Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo New Beatles release...

I have never owned much Beatles music but these new remastered releases have intrigued me to the point of ordering three CD's from Amazon today. I have read good reviews about these recordings as far as the audio quality goes. Has anybody listened to any of these new releases? What do you think?

I would love to hear what people think about the mono vs. stereo thing. The dude over at Gizmodo seems to be extraordinarily interested in the mono releases, but I'd rather hear what people I trust (other than that whole Steely Dan adoration thing--blech) have to say about it.

I almost stopped at the store on the way home today to get one of the sets, but I didn't. For some reason, I'd like to get the mono version, but it looks like it's going to be very hard to find until another batch comes out.

I'm no huge Beatles fan... but if the remastering for the rest of the catalog is as good as the job done on the LOVE disc, they should sound extraordinary!

OMG! These are fantastic! So far I’ve only sampled some songs from the stereo not the mono re-master and it’s incredible. Doesn’t matter so far if it’s the earlier or later albums so far every re-master I’ve listened to sounds better than either of the other 2 CD versions I have no vinyl comparisons until I get to my dad’s house this weekend.

Examples like “Money (That’s What I Want)” not only sound better to me in stereo but the entire frequency range is clearer and more detailed. Best comparison I could make is switching between AM and FM simulcasts of the same music. The re-master sounds like John Lennon is standing right in front of me vs listening on a cheap AM radio. The radical stereo separation takes some getting use to but seem more natural after listing to multiple tracks. Some songs like “Twist and Shout” sound a little odd at first with all the vocals coming from the right speaker but the improved detail, dynamics naturalness of the vocals is still a slam dunk.

“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sounds so much more dynamic and the depth of the soundstage expands many feet.

“Octopus’s Garden” and “Here Comes the Sun” explode in a wall of sound with more bass and more detail than I’ve ever heard.

Just to test that I wasn’t imagining things I set Media Monkey to level match and randomly select tracks. So far out of about 25 songs I’ve been able to identify the re-master 100% of the time within the first 5-20 seconds. No A/B comparison needed. Every time one of the re-masters started playing I just started breaking out in s great big

If you are a Beatles fan this is a must have. If your not a Beatles fan after hearing this then you’re just sick and should get help.


Almost forgot some of the harshness I use to here I higher volumes on my older copies…not there anymore. Which is funny cause I’m still using Axiom speakers.

I haven't bought a cd in quite a while. A must have ya say, well it looks like I might have to go out shopping. Love the Beatles.

I’ve done some more random selections between the different versions and have been stumped on a few of them now not being able to tell the re-master when randomly selected. On all I could tell the difference when A/B comparing except one. I can’t any difference even when A/B comparing “Across the Universe.” I’d say it’s less then 10% where I can’t tell the difference and so far it’s mostly been on “Let it be” and “Abby Road.”

I went to Best Buy at lunch..........plenty of the Beatles's new stereo remastered CD'S (Digi-pack) $13.99. There was a sign there saying the "Mono" sets were no longer available on line, at BB, and I didn't see any in the store, either. They look well done....but I didn't have time to read if they are "gold discs" like the Rolling Stones releases were.

I just bought (stereo versions) The White album, Sgt. Pepper, Revolver, Rubber Soul, Let It Be and Abbey Road.

I am listening to side one of the White Album. I had this record album when I was a kid and I know it intimately. It is simply amazing. I felt kind of silly purchasing these but I am thrilled. I am quite simply astonished.

They were only 11.88 at Newbury Comics. The White Album was 17.88.

I listened to Revolver a lot this summer. I always chuckled at the stereo mix. I can't wait to listen to how they did it this time around.

Blackbird is playing right now and it is drop dead gorgeous.

Gary,

cool Avatar.

Picked up Sgt Pepper last night. I hope to give it a listen today after work.

May daughter and her friends are huge Beatles fans after watching Across the Universe.

Looks like I'm gonna have to pick a few of these up seing as how the only beatles I have is on very worn tape.

Went and got Abbey Road late last night. I'm excited about giving it a listen this weekend.

I got the whole stereo box set the other day. They all sound better than the original CD releases in the 80's, but the earlier albums have more of an improvement than the newer ones. "Beatles for Sale" to me sounds REMARKABLY improved.

They sound so good that I can actually listen to the Beatles again with the Axioms without getting a headache! I love them!

Did they leave in the bizarre stereo panning effects?

The CDs were remastered, not remixed. So all of the effects are still there.

Anyone feel like posting an audacity waveform graph from some of these remasters? I usually think of "remastered" and "overcompressed" as belonging together. I like the Beatles but for whatever reason I own absolutly zero beatles music. I'm considering sucking it up and just buying the whole set. Anyone care to comment on the set vs individual discs?

I think the price is similar, so I'm just going to pick the ones I want and buy 'em.

I've bought 3 so far, "Beatles for Sale", "Hard Days Night" and "Rubber Soul". I think B4S is perhaps the best of the three with RS close, for some reason HDN doesn't seem as big an improvement as the other two, but still a little better to my ear.


Please note, I did not go to the SS Academy of Golden Ear Training so YMMV.

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"I like the Beatles but for whatever reason I own absolutly zero beatles music."
I was in the same camp as you. I guess that being a huge Stones fan and a more British rock and roll fan I never owned much Beatles music even though I've always liked their music. My CD's should be in tomorrow. Can't wait to here them. On a side note I am going to see U2 Sunday night in Foxboro. Can't wait, it will be my 5th time seeing them. Great shows all.

I’ve only directly compared about 10 songs so far and in every case prefer the stereo over the mono. It may sound odd but in most cases the mono sounds more “natural” maybe original is a better word, however the stereo sounds “better.” And it’s not just the separation but they sound more dynamic and have more depth (front to back separation) not just wider. I’d bet if I never had heard the mono versions before the stereo would also sound more “natural” to me.

However, there is one exception to the stereo sounding better to me. That’s on the tracks like “Twist and Shout” where all the vocals are in the right channel. Sounds fine on speakers (maybe a bit of getting use to) however on headphones having the vocals in only the right channel is nerve-wracking.

I’ll update if I notice any anything different upon more listening.

/emote Pictures him trying to wear both the left and right headphones on the same ear

A couple of weeks ago I picked up the stereo boxed set. I've been working my way through the albums sequentially and I must say they do sound excellent. My first purchase was Abbey Road by itself and while I did hear improvements it was subtle.

So far, the earlier albums seem to sound a lot better. Drums have a more palpable feel and effect and their voices are much more immediate. Excited to listen to the rest of the set. Managed to get up through Help! last night.

Still want to hear the mono versions of these albums.

Put it on my Christmas List the other day.