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10.32pm
9 January 2019
Offline
Hello This is my very first post here. I just discovered this site by searching for Beatles forum. Favorite album is “The Second Album” and Please Please Me . Sgt. Pepper is now becoming a favorite after hearing it in mono for the first time…
Although Carpenters (Karen and Richard) are my favorite artist, Beatles come in at #2.
I’ve been collecting a lot of their music. I discovered them by the love of my life Danny, (also the one that I let get away) and he was a die hard beatles fan. He even had a mint butcher album. The LP was flawless and had the inner sleeve in like new condition. I got to see it with my own eyes.
I own The Stereo Box Set on CD and the Mono Box Set On Cd.
On vinyl I own the Stereo Box set.
My favorite is my US albums even though they aren’t the Capitol mixes and I’m about to explain why…..
First of all, I hate I’m not a fan of stereo from the 60s. My Stereo Box literally has dust on it. I play the LPS for the albums after Revolver and have just dealt with the stereo versions. I like all the albums but if its in mono I won’t play the stereo version.
As a kid when I didn’t know what stereo and Mono were, I got annoyed that there were quiet parts in a speaker for moments. I got so frustrated when one speaker would stop working on my headphones as a kid. I discovered how mono works With Cher’s first 5 albums with Imperial/Libery Records. It was night and day compared to the botched up stereo versions on CD. I was at an old record store (they let you play before you buy) and someone explained the entire dynamics including dedicated mono and fold down. Hearing “The Beat Goes On” in mono blew my mind out of the water.
When listening to I say I prefer the US Box Set to the Mono Mono box set, its because of the Mono Mixes.
I just got the Mono Box set from Amazon two days ago. Ive been listening to my US albums in mono only and have been happy. I only dipped into my stereo box set for the albums after their self titled album.
Now that I got the Mono box set with the original track list order, I noticed something agonizing to an audiophile like myself. The mono mixes to the 2014 US box set’s are BRIGHTER and have more of a punch.
If I never heard the US box set I probably wouldn’t care.
Was the audio improved between 2009 and 2014 or something? Or perhaps the Mono mixes on the US albums were touched up and I’m used to them. Nothing else makes sense.
Any input would be helpful. BTW my entire collection is legit, I can 100% guarantee that.
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Expert Textpert2.03pm
10 March 2017
Offline IIRC they used the same exact mixes on both sets unless if the song used a different mix in the US. I prefer the 2004 Capitol albums box set since it uses the original US mixes, Duophonic and all.
If you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
9.18pm
15 November 2018
Offline I can’t tell the difference between mono and stereo, myself, but welcome to the forum @KrisHawk ! 
Love one another.
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2018:
2019: 
2020:
9.21pm
9 January 2019
Offline 
I know they aren’t the Capitol mixes. I just love the different track lists and quality of the mini LPs. I like hearing their major singles on actual albums. (The second album is my favorite.)
I first heard the Mono mixes on the 2014 US albums box set. Big blue box that has all four sitting in front of the American Flag.
When I got the white Mono CD box set I noticed the songs seem a bit quieter. I used my head phones and listened back to back on iTunes. For example “I’ve just seen a face” sounds a tad brighter on US Rubber Soul then it does on Help (UK) on the mono box set.
Basically the 2014 US Mono Mixes sound better then they do on the White Mono box set with the original U.K. albums. The stereo versions on the US Box set are exactly the same as the black Box.
From what I’m told The US box set used the mono mixes from the white Mono Box Set.
Well that’s not what my ears are telling me.
I downloaded a lossless torrent and it sounded exactly the same a year ago. I had limited funds last year and went for the US albums instead (knowing/thinking they were the same 2009 mono mixes.) Then I went for the mono box set for the mono tracks not on the US albums. But the volume is different!
When the box came it had a seam on the top going down the left. However I got it directly on amazon. It makes me wonder because I read online that a seam on top means it’s fake.
There was no smell, the discs didn’t have weird rings, no blurry texts, LPs came in the same sleeves as my US set, and was in opposite order they came out. (Please Please Me on far right.) The sound quality matches the lossless flac torrents I’ve downloaded.
I just wanna know why the Stereo mixes sound the same as the US box set but the mono mixes having “less life.” (And hopefully know if mine is legit.)
1.52pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline I think there are about 15 songs on the US Box set that are different to the mixes in the mono box set, the rest are identical to the 2009 mono mixes because that was what Apple used. There is an article on Wogblog which details which mixes are which.
Any differences in the identical mixes are therefore down to the listener.
Whether the US or UK albums are what you prefer is another matter entirely.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
3.50pm
18 April 2013
Offline They are not the same. They improved the sound of all mono songs on the US Albums box.
If all you own is the 2009 mono box you are missing out.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
4.08pm
18 April 2013
Offline In my 2014 Amazon review (below) I noted that I thought the mono sounded better than 2009:
However, the Capitol albums generally sound horrible in comparison to this set. The duophonic and fold-down mono mixes are the historical mixes, but when compared to the sound on this box there is no contest: The US Albums box is a superior listening experience to duophonic and fold-down mono mixes.
It’s not true that The US Albums have been completely stripped of reverb. However, there is significantly less reverb on the new box (most notably on the stereo mixes).
The mono on the new box may sound even better than the 2009 mono box, and this mono is a definite improvement over the sound in the Capitol boxes.
All of the unique mono mixes that appeared on the original Capitol albums also appear on this box. As for the stereo, supposedly all that is missing are Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand (though it is not 100% confirmed that the mixes are really different) and I Call Your Name . I personally compared I Call Your Name to the Capitol box and it sounds identical to my ears, except for being stripped of the reverb.
Many people are complaining that Yesterday and Today lacks the “true stereo” mixes for I’m Only Sleeping and Doctor Robert . What people fail to see is that the original Yesterday and Today album was released with duophonic mixes of these songs. For years, the most common mix of these songs was the duophonic. These true stereo mixes were only available on reel-to-reel, 4-track, 8-track and cassette until the 1969 Longines pressing. Even then, some later editions of the album contained the UK stereo mix instead. So, from a purely historical standpoint, it was not necessary to include these alternate “true stereo” mixes as they were less common and not on the original pressings.
The Help ! and Rubber Soul stereo mixes here are the 1987 George Martin remixes that were used on the 2009 stereo box. If you want the original stereo mixes, they are available as bonus tracks on the 2009 mono box.
In short, if you want the Capitol box sets, buy those. If you want a superior-sounding product, buy this.
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sigh butterfly"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
9.28am
18 April 2013
Offline Also, I don’t have a seam down the left side of my 2009 box.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
10.24am
18 April 2013
Offline The mono albums from the US Albums box still sound the best of any mono Beatles CD.
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sigh butterfly"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
11.29am
11 June 2015
Offline Thanks for the comprehensive review @Expert Textpert. I am also obsessed with sound quality. Besides the original releases (both available mono and stereo vinyl UK & US editions, CD first release) I have these sets:
If you have a chance, could you post the Amazon link to the set you are recommending? Thanks 
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11.55am
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline
Though, of course, it should be noted that the best sounding mono box is the 2014 vinyl, which was a completely new remaster of the UK albums.
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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
9.21pm
18 April 2013
Offline Ron Nasty said
Though, of course, it should be noted that the best sounding mono box is the 2014 vinyl, which was a completely new remaster of the UK albums.
Thanks for that information. I don’t collect new vinyl very much anymore so I’ll have to take your word for it.
This is the set I am talking about:
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sigh butterfly"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
9.25pm
18 April 2013
Offline sigh butterfly said
Thanks for the comprehensive review @Expert Textpert. I am also obsessed with sound quality. Besides the original releases (both available mono and stereo vinyl UK & US editions, CD first release) I have these sets:
If you have a chance, could you post the Amazon link to the set you are recommending? Thanks
I have those three as well (on CD). If I recall correctly one of the two Capitol sets had a disc with some kind of error on it in some of the early pressings. I don’t remember what it was now. I like those for the historical mixes but the sound quality is not the best.
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sigh butterfly"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
10.11pm
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline What set the 2014 vinyl apart, in my opinion, is that they used the original masters as opposed to the digital safety masters used for the 2009 remasters, and they did the whole thing in analogue. It’s AAA vinyl.
"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty
To @ Ron Nasty it's @ mja6758
The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
10.18pm
18 April 2013
Offline Ron Nasty said
What set the 2014 vinyl apart, in my opinion, is that they used the original masters as opposed to the digital safety masters used for the 2009 remasters, and they did the whole thing in analogue. It’s AAA vinyl.
Analogue. Very nice.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
10.22pm
18 April 2013
Offline It’s a bit out of my price range though. Looks like people are selling it for around 800 dollars currently.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
10.47pm
11 June 2015
Offline Hmmm, lots to think about. I’m just starting to listen to the Anniversary White and AR, so I’ve got some time to consider. I think if I paid $800. I might just collect and never actually enjoy them.
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Expert TextpertYou and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead
11.10am
18 April 2013
Offline sigh butterfly said
Hmmm, lots to think about. I’m just starting to listen to the Anniversary White and AR, so I’ve got some time to consider. I think if I paid $800. I might just collect and never actually enjoy them.
Get the US Albums CD box, it’s cheaper.
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sigh butterfly"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
7.49am
28 March 2014
Offline I don’t get the 2014 U.S. CD boxset.
It’s not the real thing (like the Capitol CD box sets), nor especially the original Capitol Albums, (and it’s not anything like the U.K. sets).
Somebody decided to make the original crappy US sets sound closer to the UK sound and people are buying it up.
Furthermore, it’s not even a complete set??????????
BEATLES Music gives me Eargasms!
8.25am
18 April 2013
Offline Bongo said
I don’t get the 2014 U.S. CD boxset.It’s not the real thing (like the Capitol CD box sets), nor especially the original Capitol Albums, (and it’s not anything like the U.K. sets).
Somebody decided to make the original crappy US sets sound closer to the UK sound and people are buying it up.
Furthermore, it’s not even a complete set??????????
The mono tracks are sonically superior.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
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