The Best Sounding Beatles CDs


Give me your opinions. To date, which are the best sounding Beatles CDs? I'm aware of the Rolltop box sets, the Original Master Reordings, the Japanese imports, The Parlaphone remasters...... But I have never heard a single one.

I have always listened to them on vinyl. I had the MFSL set, The Parlaphone Blue box set (My personal favorite), The Red Mono box set and several other versions. But I've never heard the CD versions.

Which CD versions sound the best?
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I've heard people say that the Parlophone pressings are best but they must be referring to original pressings. I have some later pressings that are very harsh.

Best I've heard (and own) are German imports which I bought in the late 70's. Great smooth sound with good mid range which is key with such great vocals. In particular, Revolver and Sgt Pepper from Germany are way better than MFSL. I think MFSL really blew it when they "mastered" the Beatles albums. Imports are way better sounding.
"I own every MFSL vinyl and for the most part they suck."

Pretty much.

And I find their CDs to be bright and edgy. But I also find the same results with many of the Japanese imports. Europe, for some reason produces some very fine recordings. Original Parlophone was wonderful. Duestche Grammaphone and Telarc are also very high quality recordings. Some of the original RCA "Red Seal" were also good quality.

However, MFSL recordings always seem to exhibit one type of an issue or another. Considering the fact that they are suppose to be "Audiophile Recordings", I find it interesting that the Standard issue Parlophones blow the MFSLs out of the water.
>>Considering the fact that they are suppose to be "Audiophile Recordings", I find it interesting that the Standard issue Parlophones blow the MFSLs out of the water<<

I don't. MFSL, for the most part, is a marketing ploy. There are only a handful of their releases that best the originals. "Crime of the Century" comes to mind immediately.

OTOH, there are some real stinkers. I don't think it gets much worse than "Aja" and "Sticky Fingers" unless you happen to have the 8 track.
"I don't think it gets much worse than "Aja" and "Sticky Fingers" unless you happen to have the 8 track."

That statement would have 100% validity until you listen to the MFSL version of Al Stewarts "Year Of The Cat".

I think they recorded that album using a kerosene powered mixing console and transfered the music signal between two tomato soup cans with a piece of string as an interconnect.

They then transferred the signal to the master cutter using smoke signals.

That (at least) added a limited degree of warmth.