Beatles remastered...Yes and No.....

A couple months ago I picked up a few Japanese CD's. The remastered Stereo version of Rubber Soul which comes packaged as a mini lp and enchanced cd video content. The packaging was really awesome just like the original Lp slightly bigger than the standard size CD packaging. Played the CD and the sound was really nice and clean I was impressed. They did a great job remastering and I highly recommend it for Beatles fans.

Fast forward last weekend I see the US remastered versions at Bestbuy so I grabbed Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper since they were on sale. Got home first off the the mini lp packaging is standard cd size and the quality is no where near as nice as the japanese cd but I can live with that but I was surprised when I listenesd to Abbey Road the sound was muddy and didn't sound anywhere as good as my Rubber Soul japanese cd. What gives they are both remastered by Apple but how could one sound so good and they other so bad ? I pulled out my White Album CD not remastered which is 20 years old and listended to it and it sounds the same the Abbey Road..WTF...These are all the Stereo versions not the mono version which is also availble. How can the Japanese pressing sound so much better ? They are remastered by Apple so its the same master tapes. I have read that the Japanese equipment is better and the CD quality is better than the US versions and I can tell you in this case its not even close the japanese version is 100% better.
Anyone else out there have the remastered Beatles Cd's Japanese, US, UK versions please chime in. I would like to see what anyone else thinks. I know I will not buy the US pressings and only buy the Japanese pressings for the Beatles catalog.


DON

Sounds like Quality Control issues Apple should hear about!

I have the US mono and stereo remastered box sets. Up to, and including Sgt Pepper the mono versions sound better to my ears. I have no complaints wth the stereo sets though. I wonder if there was a bad pressing run or something? I wish I had a Japanese version for comparison. Where did you get yours? i know, I know, Japan right? kinda walked right in to that one LOL.
All that being said, vinyl is still king. Odd how the deterioration of sound quality is the accepted norm, eh? CD's are a noticable downgrade from LP's. And MP3's etc, don't even get me started. Convenience is a sorry substitute for quality.
Am i rambling on yet? Thought so haha!

[QUOTE]Odd how the deterioration of sound quality is the accepted norm, eh? CD's are a noticable downgrade from LP's. And MP3's etc, don't even get me started. Convenience is a sorry substitute for quality.[/QUOTE]

So true. The compression of the sound, the production of making everything "louder" just sucks. There are so many bad sounding albums being released now.

The worst is when a record is “enhanced" during the process of remastering. Have any of you had the misfortune of listening to any of the remastered Doors stuff that came out a couple of years back? Atrocious to say the least. They actually added little bits of vocals, reverb, etc. The first band that i recall doing that BS was ZZ Top on the Six Pack CD compilation which was just garbage.

back on topic though, The Beatles remasters dont have any of that nonsense. Nor do any of the Stones or Who remasters. if anyone is a Beatles fan go out and get the mono version of SPLHCB. There is a quote attributed to John Lennon “If you haven't heard Sgt Pepper in mono, you haven't heard Sgt Pepper". I agree completely. Go buy it.

Rabbit, Im listening to Rubber Soul (EMI Music Japan) 09 remaster and it sounds perfect which I ordered from Cdjapan which has all the japanese releases. I listened to Abbey Road remaster 09 - EMI Music US and honestly my White Album cd circa 1987 not remastered sounds as good. I dont have a US version of Rubber Soul to compare.
The mini lp packaging aside the japanese Stereo remaster is spot on and Im guessing the mono is the same as I read a review on the mono vs Stereo japanese pressings and it was split 50/50 as far as which was better sounding.
The Japanese remastered mini lp box sets are $400 vs the US box sets are $180.
I guess if you want quailty you have to pay for it.
I don't if the UK pressings are better than the US or not but I guess I can find some reviews. I think when I bought my Rubber Soul cd it was $27 now its $29 but the price changes as the currency rates change. If I add anymore Beatles cds I will add the japanese version. When I saw the remastered version of Rubber Soul I had to have it, that was my 1st rock album which I still have today.


DON