# Beatles Box Set- Should I Get the Mono or the Stero Version? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-box-set-should-i-get-the-mono-or-the-stero-version/504099 "2009-07-24T08:52:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-box-set-should-i-get-the-mono-or-the-stero-version/504099/1 "2009-07-24T08:52:34Z")
Usually when I have a choice between mono and stereo versions of music (_The Velvet Underground and Nico_ and _Pet Sounds_ are the only other examples I can think of) I go with mono because I’m under the impression that that’s what the music was originally intended for, but with the Beatles I really want to be sure. What do you all recommend in this case, and in general? (obviously with _Pet Sounds_ mono’s the only way to go) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-box-set-should-i-get-the-mono-or-the-stero-version/504099/2 "2009-07-24T10:50:58Z")
You know, I should know the “official” version of this and assume it to be mono, but I don’t want to say for sure. The bulk of their catalogue was originally recorded in mono, so for that reason alone it is the default position. Mono really sounds different; it expands the size of the canvas - at the expense of some separation, but it can be viewed as a choice, not a restriction - like some movies simply work better in B&W, and that format can portray deep beauty in its unique way (_Wings of Desire_, anyone?). For the Beatles’ work - especially the stuff from Rubber Soul on - their amazing use of that bigger canvas is a key factor in their sound and innovations. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-box-set-should-i-get-the-mono-or-the-stero-version/504099/3 "2009-07-24T11:08:21Z")
Geoff Emerick, who was the engineer on Beatles recordings from Revolver until the end, thinks you should go for the mono version. [QUOTE=Geoff Emerick] True Beatles fans would do well to avail themselves of the mono versions of Sgt. Pepper and Revolver because far more time went into those mixes than into the stereo mixes. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Geoff Emerick] In contrast to the way the carefully oversaw the original mono mixes, the group had expressed no interest in even being present when we did the new (stereo) ones. [/QUOTE] Quotes are from his book Here, There and Everywhere, which I bought on **WordMan** ’s recommendation.. The white album was mixed in stereo only, I think. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-box-set-should-i-get-the-mono-or-the-stero-version/504099/4 "2009-07-24T11:24:33Z")
I think George Harrison once said something about preferring the mono vinyl. I don’t know if that mono yawp is transferrable to digital format. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-box-set-should-i-get-the-mono-or-the-stero-version/504099/5 "2009-07-24T12:30:57Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Geoff Emerick, who was the engineer on Beatles recordings from Revolver until the end, thinks you should go for the mono version. > Quotes are from his book Here, There and Everywhere, which I bought on **WordMan** ’s recommendation.. The white album was mixed in stereo only, I think. Ah, thanks, \*\*Crotalus \*\*- I didn’t have any of my books in front of me here at the office. I knew there were POV’s in the stuff I had read, but couldn’t call them up…and if anyone would know it would be Emerick… ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-box-set-should-i-get-the-mono-or-the-stero-version/504099/6 "2009-07-24T12:44:10Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > The white album was mixed in stereo only, I think. The White Album was mixed in mono, but _Yellow Submarine_, _Abbey Road_, and _Let It Be_ were stereo-only and thus do not appear in the mono set. The mono versions of _Help!_ and _Rubber Soul_ also feature the original stereo mixes from 1965. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-box-set-should-i-get-the-mono-or-the-stero-version/504099/7 "2009-07-24T13:45:17Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Ah, thanks, \*\*Crotalus \*\*- I didn’t have any of my books in front of me here at the office. I knew there were POV’s in the stuff I had read, but couldn’t call them up…and if anyone would know it would be Emerick… I’m working at home today, and Emerick’s book has a good index. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-box-set-should-i-get-the-mono-or-the-stero-version/504099/8 "2009-07-24T13:51:04Z")
I will be waiting for you guys to tell me which to buy on Sept 10 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beatles-box-set-should-i-get-the-mono-or-the-stero-version/504099/9 "2009-07-24T22:54:45Z")
It looks like I’m going for mono, then. I don’t need their last three albums, anyway. I’m much more interested in the mono cd debuts of Rubber Soul and Revolver! It does bother me that the mono one is $35 more expensive on amazon even though it’s missing those three albums. Here’s an interesting comparison I found between the mono and stereo versions of the first 13th Floor Elevators album: [Mono vs. Stereo || “Psychedelic Sounds…” 1966 | Rising Storm Review](http://therisingstorm.net/mono-vs-stereo-psychedelic-sounds/) The mono version is so much better that it’s almost hard to believe.