Rolling Stones Mono Box Set (lp or cd)


I wanted to get the ball rolling. I thought that including both formats here would be beneficial to the entire discussion. I personally have little experience with the Rolling Stones. However, I think I can add an opinion in the form of having heard lots of music from this era and how this box relates to the Beatles Mono Box. I'm currently using my stereo cart. I've listened to the first 5 lps in chronological order.

One thing that has stood out to me is how consistent these 5 lps are in sound quality. ( "Out Of Our Heads", US has more pronounced bass, haven't listened to the UK yet.) This is kind of unusual in my listening experience. Compared to the Beatles Mono box which wasn't as consistent, album to album. I find the detail, the ambient retrieval, and the bass overall to be very good. What bothers me is I feel it is recorded too hot as well as I feel the overall sound seems somewhat very slightly artificial. ( I never felt this way listening to the Beatles Mono box). These last two issues may have to do with the re-mastering chain. It may be the quality of the mics, the recording venue, etc...I don't know. I don't have the originals to compare. There is the dimensional character of the soundstage that is very nice as was the Beatles. The vinyl itself is super quiet but I see that a few of these will need to be flattened. So far, there isn't an pressed "off-center" issue.
astro58go
The Beatles had the best of luck having the support of both Brian Epstein and George Martin. The lads would have never journeyed, as far as they did, w/o those (2) gentlemen.

The Rolling Stones did not have such a supporting cast, in that regard.
Moreover, this fueled their competitive spirit that ultimately lead to 1969's
"Let it Bleed". Easily this album was their crowning achievement for the 60's decade.
The sound of most 60's British band recordings sucks IMO.  It improved as the years went by.  The Beatles had the best of everything, even a producer who had experience recording classical ensembles.  I tend to think it was more the ear of the producers than the equipment but I think the latter mattered to some degree. 
I have the set on vinyl and while it's not in the same league as The Beatles Mono set by the way they had George Martin producing at around $24.00 a lp it's worth the price. They play quite although as said "hot". But it's the Stones in Mono and as a fan I'll over look the bad and just enjoy the music.
Yes, on the latest Vinyl set there was digital processing in the mixing.
For you Vinyl hounds, better to seek out and buy the Mono pressings from the 60's.  I will be buying the CD set.
One problem with the Stones early albums is that their manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, insisted on producing them even though he knew nothing about producing records.  I don't know if that's your problem or that they were mixed digitally.
Well they used digital in the mix, which is why I past on the set. I have been waiting for a true analog mono stones set for a while. Ho Hum ...

Ok.. I just put on "Please, please me" from the Beatles Mono box (lp).

I noticed a lack of volume in relation to the listener at normal levels. But, I want to turn it up! Listening to the RS, I find at normal listening levels, I think that turning the volume up would be not so great.

In comparison. there is a WIDE range to be considered.

The RS set is very vivid, yet, there is no perceived natural, analog nature.

The Beatles...there is the perceived feeling, one can turn up the volume and still be impressed. Not so with the RS.

The RS box, by comparison is in your face.The Beatles, by comparison is somewhat lacking in dynamics now. I'm finding that I'm doing a 180. While I wish the overall sonic character of the RS wasn't so VIVID, I now realize that one should just be glad for the sound that is currently in front of them is there in a very real way!

The Beatles is just there , the RS is kind of "in your face".
Hell... I'm going to just say it...I'm very disappointed so far! I'm disappointed because of the lack of any perceived analog nature!

There is no real analog sense going on here. I love the detail, I love the ambient info, I love the musical bass...

What I don't love is the lack of having to write this (very) post???

I can see myself listening to these first 5 lps again, but trying to imagine these lps in the same league as The Beatles Mono box is not valid... so far.

GIven these lps' consistency and (comparing them to the Beatles), so far, I'd be inclined to go for the CD box set.
I was hoping that others might be brave enough to post some initial impressions before the Fremer review.


I was delighted to find that the entire 15-disc collection is available on Tidal.