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"New" Beatles Mono Catalog Release on 180gr Vinyl

It looks like the Mono CD Collection from 5 years ago did well enough that the collection is to be re-scrubbed & re-mastered and released on 180-gram vinyl.

Scheduled release date is 09/09/14. Not sure if the September release date has any significance, but apparently the box set is part of Apple Corps 50th Anniversary marketing campaign.

Here's the link to the Rolling Stone Article:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-beatles-in-mono-to-get-lavish-vinyl-release-this-fall-20140616

For vinyl junkies, this looks like a no-brainer.

Personally, I'm on the fence as to whether to pull the trigger, especially given the $375.00 US Suggested Retail for 14 LPs (roughly $26.75 per album).

I have the Mono CD Box and the Limited Edition USB-Rom 24-Bit FLAC Collection (Shipped in its own aluminum Green Apple). I passed on the US-Release CD Box, and the UK Stereo CD & Vinyl Boxes. Still, it IS The Beatles, and adjusted for inflation the pricing is about the same as when I bought the record albums the first time...
courant
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
Slaw...I have a stereo cartridge, (but with a mono switch on my preamp) and a complete mono turntable setup. I have listened to these on both rigs.

IMHO, "Revolver" is, if not the best, surely one of the best of the mono reissues.

I'm not sure what you are or aren't hearing, but it is a spectacular recording.

I've listened to all the albums at least 5 times through now and truly think they are excellent.
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,332 posts
 
Mofimadness: I just had a thought... Is "Revolver" the only lp you had a disagreement with my reviews here? Just listened again. In my system, not as open by a margin that anyone would notice in my system. Veiled and dynamically suppressed. Again, in my system.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
I personally haven't tried this, but for those hoping to find a reasonably-priced mono cartridge, Grado makes two, the MC+ with conical stylus for $90 and the ME+ with elliptical stylus for $150. Both have replaceable stylii as well.

For those of you with removeable headshells, this would be a smart buy and it would only take a minute or two to swap in the mono cartridge when you want to play Beatles mono pressings or other mono for that matter. In addition to 7 of the 2014 Beatles mono pressings, I also have several '50s-'60s mono classical albums such as orthophonic RCA shaded dogs; it might be worth it for me to get one of these myself.
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,332 posts
 
Mofimadness: I gave it one more shot. The cartridge I was using did have a lot of hours on it so I put my Dyna D3 on for another listen. The overall sound is much better, more open than previously noted, (I still don't think it's in the same league as Sgt. Pepper's regarding the following note): Here's what is different from the other lps in this box, the soundstage is more centrally located, very limited width. This can give the impression of being somewhat veiled as well IMO. Song to song consistency is not as consistent, even compared to "Rubber Soul" IMO.
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
I got this for Christmas, and I think it's truly amazing. I've had some of the older Parlophone mono pressing (not in perfect shape to be clear), and have heard the Japanese boxes pretty extensively, and I love my MOFI box, but these are exceptional.

First of all the pressings are ridiculously good, so quiet. I have one side out of all the records that has some noise on it, but the rest are completely silent.

Secondly, many of the albums have a much different sound. Sgt Peppers, Please Please Me, and Revolver are just sublime. Much more pronounced bass line, and kick drum. Also, the vocals on some are obviously different tracks then those on the stereo versions.

Overall just a great job by all involved. I don't usually keep multiple copies of any records, so I would probably sell my sublime MOFI box and keep this, except I would have to give up my MOFI copies of Abbey Road (my personal favorite Beatles album) and Let It Be.

Great job by Apple Records on this.
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