If I Own The Stereo Set Then Should I Also Get The Mono Set?

I got the stereo box set the Christmas it first came out as a gift from my nana (the best gift I've ever gotten).I was wondering if I also should get the mono box set,are there many changes to how the songs sound in mono?Christmas is coming in a few months and I was just wondering this because I really want it but I need opinions on whether I should get it since I have the stereo box set.Thank you for answering :D I hope you all have a good day!

If you have someone that will spring for the Mono set for Christmas, then definitely put it on your list. That way you'll have the best of both worlds. If you dig a little, you will see all kinds of posts in the Remasters section over the past two years about the stereo vs. mono and you can make your own decision. I personally recommend getting it just because..

I'm not a fan of mono but there are two reasons to get the mono set.First the presentation of the albums in those dinky little sleeves and second because they put the original stereo Help in the mono set not the redone stereo Help from the first CD releases.

Now why Apple put the best stereo Help in a mono set I don't know and in fact it boggles my mind.

Yes!! You must have the Mono box too! Some songs, like I Want to Hold Your Hand, Paperback Writer, Day Tripper, All You Need Is Love are a difficult listen in stereo- but are astounding in mono! All the singles except most Apple ones (1969-70) were originally put out in mono only and that is the sound that was The Hit Single, not the oddly mixed stereos.
Also, the mini-LP sleeves are breathtaking.
And Rubber Soul is presented in original mono and original 1965 stereo too!

Originally Posted by Duke

Yes!! You must have the Mono box too! Some songs, like I Want to Hold Your Hand, Paperback Writer, Day Tripper, All You Need Is Love are a difficult listen in stereo- but are astounding in mono! All the singles except most Apple ones (1969-70) were originally put out in mono only and that is the sound that was The Hit Single, not the oddly mixed stereos.
Also, the mini-LP sleeves are breathtaking.
And Rubber Soul is presented in original mono and original 1965 stereo too!

I bought the mono box because it was supposed to be limited. But I love the mono for the reasons stated here by Duke. Revolution is also absolutely anemic in stereo as compared to the mono version. If and when they ever get around to releasing the remasters on vinyl, I'll be purchasing the mono set.

My question regarding the stereo remasters. Are the albums from PPM to BFS only remastered or were they remixed for a more quality stereo presentation?

The PPM to BFS remasters all use the original stereo mixes that were produced back in the 60's - no remixing has been done. Hence why the earlier albums sound really bad in stereo, with vocals in one channel and the instruments in the other.

Really bad in stereo? It's a matter of personal preference. I love the stereo mixes of the early albums.

In my opinion the albums Please Please Me and With The Beatles are best heard in their mono versions. On the remastered Mono they sound much more fuller, it's as if you are in the Cavern listening to The Beatles playing live!

On the Help album, Mono is the definitive mix. This is The Beatles 'as nature intended'.

The rest of the albums generally sound better in the new stereo. However, Revolver, MMT, and the White Album sound so much more different in mono, that they need to be heard.

For the Beatles novice and first time buyers, The Beatles Stereo Box Set is a must. It is the most popular box set. But, for the true Beatles fan both box sets are essential to appreciate the subtle differences in each song.

The Beatles Mono Box Set was compiled as a special interest package for the hard-core fan. It presents the first ten albums in re-mastered mono (the final 3 albums made their debuts in stereo only), and a double album of singles and EPs, called "Mono Masters".

The final Mono songs were sometimes different. Stereo mixes were usually done days, if not weeks after the original mono mix, and could include different takes when the engineers made the overdubs. Stereo mixes, particularly for the first five albums, did not include as much critical listening from George Martin, and almost none from the Fab Four. The Beatles themselves worked on the original Mono mixes.

USA Beatles Remasters
UK Beatles Remasters

Originally Posted by 834

Really bad in stereo? It's a matter of personal preference. I love the stereo mixes of the early albums.

Most of the tracks are absolutely fine in stereo, I was more referring to the lack of care taken when mixing some of the tracks - the best example I can probably think of as a "really bad" stereo mix is Please Please Me, where towards the end of the track the drums suddenly start "jumping" across to the right channel.

I received the Mono Box a few months ago. The mono versions of the songs have a little more appeal to them. Where as you here the stereo mixes, the mono mixes just draw you in all the more.

The Mono set is inferior to the Stereo Box Set. The only interesting albums are Revolver- White Album because there are alternate mixes for some of the songs. It's interesting to listen to but George Martin's Stereo Mixes for the latter Albums are best.

Not everyone is going to feel the need to go out of their way to get the mono set if they have the stereo and it is indeed a matter of personal preferences, but I can't imagine that anyone would or could regret having it! I hope that helps! If you can get it, go for it.

I strongly prefer the stereo mixes. However in my bedroom all I have is a Grace wi-fi radio.... it's mono. I think I'm better off listening to the mono mixes on a mono device.

Originally Posted by Dr Winston

In my opinion the albums Please Please Me and With The Beatles are best heard in their mono versions. On the remastered Mono they sound much more fuller, it's as if you are in the Cavern listening to The Beatles playing live!

On the Help album, Mono is the definitive mix. This is The Beatles 'as nature intended', with the opening song 'Help!' played at a slower tempo and different lyrics.

On AHDN and Beatles For Sale, the Beatles' raw talent for songwriting and recording is appreciated more in Mono

The rest of the albums generally sound better in the new stereo. However, Revolver, MMT, and the White Album sound so much more different in mono, that they need to be heard.

For the Beatles novice and first time buyers, The Beatles Stereo Box Set is a must. It is the most popular box set. But, for the true Beatles fan both box sets are essential to appreciate the subtle differences in each song.

The Beatles Mono Box Set was compiled as a special interest package for the hard-core fan. It presents the first ten albums in re-mastered mono (the final 3 albums made their debuts in stereo only), and a double album of singles and EPs, called "Mono Masters".

The final Mono songs were sometimes different. Stereo mixes were usually done days, if not weeks after the original mono mix, and could include different takes when the engineers made the overdubs. Stereo mixes, particularly for the first five albums, did not include as much critical listening from George Martin, and almost none from the Fab Four. The Beatles themselves worked on the original Mono mixes.

USA Beatles Remasters
UK Beatles Remasters

I have made a few changes to my previous post above, regarding the Mono remasters.

In my opinion, you should only get the mono set if you are really into your speakers and recording productions. I think it's fabulous that they released a mono box set but personally I've found more enjoyment listening to Beatles recordings in stereo, (each to their own I suppose). My speakers aren't that great to get into mono/stereo recordings so just stuck with the latter. I could understand that many Beatles songs sound better in mono - does anyone know what specifications their earlier songs were recorded/produced in? :S

The Mono Box Set was released to reflect the fact that the Beatles' catalogue (aside from Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road, and Let It Be) was originally released in mono, in addition to stereo. Many feel that these mono mixes reflect the true intention of the band. For example, in the case of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, all the mono mixes were done together with the Beatles themselves, throughout the recording of the album.

I got both, because I was really curious to hear the albums the way the Beatles intended them to be. There are some songs with not much difference, but some with some pretty substantial differences. It's interesting to hear the mono mix.

Some weeks back I had nothing better to do, so I ripped all of my Beatles CDs to iTunes. Stereo and Mono mixes both. I A-B'd stereo vs mono mixes of random songs and, to my taste, some of the mono mixes were better listening than the stereo of the same song.

Their singles sounded better in mono. They had to, pop radio in the sixties was broadcast in mono. So I guess the idea was to mix the songs to sound good on the radio.

Also I like the Mono Pepper! The songs sound much more unified. In stereo the unity is sugested, but in mono it comes across clearly. Two other titles that sound much more natural in mono are Please Please Me and With The Beatles.

Don't be afraid of the Mono Box. It has hidden charms that you will surely come to appreciate. After all monaural sound was the norm for pop/rock until the late sixties. Stereo became the standard around 1968/9 along with the rise of FM radio as a music medium. So the current re-availability of mono mixes is not without reason, or precedent.

In the case of Magical Mystery Tour I really think the American stereo mix was created from the British mono. The sound must have been fed through an echo chamber and filtered to make a stereo mix.
After hearing the proper balance of instruments and vocals from the mono and stereo remasters, the American mixes just didn't hold up anymore. With that in mind, my American vinyl of Magical Mystery Tour was offered to the local recycling center. I would have sold it to the local indie music store just a few miles away, but they already have several copies of it.

Originally Posted by Blackguard

Some weeks back I had nothing better to do, so I ripped all of my Beatles CDs to iTunes. Stereo and Mono mixes both. I A-B'd stereo vs mono mixes of random songs and, to my taste, some of the mono mixes were better listening than the stereo of the same song.

Call me cheap, but I downloaded the mono set, so that I wouldn't be stuck with another box of CD's. Sort of like buying the new 2014 US set. All your getting is the 2009 UK mixes with nice new Album art!

At least with the mono set, you are actually getting something different (and Original) Come to think of it, with the 2014 US set you are also getting the mono set included).

Originally Posted by Bongo

All your getting is the 2009 UK mixes with nice new Album art!

I disagree. Instead of using the Capitol masters for the 2014 box. The 2009 remasters were used to recreate to Capitol mixes. What I mean is this: if a song had a double tracked vocal in England and not in the US, then you hear that song on the new CD with one vocal track.

I played the US mono Vinyl of A Hard Days Night against the CD. I could not tell the mixes apart. The pops on the record were the only clue to the source of the sound. Same thing Yesterday And Today. Play the record against the CD and you will hear the songs the same way. Play a song in the British mix and again in the American mix and you will hear the differences.

The 2009 remasters are not just repackaged for the new box. I think of the new US box as the American mixes resurrected and far less muted. The songs have a little more room to breathe.