Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems The Beatles

For the completist you need the 'Mono' boxed set as well as the stereo versions of 'Past Masters'(stereo version has more tracks, three I beleive), 'Abbey Road', 'Let it be' and I did not see anyone mention 'Yellow Submarine'.

There are 4 mono tracts on the stereo past masters. ( presumably because they couldn't separate anything from the original tapes ) and they give a nice clean ambiance in Trifield, but with no disrespect intended what is the point of the monos? There were only 10,000 of the box sets made and they've sold out so they will probably make more. But is the sound purer and cleaner? Just curious. I have the first 4 CD's in the older mono versions and the 6 disc anthologies that came out in the mid 90's and i'm not sure i'll ever listen to them again, but never say never.

Hi KB,
What I mean is that there are a few stereo tracks that have been left off the Mono Masters CD because they were originaly recorded in stereo, in order to have everything you need the stereo version of Past Masters as well.
As for why we need the Mono versions that is obviously going to be down to the individual buyer, but for me personaly I do like to keep things the way they were originaly supposed to be.
The only analogy that springs to mind is that I do not like colorised versions of black and white films either.
Either way the music is what matters.
The Mono box is still available at Amazon.co.uk, I know it is expensive at �200 but look at it this way, it only costs 20 times more than a Lady Bloody Ga Ga CD and has about a billion times the value in content.
Martin.

The review linked to early in the thread seemed to think so. Here's the link again:

http://www.tonepublications.com/music/beatles-box-in-stereo-and-mono/

Personally, I just wanted the catalogue in "as original" form as I could get.

Yup, I can appreciate why people might feel that way - and clearly the record company does also, thus the limited-edition mono set. For me personally, however, I find the sentiment somewhat misplaced. Were the early albums in mono as a result of a creative decision, or were they in mono because that was the technology of the time. I suspect more the latter, otherwise presumably to this day, Paul McCartney would still be releasing his albums in mono.

Absolutely correct, but these stereo mixes are not the product of George Martin and the Beatles. The mono mixes are.

But dont you think some of the creative decisions could have been based around the limitations of the technology at the time and that re-tinkering them later on would change the presentation as originaly intended? Obviously some people including the people who were originaly involved in the recordings do, or else why bother going to all the trouble?

I am keeping in mind that I am on a high end audio based forum and the very word "Mono" has some people breaking out into a cold sweat.

Almost certainly true. So much would be done differently if the Beatles were recording today. But they aren't.

I don't know; my G68 has a mono DSP preset. Having said that, I like the soundstage broadening that Trifield achieves with a mono mix.

With films, do you prefer original black and white classics or "colourised" versions? Are your spectacles rose-tinted?

I guess using the mono setting on the preamp doesn't give the same result as the mono box set?

Yes, I suppose you are right. May go along way to explaining why surround-sound music has been such a mass-market thud. Almost none of it was created/composed for 5.1 channels therefore it is 're-tinkering', to use your word.

Clearly I am in the minority as I care less about original intent and more about having the music be presented in the most life-like way possible. For me this is 5.1 or processed 5.1 (like Trifield).