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Beatles remasters: worst packaging in history?

24.183.40.125
Posted on November 5, 2009 at 14:12:23
madisonears
Audiophile

Posts: 487
Location: midwest
Joined: September 6, 2006
 I can't believe how poorly the individual discs are packaged. I don't know about the box sets--is it just a box that contains all the individual CD's in their own respective cardboard cases?

Each individual issue CD is inserted into a slippery cardboard sleeve without any protection against scratches or fingerprints. I guess that's what happens when the music guys (who did a great job--I like the new, detailed-yet-fuller, bass-heavy [or is it bass-correct?] sound) hand off to the marketing guys. I'm fine with cardboard, but couldn't they have spent five more cents per disc and used the common clear plastic CD holder inside each cardboard package instead of that BS slot?

And now there are pictures: Beatles with the wind blowing through their hair! Who cares? I'm putting all the remasters I buy into the old CD packages and putting the old CD's into the new packages and filing them away. Maybe someday they'll offer remastered packaging.

Peace,
Tom E

RE: Beatles remasters: worst packaging in history?, posted on November 7, 2009 at 08:08:01
jimmycj
Audiophile

Posts: 1042
Joined: December 6, 2004
 i put mine instantly in jewel boxes

RE: Beatles remasters: worst packaging in history?, posted on November 6, 2009 at 05:21:21
Squonk
Audiophile

Posts: 1682
Location: Indianapolis
Joined: August 17, 2005
 I really don't have a problem with the packaging because it's going to be stored away anyway. I was going to buy them all separately because it is cheaper that way (I do find that bazaar BTW), but, I went ahead and got the box set because I figured would be better for storage.
Photobucket
RE: Beatles remasters: worst packaging in history?, posted on November 5, 2009 at 16:03:13
astralnavigator
Audiophile

Posts: 570
Location: North York, Ontario
Joined: June 28, 2009
 There;s lots worse, but I generally agree that the packaging on the stereo titles is pretty cheesy. Sure, there are glossy clor booklets.

But it's not like there aren't bazillions of Beatles photos around. Most photographed group of the era, and maybe any other era.

As a side note, I got the new remaster of U2's Unforgettable Fire on vinyl the other day, and there is a sticker on the cover loudly proclaiming the inclusion of a booklet with "previously unseen photos".

My first reaction was - sheesh, these record company morons still just don't get it. This is the internet era dudes - it's not like I can't get a few thousand images of U2 by typing their name into Google. Is that the best marketing pitch you can come up with?

RE: Beatles remasters: worst packaging in history?, posted on November 5, 2009 at 15:36:52
Raiderman
Audiophile

Posts: 1050
Location: Silicon Valley, California
Joined: March 14, 2003
 The mono set has cardboard covers, (similar to the full sized LP covers, but smaller obviously), with a plastic outer sleeve, as well as a plastic inner sleeve, that the CD itself goes into, before it is slid into the cardboard cover.

While not incredible packaging, it seems like a nice way of packaging the CDs for inclusion into a box set. (I believe that the mono set was made in Japan, so perhaps that explains why they are packaged better than how you say the individual CDs are packaged.)

RE: Beatles remasters: worst packaging in history?, posted on November 5, 2009 at 21:05:48
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 22046
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
 I was kind of surprised over the difference in the packaging between the Mono and Stereo Box Sets......

The Stereo Set has more discs, and the outer box is a lot more imposing, but the discs slide directly into the cardboard cases. (I've personally never had a problem with such packaging.) The Mono Set's outer box is a lot more modest, is white where the Stereo set is black, and although Mono Set also has cardboard album cases, the discs themselves also come in plastic inner liners, kind of like how vinyl LPs are packaged.

The most surprising aspect is the Mono set, in spite of mono recording and fewer discs, costs roughly $50 more than the Stereo set. Although I do say the Mono set has decidedly better sonics.


RE: Beatles remasters: worst packaging in history?, posted on November 11, 2009 at 18:09:57
kotms
Audiophile

Posts: 45
Joined: February 18, 2009
 Thank you, Mr. Krieger for your "better sonics" comment!

I thought I was the only one. I actually disliked the sound of stereo box so much, that put it up on e-bay three days after I bought it (couldn't return it to Amazon, because they don't take back opened CDs). My old Beatles CDs sound better to my ears, especially "Yellow Submarine" soundtrack (blue cover) and "Let it Be". This set, at least on my system, is unbearably bright, with nasty transistor/digital glare in upper mids, and with nagging midrange that even my un-initiated room-mate described as "pressing on her ears". Perhaps my Curcio converter can not handle something special about these CDs, but they sound nasty in my car as well. I don't have the mono box, but the tracks from it that I heard on Beatles comparison site, do sound much better. So packaging to me is the least of concerns. One poster described the sound as "bass heavy" - I wish it was in my case, as that is exactly what I like, but in my system they sound bright and shrill. Did I get a defective set???

RE: Beatles remasters: worst packaging in history?, posted on November 12, 2009 at 23:35:15
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 22046
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
 "I actually disliked the sound of stereo box so much, that put it up on e-bay three days after I bought it (couldn't return it to Amazon, because they don't take back opened CDs)."

Except for the CDs not in the Mono Set, the Stereo Set doesn't get much play time..........

"My old Beatles CDs sound better to my ears, especially 'Yellow Submarine' soundtrack (blue cover) and 'Let it Be'."

I have a similar opinion of the White Album, I prefer the 1987 version over either Box Set. (But I got an earful...... See link below.)

I personally think the big mistake with the Box Sets was the choice of digital transferring the analog to 24/192, prior to transfer to CD. The 24/192 is asynchronous with 16/44, and IMO compromises sonics. (I think the choices were more out of ignorance than anything else.)

"This set, at least on my system, is unbearably bright, with nasty transistor/digital glare in upper mids, and with nagging midrange that even my un-initiated room-mate described as 'pressing on her ears'."

The Stereo Set is a "loudness war" casualty. Too much average volume and compression. The Mono Set is a good 3 dB lower in perceived volume.

"Perhaps my Curcio converter can not handle something special about these CDs, but they sound nasty in my car as well."

The Curcio in my recollections uses a vintage DAC chipset, which I prefer over what's put out today.......

"I don't have the mono box, but the tracks from it that I heard on Beatles comparison site, do sound much better."

I posted a track comparison....... Enjoy.............

"So packaging to me is the least of concerns. One poster described the sound as 'bass heavy' - I wish it was in my case, as that is exactly what I like, but in my system they sound bright and shrill. Did I get a defective set???"

I don't think an entire set of CDs would be "defective", unless they were all somehow in an environment (during packaging) that compromised them. (I once had a defective CD in a box set, but the rest of the CDs were perfectly fine.)

I have not heard enough older Beatles releases to give you an overall impression, but I do think the sonics in both sets, and especially the Stereo Set, were overhyped.


As far as the MONO box set goes I like the packaging, posted on November 5, 2009 at 20:21:44
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 723
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 haven't seen any of the other versions but I thought what I got was very well done.

plus it has little replica paper LP-style sleeves! :-) (nt), posted on November 5, 2009 at 17:07:41
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 7834
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
 nt

all the best,
mrh
And Re-Sealable Outer Plastic Liners.......... [nt], posted on November 6, 2009 at 22:42:53
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 22046
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000


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