The Beatles Box Of Vision; The Ultimate Showcase For The New Beatles Remasters
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Okay you’ve just blown your budget acquiring the stereo or mono (or both!!) box sets of the new Beatles Remasters. That’s a big bundle of discs that you’ve just added to your collection. Sure they sound fabulous but the slipcase packaging is a bit awkward and less than deluxe. And where are you going to put it? It won’t fit on a typical CD rack and it would look goofy next to your prize Parlophones LPs. What now? After finishing my review of the new Beatles Remasters (to be published in Issue 198) this is exactly the situation I was facing. So when I was asked whether I’d like to check out The Beatles Box of Vision, I figured why not? From its appearance I immediately fell for it’s hybrid personality–the fact that it celebrates the analog LP even as it provides a very cool, storage and preservation solution for all the digi-pack Beatles remasters discs. Conceived by Jonathan Polk, a music industry veteran it could also easily be used for an existing collection as well. Although in the latter instance you’ll have to store or toss (er, recycle) those yucky plastic “jewel” boxes. The glamorous large format linen covered storage box with silver embossed Beatles logos opens like a clam shell to reveal double-sided pockets where you insert the disc on one side and the digi-pack on the other. This was you can easily slide out the disc without rummaging through the digi-pack cover. Beautfully executed the 13” x 13” box features the iconic image of The Beatles photographed by Robert Freeman for the cover of With The Beatles. It’s exterior is cleverly edged with the faux spines of the Beatles vintage vinyl LPs.
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It also includes a stunning 200-page LP-size linen-bound book containing all of The Beatles’ LP artwork, restored in pristine new art prints. This is the first time that all of The Beatles UK and US album artwork has been collected together in a single LP sized book. And man, it’s also a sad reminder about how album art fell off the map of our collective consciousness when we transitioned from the LP to the teeny, tiny CD format. Does anyone really think the existing Sgt Pepper “museum” cover would have even happened had the large format LP “canvas” not been around to inspire the artists? I digress. From Please Please Me and With The Beatles through Love, this nostalgic book includes front covers, back covers, gatefolds, inserts, and the complete LP booklets. It really gives you the flavor of owning the LPs even if you’ve never spun a single record in your life. Additionally there’s the “Catalography,” (see image below) a new, full color discography guide with photos, text and track-listings, providing the first-ever side-by-side presentation of the UK albums and their US counterparts, with an exclusive essay by Beatles author and historian Bruce Spizer. The only drawback? When the Box Of Vision is fully laden, it weighs in at around thirteen pounds. A small sacrifice to preserve some of my very favorite music. Worth checking out. For a “virtual tour” and more information visit: www.BoxOfVision.com Price: $89.99
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Comments
This looks to be a fantastic piece to make the box complete, and will look mighty good next to all of my complete original Parlophone LP's!
One must ask why it took an outsource to do this, not the label.
Mike
VinylGuy
Good question. But we can only imagine the licensing fee they charged!
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Yes, indeed...$$$$$$!!!
VinylGuy
This seems like the perfect solution to for those who feel that "jewel boxes" and even the somewhat classy digi-packs in which the remasters are enclosed simply don't do justice to the either the nostalgia value of the Beatles cover art work or the quality of the music itself. By the way, when will Issue 198 with your review of the remasters be out?
Dear M. M. Mustard
I can't emphasize enough how beautifully finished this presentation/storage box is. I did weigh it fully laden however, and it comes in at roughly 13-14lbs with all the discs! As they say, lift with your knees. Kidding of course-it looks great next to the old Parlophones and MOFI Beatles Box. BTW- I'll be posting my full review of the Beatles Remasters in the next day or so.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Cannot wait to receive mine this Saturday. I ordered the Mono Box and then the three stereo CD's. So I will have the sound the way the Beatles and George chose to recorded them.
Has far as LP's go my "Blue" British Box Set is the standard for the Beatles collection. The Mofi box set could not touch a candle to it. I remember paying $99.00 for it. I say that was money will spent as I am sure this money I spent will be also.
With today's technology and understanding of digital I expect it to surely be a pleasnt addition to my music collection and may very well sound better than my trusty "English Blue Box".
By the way you should have heard how good the Stones sounded on the import German Telefunken Label. Not at all happy with the any of the CD releases thus far. It was a 2 volume 4 disc set.
My system is waiting (McIntosh MC402, C2300 tube preamp, Marantz SA7-S1 and my Dyanudio Confidence 5 speakers).
I think your order was the way to go esp. since the monos are not being sold separately and the early processed stereos are pretty horrible.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Neil, wondered if you favored the stereo or the mono release?
I was less familiar with the monos so they were truly a breath of fresh air! For those of us who already have a collection of stereo discs, I'd suggest buying the mono set and filling in with the later stereos. My two cents.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Not to nitpick, but:
If one buys both the mono and stereo editions of the boxed sets, it won't fit them both, right?. And if you also have the 1987 CDs and want to preserve those, it won't carry those either. So I think they should have designed to permit extra pages. And the rumor mill has it that there will be additional releases over the next few years. So they should have designed this with a certain amount of expandability. In addition, if one is a collector who wants to preserve the original value of the boxes, you need to keep the original box packaging anyway.
And what the hell is a catalography? What's wrong with the term discography? A catalography would be a listing of catalogs. And I think the catalography should have included original release dates, session dates, take #'s, etc., since the remasters doesn't bother to contain this important information either.
Jewel Boxes: Yes, jewel boxes are indeed "yucky" and I certainly prefer cardboard packaging, especially if it's well coated. But having said that, the fact remains that paper inside the jewel boxes looks as good today as it did 20 years ago and the cardboard packing (if it's sitting on a shelf and not in a box like this one) will look more like most non-bagged LPs do today: with eroding spines, split seams, etc.
Furthermore, while I love my boxed sets, I find that I play them less unless I don't actually keep the CDs in them. At 14 pounds, I think one would be less inclined to take it out and play it than a CD that's out and sitting on the shelf. I know this is true for me for my STAX, Monterey Pop Festival, Atlantic and other big boxes.
I also think they should have manufactured a companion empty box or slipcase to put the LPs into.
But...nice attempt. I can't say that I would NEVER buy it.
Actually it will fit both box sets easily. the 1987's? no. when fully laden there's no room left for expansion. You could however, just buy a second one. Nothing wrong with a second volume and it would look great on the shelf. they call it a catalography only to distinguish it, as it presents side by side, album by album comparisons between the UK and US pressings. A goofy name? Ok, I'll grant you that, but it's a worthwhile and unique addition. Less inclined to play the Beatles?? Oh please. However, I like your last point about the "companion LP slipcase" , a great idea.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
I bought the "Rubber Soul" CD hoping that the sound stage would have been remastered to present a balance with vocals centered, drums close by, guitar in one speaker, etc. Just like the previous CD's, everything continues to be in either the right speaker or left speaker with a hole in the middle. Perhaps this is how the Beatles and engineer wanted the music but it is disconcerting for me. Also, the sound quality is very bright. It is easier to hear vocals and instruments but at the expense of tonality. I put on my original mono "Rubber Soul" LP and played "In My Life" several times comparing the new CD with the old LP. Yes, there are plenty of ticks and pops on the LP, and everything is smashed together in the center with no stereo separation, but the tone is far superior. I'd say "Buy the new CDs" but be aware that it might not have the sonics you are hoping for. I am very glad to see a resurgence in interest in the Beatles. Enjoy.
through your own listening you've been able to peg the key difference between a remastering and a full-on remix. These discs are only remasterings from the two-track master so elements like modifying stereo separation (reducing some of that hard Left/Right panning) or rebalancing or EQing individual tracks is simply not possible.In order to do that they'd have to go back to the original multi-track tapes. True, the mastering engineering can address some global EQ and compression but these have to be applied with great care as even a tiny change will affect the entire track.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
I have a silly question. Is the re-issues also available on vinyl as a box set in mono?
No vinyl resissues as of yet but there are indications that a vinyl set will be available. However no date has been formally set.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
I have the Box of Vision and don't see how it can "easily" fit both the stereo and mono remasters. There is only room for one disc for each album (except the double White Album and Anthologies).
Another disappointment, they did not allow for the second discs of the Love album and the Yellow Submarine reissue. Love has a DVD disc and Yellow Sub has a "Fly On the Wall" disc of Beatles' studio banter, etc. Those must now stay in the jewel case, thus splitting the collection.
What I meant to say is that there is room enough if you don't include other discs from an earlier collection like the BBC or Anthology. The idea being that for many The Box of Vision will be used exclusively for the Remasters. And in that instance there's plenty of room.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Correction: The "Fly On the Wall" disc is part of the Let It Be... Naked album. (Yes, I still use the term "album.")
Album-yea I know the feeling-i do it all the time
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
I looked up "album" in the dictionary and one definition is
"a collection of recordings, on long-playing record, cassette, or compact disc, that are issued as a single item."
So it's perfectly acceptable to use it referring to CDs, even though it has been used colloquially to mean vinyl records.
thanks- I don't mind sounding old school at all.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Hi, Neil.
My long time best friend, Gene, Rest His Soul,and I used to have that discussion, whether "album" meant LP, and CD, or if CD was not included. I am glad that's been put to rest.
Gene, we'll still be debating it, someday, I am sure!
Enjoy.
Mike
VinylGuy
I like the Box o vision.....but I can't understand why they have room for the Red and Blue sets or the One album . I have a boot of the Hollywoodbowl concert and the 2 Anth. singles with non-LP tracks and the BBC single with non-LP tracks. iinstead of those other titles I talked about above......that's the way to go !!!!!!vk
I read somewhere that some of the Vision boxes were serial numbered. Is this true? Will there be a limited number of boxes issued?
I think it's something like the first 7000 are numbered on the inside back panel of the box. It probably just denotes the first edition run. I'm sure if there is sufficient demand, they can produce plenty more. And over the weekend I saw Restoration Hardware was packaging the stereo box of Beatles Remasters in the Box of Vision and selling if for $400. I guess the demand is there.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
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