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11.24pm
7 January 2014
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So I just recently got a record player. I was wondering what are the best ways to listen to the true Beatles’ sound in the following categories:
1. I-pod, CD, or Record?
2.Mono or Stereo?
3. What Kind of Amplifier Should Be Used?
4. What Kind of Record Player?
-If you could think of any other ways to enhancing The Beatles’ sound feel free to share.
11.32pm
1 November 2013
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I say the best way is with your ears because with out them you can’t listen at all
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11.43pm
10 November 2009
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Of what I have heard, some of the best Beatles sound quality for the albums only are the MSFL and Blue Box LP’s (Except for Magical Mystery Tour which used Capitol tapes in the MSFL and in the Blue Box doesn’t appear at all as it wasn’t an official UK album, and doesn’t include singles that weren’t released on the albums). For Magical Mystery Tour the best one is the German LP and for the singles are the 1962-1966 and 1967-1970 LP’s (AKA Red & Blue Album ), plus Rarities for the missing B-sides of the Red & Blue Albums.
A more easier way though, are the 2009 remasters. These are good enough too, the only issue (for me at least) is that the stereo versions have some compression and limiting added in order to increase the volume without distorting/clipping the audio, changing the natural dynamics of the 1987 CD’s or the LP’s. The mono’s 2009 remasters though, retain the dynamics so these are probably the best to hear in mono, though you would miss Abbey Road & Let It Be as they were released in stereo only.
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12.56am
18 February 2014
Offline As long as you are listening to The Beatles you’re fine 
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Beatlebug~George Harrison is my husband. <33
1.01am
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1 May 2011
Offline I’ve listened to some of these best sources and they sound identical to everything else, I honestly could not tell you which one had slightly more compression, which one was better EQ’d etc.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
2.13am
Reviewers
1 November 2013
Offline Any ‘ol way sound gets in your ears is a good way to listen to The Beatles.
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2.23am
8 November 2012
Offline At one point I might have said any way is the best way, but when I got back into the Beatles wholeheartedly, I found that merely listening with a great pair of headphones a friend gave me allowed me to hear details I couldn’t before. So now I pay attention. Even playing around with the bass and treble on my cheap, auto CD player creates a significantly different experience.
During my spring cleaning, I treated myself to a Sony bluetooth speaker for my laptop, and again, the difference is noticeable. I sort of can’t believe I went this long without one. I can’t comment on technical details, though, or on the mono vs. stereo debate.
parlance
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Oudis2.30am
Reviewers
1 November 2013
Offline I might have the problem of having crappy sound equipment, I use DELL speakers that came with my desktop and the Apple EarPods (which are OK), so I haven’t really heard music on a great system. I’ve always wished I had great headphones though.
My dad bought a pair for my grandfather, but my grandfather didn’t want them so he gave them back. My dad never uses them, and even though he knows I basically religiously listen to music, he just lets them sit on a shelf instead of letting me use them. It’s annoying while I make due with the Apple earphones.
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2.42am
8 November 2012
Offline IveJustSeenAFaceo said
My dad bought a pair for my grandfather, but my grandfather didn’t want them so he gave them back. My dad never uses them, and even though he knows I basically religiously listen to music, he just lets them sit on a shelf instead of letting me use them. It’s annoying while I make due with the Apple earphones.
Sounds like an Easter gift is in order (to throw out a random, rapidly approaching excuse for gifts).
parlance
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Starr Shine?, IveJustSeenAFaceo2.52am
Reviewers
1 November 2013
Offline parlance said
IveJustSeenAFaceo said
My dad bought a pair for my grandfather, but my grandfather didn’t want them so he gave them back. My dad never uses them, and even though he knows I basically religiously listen to music, he just lets them sit on a shelf instead of letting me use them. It’s annoying while I make due with the Apple earphones.Sounds like an Easter gift is in order (to throw out a random, rapidly approaching excuse for gifts).
parlance
Probably not, they’re apparently expensive and such. Anyway, I already know I’m just getting a $25 gift card to my record store.
Would be nice though.
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6.20am
Reviewers
29 August 2013
Offline We had a bit of a discussion on this a while back but as usual I can’t find it 
I prefer CD to LP as even the occasional slight hiss or plop drives me batty. Good headphones are great as suggested above.
I bought a nice dedicated music setup for around AU$1500 a few months back; a Cambridge Audio amp, Harman-Kardon CD player and a great set of jsb alpha t1 speakers. The sound is significantly and noticeable better than on my 5.1 home theatre system which itself is pretty good for movies. I really think spending as much as you can afford (if you listen to music a lot) is the way to go, as long as your ears are not dead you WILL hear a difference – but make sure you try out lots of equipment and read a range of reviews – and don’t spend too much as there are diminishing returns involved.
I have been listening to the mono versions of many of these songs for the first time from the US albums set which is based on the 2009 remasters; while I like the mono on the earlier songs I prefer the stereo versions of later songs (once the vocals moved from the side to the middle and the instruments had a more natural balance).
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6.56am
Reviewers
16 December 2013
Offline TheOneBeatleManiac said
For Magical Mystery Tour the best one is the German LP and for the singles are the 1962-1966 and 1967-1970 LP’s (AKA Red & Blue Album ), plus Rarities for the missing B-sides of the Red & Blue Albums.
I’ve got the German LP of Magical Mystery Tour and I agree wholeheartedly that it is one of the better vinyls I own. After realizing that my wish to buy all the Beatles singles in vinyl was sort of silly, I settled with buying the Red and Blue Albums. Haven’t gotten around to buying the Rarities though.
I first experienced the Beatles through cheap headphones and moved on to slightly better headphones. The music amazed me anyway. A few months ago, though, I convinced my dad to fix our old record player, and immediately bought all the Beatles vinyl I could come across. But my dad has a good collection of vinyls himself, so it’s needless to say that my record player is being played 24/7. We’ve got good speakers for that, too. Nowadays, I only use my headphones during my 30-minute walk to school and back, and when my sister gets annoyed by the music.
12.37pm
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1 May 2011
Offline I agree about the quality of speakers, earphones etc. I have a set of excellent sony earphones that opened up so many hidden sounds that i hadn’t been able to hear thru the ones that came with my ipod or your everyday sets you can pick up for a £10 or so. I don’t pay £458 for headphones tho as i’m always losing them.
You can buy earphones for £1! – how anyone can think they are useful is beyond me.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
3.59pm
14 December 2009
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I need a good new pair of headphones too – last time I went shopping for some, I mistakenly bought a set that was aimed at DJs rather than listeners, and they always distort certain frequencies terribly. I’ve been listening to a lot of piano music recently and some of the notes come out just painful.
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
4.59pm
30 August 2013
Offline I love listening to it from my iPhone headphones while I’m on the bus(it’s like a 40 minute journey to/back from school) and shuffling the songs, most of my favourites are on it and listen from my iPhone
Favourite band: The Beatles
Favourite song: Yesterday
Favourite album: Rubber Soul
Favourite member: Paul McCartney
8.35pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline With my iPod, a pair of Sony noise cancelling headphones, a comfy recliner and an ale or 2.
Total relaxation…
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parlance, Starr Shine?, BongoTo the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
4.53pm
7 January 2014
Offline Thanks everyone for your input. I’m planning on getting an amp for my IPhone and record player so it’s seems I should go with Sony.
8.41am
15 May 2014
Offline A very simple and naïve answer: regardless of the LP or CD you’re listening to, mono or stereo issues aside, if you want a fuller sound listen to them through a good stereo and good speakers; if you want to hear each track distinctly, each instrument, and have a better idea of how the songs were recorded, listen to the stereo mixes through headphones. At least that is my humble opinion.
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12.54pm
27 December 2012
Offline I would listen with headphones from a turntable or a reel tape machine although it’s going to be hard to dance along
2.30pm
Moderators
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20 August 2013
Offline Gerard said
I would listen with headphones from a turntable or a reel tape machine although it’s going to be hard to dance along
A whole new craze of microdancing started by @gerard and his way to listen to music
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