The Beatles Fabled 2014 Mono Box Set Back in Print!

only from The Beatles online store

Subscribers to official The Beatles webstore received the announcement that The Beatles mono box set is back and will be shipping July 18th, limited to 4 copies (per person). How long it will remain in production wasn't stated, so for those who use vinyl records as financial instruments (certainly preferable and a more stable investment compared to crypto IMO), here's an opportunity to wade into shallow Beatles investment territory.

The set is the same one originally released in 2014 with lacquers cut directly from tape. I was there for The Beatles lacquer cut and it was a "splendid time".

Been away so long I hardly knew the place!

Comments

2025-05-29 06:03:43 PM

White_fox97 wrote:

The UK store link's https://ukstore.thebeatles.com/products/the-beatles-in-mono-14-lp-box-set. You're welcome :)
2025-05-29 06:20:15 PM

Lemon Curry wrote:

Re-cut for '25 release, or did they re-use the '14 parts?
- 2025-05-29 06:24:30 PM
  
  Come on wrote:
  
  The website refers to the 2014 cut. I ordered it now.
2025-05-29 06:24:37 PM

spinlps wrote:

Pressed at Pallas as well? Hopefully not GZ...
- 2025-05-29 07:47:57 PM
  
  Come on wrote:
  
  Both were pressed at Optimal according to Discogs, none was pressed at Pallas. But all of this can be read behind the link in the article. But I agree, good it’s not GZ.
2025-05-29 06:57:31 PM

Scott Aronian wrote:

Bought it as soon as the Beatles Store email arrived. Been watching for a mint original mono box for a few years, but couldn't bring myself to spend the going price. Never thought a new pressing would be issued, and so glad I waited.
2025-05-29 10:47:03 PM

tim davis wrote:

OK, ya'll win... I just ordered it. I had to have a knockdown drag out discussion with my SO afore making the purchase but ultimately she agreed. She has reserved the right to scream at me when I get this package out of the mailbox, Michael's video catch phrase of "Don't try to sneak into your room. I know what you've got behind your back, records! More new records!
2025-05-29 11:06:54 PM

Randall Kremer wrote:

As of 7pm EST, 5/29, SOLD OUT.
- 2025-05-29 11:50:13 PM
  
  Come on wrote:
  
  Crazy, really already sold out in the US and UK. Those who really need it, can still order in Germany at this time. Not sure if there are more Country related shops left.
  
  https://destore.thebeatles.com/products/the-beatles-the-beatles-in-mono-14lp-box-set?_pos=2&_sid=dcf1a8d96&_ss=r
  - 2025-05-30 12:07:10 AM
    
    Come on wrote:
    
    Crazy, there are other country related shops, but I found no other who had this set even initially.
  - 2025-05-30 02:41:41 PM
    
    Andrew Twidle wrote:
    
    Thanks for this! I received the alert from the Universal UK/EU website yesterday, but it does not accept Paypal, and I had no end of annoying issues with address updates to Credit Card details from moving over a year ago, that were correct on Gpay and Shop apps, but that update was not feeding to the Beatles UK/EU stored details for an existing card used at my old address, even when I updated everything. I had a similar issue with Discogs earlier in the year. Amazon, BOL, JPC DE were all fine, so there is an issue with some of these newer, smaller, label or country websites that don't easily update address changes to existing cards. I did not think to look for a country store for Universal in Germany, until I stumbled on your link, and this worked fine since it uses Paypal and I have no issues there. Again, thank you, as Universal Germany still had stock available for pre-order this morning.
    - 2025-05-30 06:21:59 PM
      
      Come on wrote:
      
      You’re welcome! Germany sold out, too, now.
2025-05-30 06:22:17 AM

Anders Sørensen Uth wrote:

About time!! Its a tough decision though as I already have all the 2014 monos as single albums - except for White album. Off course the book would be great to have!
2025-05-30 08:02:48 AM

PeterPani wrote:

I got the 2014 box. But I could not resist to buy a second box now from the German site (I live in Austria).
- 2025-05-30 08:06:32 AM
  
  PeterPani wrote:
  
  Note: the Germas site sells 1 box for one customer, only.
2025-05-30 10:44:55 AM

MrRom92 wrote:

Since you were there perhaps you know, what type of head was used to play back the original master tapes? Full-track?
2025-05-30 03:46:55 PM

Larry Casey wrote:

I purchased the mono box set and the ort 2m mono cartridge for a true mono experience. A total delight and fantastic purchase for this buyer. My set is basically noise free through every album and the vinyl was extremely well done. A fantastic spin and being a Beatles fan I have been through all the albums frequently and the vinyl has held up and remains noise free.

I think this is a no brainer purchase for any Beatles enthusiast.

Happy Spinning
2025-05-30 04:08:44 PM

Bill Bird wrote:

Website repeatedly crashed. Never got a chance to order. Frustrating experience.
2025-05-30 09:44:27 PM

Tomek wrote:

The box is still available in France: https://frstore.thebeatles.com/products/the-beatles-in-mono-14lp
2025-05-31 10:29:29 AM

tim davis wrote:

Larry Casey's comment got me to thinking seriously about acquiring my 1st ever mono cartridge for this set as well. I have a few mono jazz & country records but until now I've just played them with a stereo cart & activated the mono switch on my ancient Kenwood C2 preamp. DO any/all ya'll use a dedicated mono cartridge for these modern mono reissues?
- 2025-05-31 01:22:24 PM
  
  Anders Sørensen Uth wrote:
  
  I have a Hana SL mono cartridge. While new reissues in mono does gain from it, the difference is much bigger with vintage mono records, especially concerning noise. At least that’s my experience. I have around 100 mono records - old or new.
- 2025-05-31 03:39:58 PM
  
  PeterPani wrote:
  
  Most modern Mono cartridges are not true mono, but mono wired stereo cartridges. True mono cartridges block vertical movement, but are mainly vintage cartridges and made for the wider tracks of the ‘50s. To go real mono on modern mono pressings like the Beatles Mono Box the best solution would be a true mono with a needle for modern grooves. I let EMT refurbish a true mono EMT OFD 15 and let them put the cartridge into an Ortofon shell. This one does the trick for sure! The sound is so much more solid (closer to reel to reel) that I do not even try to compare it with one of my stereo cartridges anymore.
  - 2025-06-01 10:37:04 AM
    
    Come on wrote:
    
    In my memory, that’s not true and ChatGPT also summarizes that true mono carts (independent of the stylus) are only suited for vintage records cut with a mono cutter head.
    
    Summary of ChatGPT (I can only paste it in two parts):
    
    When playing a modern mono record that was cut with a stereo cutting head using a true mono cartridge that can only track lateral movement, several significant disadvantages arise:
    
    ⸻
    
    🔍 Technical Details & Drawbacks
    1. Non-linear distortion due to vertical signal components • Modern mono records cut with stereo heads often include small vertical signal components, even if marketed as “mono.” • A true mono cartridge that only responds to lateral (side-to-side) movement will ignore or misinterpret these vertical elements, resulting in distortion or tonal inaccuracies. • Especially noticeable with transients, sibilants, percussion, or dense mixes.
    ⸻
    1. Risk of mechanical mismatch / mistracking • Pure mono cartridges generally have little or no vertical compliance. • When the stylus encounters vertical modulations, it mechanically resists them, which can lead to: • loss of contact with the groove (loss of detail), • excessive record wear, or even • groove damage.
    ⸻
    1. Incomplete retrieval of the audio signal • Modern mono reissues (e.g. by Music Matters, Blue Note, Deutsche Grammophon) are often not cut 100% laterally. • A cartridge that only tracks lateral motion misses subtle parts of the audio signal, leading to a narrower and less complete sound image.
    ⸻
    1. Overemphasized surface noise • Rumble, pressing defects, or cutting artifacts on stereo-cut mono records often appear as vertical anomalies. • A mono-only cartridge that doesn’t accommodate vertical motion may translate these into exaggerated noise, increasing perceived surface interference.
    ⸻
    1. Electrical incompatibility with stereo phono stages • Many true mono cartridges are single-channel by design. • When connected to stereo phono inputs, this can cause hum, imbalanced levels, or signal summing issues if not properly adapted.
  - 2025-06-01 10:37:40 AM
    
    Come on wrote:
    
    Part 2:
    
    ✅ Recommended Alternatives for Modern Mono Records
    
    If you’re mainly listening to mono reissues (post-1970 or recent reissues), a true mono cartridge with only lateral tracking is not optimal.
    
    Better options include:
    
    Option 1: Stereo cartridge with mono switch or summing • Electrically sum L+R channels → 100% compatibility with all mono cuts. • Vertical noise is canceled out via phase inversion → cleaner signal.
    
    Option 2: Modern mono-compatible cartridges with vertical compliance • Examples: • Ortofon 2M Mono, • Lyra Helikon Mono, • Grado MC+ / ME+, • Benz Micro Mono, • Miyajima Zero (special case: true mono but designed to tolerate vertical movement)
    
    These prioritize lateral tracking but can mechanically handle vertical movement without distortion or damage.
    
    ⸻
    
    🧠 Conclusion (for audiophiles and collectors)
    
    A true mono cartridge with purely lateral tracking is only appropriate if you: • are playing original mono pressings from before 1960, and • can confirm they were cut with a lateral-only mono head.
    
    For modern mono records, such a cartridge is not ideal — it risks: • distortion, • loss of fidelity, and • unnecessary record wear.
    - 2025-06-01 01:45:17 PM
      
      PeterPani wrote:
      
      Sounds convincing. But why sold EMT with huge success and ongoing positive reviews the true mono OFD 15 for modern grooves? And I never experienced distortion in modern mono cuts with my OFD. On the other hand, all my modern mono records are made by high quality record companies, who might be able to cut accurate mono even with stereo cutters. A reply would be nice from an audiophile label…
2025-06-01 12:27:05 AM

tim davis wrote:

My most sincere thanks to Anders Sørensen Uth & Peter Pani for your information. Some of which confirmed my suspicions. As I only have around a dozen old school mono LPs out of thousands of records, I think I'll continue to get by the same way for now as before, stereo carts & the mono switch on my ancient Kenwood C2 preamp. Peter's approach does sound awesome but I got a lot of other areas to upgrade before going that route.
- 2025-06-01 01:41:21 PM
  
  PeterPani wrote:
  
  Sounds convincing. But why sold EMT with huge success and ongoing positive reviews the true mono OFD 15 for modern grooves? And I never experienced distortion in modern mono cuts with my OFD. On the other hand, all my modern mono records are made by high quality record companies, who might be able to cut accurate mono even with stereo cutters. A reply would be nice from an audiophile label…
  - 2025-06-01 01:47:23 PM
    
    PeterPani wrote:
    
    Can somebody delete my post. I posted it twice and it should have been an answer to “Come on wrote”…
2025-06-01 03:47:40 PM

Martin wrote:

Thanks to Tracking Angle for bringing this repress to my attention. I bought this set on day of release in 2014 in a local store and have been very pleased with this first edition. Both Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper were warped, but I had them replaced in the store – had to go through three copies of Sgt. Pepper before getting a good one (excellent service at Route 66 in Copenhagen). Since then I’ve aquired original UK mono pressings of all albums, and I prefer the midrange on those as compared to the reissues. The guitars on Rubber Soul (-4/-4 and in particular -5/-5), Revolver (-2/-2) and Pepper (-1/-1) are clearly superior the guitar sound on the reissues, but the originals are extremely difficult to get in true VG+/NM condition. Even in Denmark, the Danish mono originals pressed in Denmark from UK metal parts are difficult to hunt down in VG+ (both singles and LPs). Therefore, the reissues, which tend to have a well-defined low end, but sometimes an aggressive treble (White Album), are an extremely good (and also cheap) alternative for those who do not want to go through all the Discogs-VG-advertised-as-NM-trouble. With regard to mono carts, due to financial and spatial limitations, I ended up focusing on a stereo set up (Rega P10/Apheta 3) and added a preamp with a mono switch (Rega Aura) – combining the channels makes it all come together right. With my teenage son, I had the pleasure of comparing three mono pressings of Revolver a few weeks ago (1966 UK, 2014 and 2022 reissues) focusing on Taxman and Tomorrow Never Knows – UK original came out on top, but this is just our opinion and others may prefer the reissues, which are indeed extremely good.