Beatles Revolver Box Set (Dolby Atmos Mix available for streaming; No Blu-Ray)

[mediumwave13]

My thoughts on this release so far:

• The digital collection issue seems fairly straightforward to me, in that there are technically two versions: one for streaming (with Atmos), and one for purchase (without Atmos). This is fairly standard in the streaming world, given that Atmos is only currently available for streaming, and not for download purchase. This has been the case for Abbey Road and Let It Be, BD issue notwithstanding.
  
  
• In regards to the BD, I've seen it hypothesized on this forum multiple times that physical media's days are numbered, and unfortunately that day is seemingly finally upon us. I predict that from here on in, other than the projects already announced, expect that this will be the norm from the major labels moving forward. It's The Beatles - other bands and labels WILL take notice. Disappointing; yes. Completely unexpected; no.
  
  
• The new stereo mix of Taxman sounds okay - I like the mix choices, much less lopsided than the original stereo mix. That said, I can definitely hear artefacts from the demixing process, mostly in Ringo's cymbals on the guitar vamps. The stereo image definitely seems to change at those points. I will withhold my final judgement on the album mix as a whole until I hear it (obviously), but I almost wish they'd waited a bit longer for the tech to totally mature. We could potentially have had Magical Mystery Tour this year with the proper pre-bounced tape method (plus the 4 Yellow Submarine songs), and then maybe Revolver next year or the year after?
  
  
• The price for these sets is batshit.
  
  
• I detest the rationale of "it needs to match the vinyl", and labels thinking that therefore CD's need to match single LPs. The All Things Must Pass set just spread the material over more vinyl discs. Whilst perhaps more expensive, it seems better value for everyone.

 

[mediumwave13]

P.S. - I've just listened to the Atmos mix in headphones of Taxman, and the artefacts are not as prominent at all. Perhaps it's a mastering compression issue I'm hearing? If so, I'm very disappointed that we won't be getting the unlimited stereo mix this time round.

 

[Imbobman]

Wouldn't that be a MF?!
You have to enter a code from the set to gain access through some Apple Records paywall?

Yipes! Don't give 'em any ideas! They're already incompetent on their own...

 

[James Jay]

I'm disappointed too, but this is how the Petty Wildflowers box was. 150 for 5 cds and a book. They even made it weirder by not including a doc about the album and then releasing it for free after.
I'd assume atmos will be exclusive to Apple for x months. Petty was exclusive to Amazon for 6 months if I recall.

I believe I picked up the Petty Wildflowers 4 cd & all the rest for around $30.00 dollars. So for 1 more cd and a book you had to pay $120.00 dollars more! SDE price for sure.

 

[key_wiz]

I believe I picked up the Petty Wildflowers 4 cd & all the rest for around $30.00 dollars. So for 1 more cd and a book you had to pay $120.00 dollars more! SDE price for sure.

Beatles Surcharge

 

[acp888]

https://superdeluxeedition.com/news...ox-sets-official-details-and-pre-order-links/

 

[J. PUPSTER]

After reading most of the comments over on the SDE site for this, there’s a sizable number complaining about:

1- Cost
2- Lack of HiRes./Atmos/5.1
3- Consistency with previous boxes (see 2)
Encouraging at least that the squeaky amplitude is about to drop a wheel off.

Many feel the price of the boxes will fall significantly by Christmas, and even then probably won’t drop coin.

I remember they did a similar thing with Prince’s ‘Welcome 2 America’ box and I had to buy the HiRes stereo files through Qobuz after springing for the box first. I may buy Qobuz HiRes for Revolver, but will not buy the box.

 

[Quiet Beatle]

I mean, I have my misgivings about things produced that nobody needs. But in this case, they could've easily saved a CD by including the pointless "EP" at the beginning or end of the Sessions discs. Unlike the missing 5.1, that move is getting noticed by everyone.

He's right, of course. Compared to Vinyl, CD (or almost any other optical disc...) uses much, much less resources.

The wording is interesting though:

• [Super Deluxe] Digital Audio Collection (stereo & hi res 96kHz/24-bit stereo + mono + Dolby Atmos)
• [Standard] Digital (New album mix in stereo & hi res 96kHz/24-bit stereo + new Dolby Atmos mix)

That almost sounds like a possibility of a download?

Sure does.

 

[ar surround]

After reading most of the comments over on the SDE site for this, there’s a sizable number complaining about:

1- Cost
2- Lack of HiRes./Atmos/5.1
3- Consistency with previous boxes (see 2)
Encouraging at least that the squeaky amplitude is about to drop a wheel off.

Many feel the price of the boxes will fall significantly by Christmas, and even then probably won’t drop coin.

I remember they did a similar thing with Prince’s ‘Welcome 2 America’ box and I had to buy the HiRes stereo files through Qobuz after springing for the box first. I may buy Qobuz HiRes for Revolver, but will not buy the box.

This is arguably the worst Beatles musical release in the history of the universe. A nice note to UMG: And Your Turd Can Sing.

 

[Bill B]

This is arguably the worst Beatles musical release in the history of the universe. A nice note to UMG: And Your Turd Can Sing.

You are right. I can't think of another Beatles release where the negativity is as high as this one. Usually the positive comments drown out the negative comments, but not this time.

 

[ted_b]

Their releasing of Taxman to the streamers may show their desperation. The lukewarm response to it's Atmos mix says its either not their best example, or the canvas they had available to create the immersive mix was just too minimal to really do anything with. If the rest of the album is this "meh" then we need to be thankful we don't have a physical Atmos in this collection to tempt us to shell out the $$. It pains me on multiple levels, though.

 

[riskylogic]

Their releasing of Taxman to the streamers may show their desperation. The lukewarm response to it's Atmos mix says its either not their best example, or the canvas they had available to create the immersive mix was just too minimal to really do anything with. If the rest of the album is this "meh" then we need to be thankful we don't have a physical Atmos in this collection to tempt us to shell out the $$. It pains me on multiple levels, though.

"Taxman" isn't so terrible. Much better than most of the Warner stuff. No way I'd buy a box to get an Atmos Revolver, but standalone bluray or a download would interest me.

 

[ar surround]

...The lukewarm response to it's Atmos mix says its either not their best example, or the canvas they had available to create the immersive mix was just too minimal to really do anything with...

Hard to say. I really enjoy the roof-top tracks from the Let It Be Atmos mix even though they aren't adventurous. I do know for a fact that running Good Day Sunshine, For No One and Got To Get You Into My Life through the Tate II Surround mode produced some convincing quads. Then there is Eleanor Rigby from Love and Yellow Submarine from the Blu-ray that are also really good in multichannel. That's five songs right there that are really good.

On the other hand, the Tate II made a mess out of the Lennon double-tracked vocal songs. Perhaps they had problems with those cuts.

 

[rtbluray]

You are right. I can't think of another Beatles release where the negativity is as high as this one. Usually the positive comments drown out the negative comments, but not this time.

On other releases like "Magical Mystery Tour" and "1+" there were lots of negative comments after the fact (and rightfully so since those mixes were pretty tame) but you're right in that the lack of surround sound within the physical box set itself has produced some pretty strong emotions from all of us, especially me!

 

[LuvMyQuad]

You are right. I can't think of another Beatles release where the negativity is as high as this one. Usually the positive comments drown out the negative comments, but not this time.

I'll bet that is only true within the surround community so far. I say "so far" because there may be a lot of negativity coming if the stereo purists are unhappy with the electronic manipulation of the audio used to remix the stereo version. They are a pretty picky bunch.

 

[Quadmon]

I’ll buy it if they include a computer in the box set so I can download the digital tunes. Lol

 

[harync]

On other releases like "Magical Mystery Tour" and "1+" there were lots of negative comments after the fact (and rightfully so since those mixes were pretty tame) but you're right in that the lack of surround sound within the physical box set itself has produced some pretty strong emotions from all of us, especially me!

Was there a Magical Mystery Tour surround release? Seems like an obvious choice to revisit with Atmos.

 

[rubbersoulmate]

I am reading everywhere that the Dolby Atmos version of Taxman is available already. Has anyone found it? I have heard the new Stereo mix of Taxman on Spotify. Where does one sample the Dolby Atmos version??

 

[ar surround]

I’ll buy it if they include a computer in the box set so I can download the digital tunes. Lol

Good idea. I was shopping this morning. I took a look at Windows laptops because everything else in the house is an Apple (Mrs. Surround's a school teacher.) I saw an HP with 8K RAM and 512GB SSD drive for $379. That's a much better value for the money than the Revolver SDE.

 

[key_wiz]

Was there a Magical Mystery Tour surround release? Seems like an obvious choice to revisit with Atmos.

there was the release of the movie on blu-ray with a weak 5.1 audio track.

https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Myst...al+mystery+tour+blu+ray&qid=1662649599&sr=8-2
The album hasn't been done. I agree it should be. I realize that it is only arguably an actual 'album' and part of the canon as such, but it certainly seems to now be part of the official canon of albums at least since the CD release in 1987. A boxed set with the tracks from "Yellow Submarine" might be a nice "Beatles Movie" package?