfer it to an I POD / PAD. I do love vinyl, but at this rate, it's like a very high-priced call girl.
You won't find me disputing that 😅😅😅. Although I will get a couple of them just to have the option opened and to be able to properly compare.