Amazing Sound for a 60s Classic
937290
I have owned numerous releases of the vinyl and CDs of this album over the years, and I would have to say this is the best sounding one of them all. The packaging is top notch as well, with the CDs encased in a great box that  replicates the front and back covers of the original album.

The music itself is great, of course. As it would turn out, this would be the only real album legendary guitarist Jeff Beck would record with the Yardbirds. Shortly after this released, the Yardbirds lost Paul Samwell Smith, gained Jimmy Page, and then lost Jeff Beck. For a short time, Beck and Page led a two pronged guitar attack, which two of the best songs on this collection, "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" and "Psycho Daisies," capture. It always leaves me to wonder what could have been if only the Beck/Page era had lasted longer.
339431
I have loved this recording ever since it came out in the early 1970s as a CD-4 quadradisc. This was a  dream come true to have a digital multichannel SACD. There is one drawback. Being true to the original 4 channel recording, there is no sub-woofer channel. You must make sure you have your bass cutoff settings on the 4 channels set up to send the low frequencies to the sub-woofer otherwise it sounds "thin" (=weak bass). Of course if you have 4 full range speakers this is not a concern. Otherwise simply stunning...enjoy a classic in every sense of the word.
735208
I was a kid when the group broke up and had only heard the stereo mixes of the Beatles' albums. I have been a Beatles fan since hearing Abbey road at 13. I must say I have never heard these early albums sounding better than this. Well worth buying the albums originally released as mono only. I DJ and kids younger than mine still ask for the Beatles to be played at school dances. Thus proving great music is indeed like great wine it just gets better with age!
2690296
I have the E3 gray color model and would buy it again (and again)!  The bass response is widely reviewed so I won't reiterate all the solutions already spoken for.  I'd just say that it makes bass sound like music and not like an artificial mask that drowns the instrumentation.  A great test for E3 (and E3C) is to try it with a remastered CD where the original recording was not all processed like a 70s disco hit.  Try the 1999 remaster of the famous Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert.  You will hear everything with perfect clarity and balance!! Harry James' trumpet will have a beautiful timbre and Johnny Hodges alto will have that famous tone.  Nothing will be sawed off or tinned down.  The rhythm on the big band numbers will carry you despite the 1938 year of the recording.  These earphones also do the greatest for voices.  Listen to an Ella Fitzgerald recording from her Cole Porter or Gershwin Songbooks.  The quality is pristine and the nuances of the full orchestration are all there - it's not traded off or manipulated.  A general rule of thumb for me, is that if the original recording was done in an old analog technology and generally recorded live in the studio or in concert with limited tracking, and if the performance was good, then the music is there and will sound good with sufficient equipment.  Great music sounds good at a moderate or even low volume.  Remember how much you loved your Beatles 45s played on non-stereo record players!  These earphones sound beautiful at a volume of 10-12 out of 40 on my MPIO 512mb flash memory MP3.  On my Panasonic portable DVD, they get all of the sound effects and the spoken voices are crystal clear.  For rock music, U2's All You Can't Leave Behind sounds superb! There are lots of thoughtful sounds and guitar workings that come right through that you miss on the radio (in a car or at home).  Try Elton John's Madman Across the Water (the album and the song).  Levon and the title track sound fresh and brand new.  The guitar work that opens the title track is truly haunting and its balance with the orchestra and piano work is dramatic.  I'm willing to bet it sounds just like the producers and artists intended.  In sum, I think the Shure E3 and E3C is such a great product, I'm rediscovering my whole library.  With such consumer satisfaction in all these reviews, it's hard to say something new, except maybe, try them with something old! You'll be thrilled at what you hear and what you've been missing.
79493
Ah, crap, Now I went and opened the floodgates. I have only been using this gem for a few days and now I want an actual AC30.... Anyway, this thing rocks! I'm playing my Epiphone Dot through this, and I'm getting the instantly recognizable classic tones I remember from so many old rock recordings during my misspent youth. If you're thinking of getting one, just do it. You will be amazed.
2083935
Sony as provided us a spectacular service by re-releasing these seminal performances from 1940-42 in near miraculous sound from the original 78 rpm masters.  Not a swish or pop is evident and the playing, the playing is heavenly!  This release displays for all to hear, the reason why this ensemble had the reputation it did.  Highly recommended!  Did I mention that the sound is glorious?  I can't get over the surprise I experienced on first listening---far better than what EMI was providing the Busch Quartet at the same time period.
433149
Just picked this up and find it to sound great. It certainly sounds better than my original CD from the 80's. The only downsides are that you have to get up to change sides often, but it's worth it for the sound quality. Be aware that the hi-res download offer expired at the end of 2017.
2908981
I can still remember when the Beatles played on the Ed Sullivan show. It changed America overnight. Hearing this remastered set in mono really took me back. Not just the songs themselves, but the sound. I was blown away. Do yourself a favor, BUY THIS SET. It will be the best money you've ever spent on music.
3246820
Whenever I see the term audiophile recording, I am usually skeptical. But this is a very good if not a true audiophile quality recording. I really enjoyed the twist this album put on these classic recording. The generous use of bass, coupled with very good performances of these artist was very satisfying. I am fortunate to own a very good audio system. If you do also, this album will certainly entertain and reward the listener with outstanding crystal clear audio quality.
4310629
Les Paul - The Legend & The Legacy

This is classic material. 4 CD's loaded with one song after another of magic guitar playing. The sound is terrific and Mary Ford adds great vocals to many of the cuts although there are also many instrumentals. The years covered here are from 1948 - 1957 and includes some portions of the Les Paul Radio Show with songs and dialogue between Les and Mary. In addition to being a guitar genius, Les Paul was also an inventor who developed a variety of techniques still used today (such as multi-tracking) and they are on display in this set of music.

Wonderful music, great sound, terrific vocals (listen to Vaya Con Dios with the lights off and you will be amazed at the beauty of the music). This is music made in a different era before rock took over the airwaves. There is nothing in your face about it and there is a 40's feel to the pop tunes but great music stands the test of time and this certainly qualifies.

Highly recommended and worth the extra cost that this set goes for these days.
1632598
The sound quality is extraordinary! Much better than the original vinyl I remember. The sound they had when I first saw them at Winterland in 1969. Pure magic!
662311
The sound quality of this record is just amazing! How could they manage it in 1963? I woud like to try the vinyl record also.
3994703
I just want to note that this 1960 remastered version is great. I agree with all the positive comments below, but also want to emphasize that the sound is unusual & wonderful here. The microphones must have been mainly above Bernstein's head to get the unusually broad, clear sonic perspetive. The remastered sound is also of exceptional quality, and the resulting clarity fits the conductor's measured, highly resolved take on the music perfectly. Recommended, and a great bargain.
2269831
<div id="video-block-RBK51KKGALT4O" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/E1Wp30QraPS.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81VM8LgkeiS.png" class="video-slate-img-url">&nbsp;Back in the early 80s, you could almost measure a speaker's quality based on the size.  Back then, the only way to get big sound, was from big speakers. I remember going into a high end audio store and seeing a super expensive small speaker for the first time.  Once I got over the sticker shock, I found out the secret to the big sound was a giant subwoofer that was on the floor.  It was like seeing the Wizard behind the curtain.  They didn't actually make that big sound in that small speaker.

This speaker is different.  I've had quite a few small speakers over the years, but I've never heard one this small that had this much power and bass.  Unlike my visit to the stereo store in the 80s, there was no big subwoofer on the floor.  This thing simply cranks out bass like a champion.  What's even more amazing was that I noticed that although the sound is definitely a bit louder when you point it directly where you are sitting, but I noticed the sound was almost as good no matter where I stood in the room.  I could plop it on a table, and not even pay attention to what direction it was pointing and it sounded terrific.

I have a theory that inside this thing is some kind of cone shape, because it resonates high quality sound in almost all directions.  So you could put this in the middle of the room and walk about the room without much loos in sound quality.  I think if I was blindfolded, I might tel the difference if you kept turning it, but it wouldn't be easy.

One of the other great things is that this speaker was designed from the start to be portable, waterproof, dustrproof and impact proof... to me, that means I can not only take it in the backyard, camping or to the beach without breaking it, but more importantly, I can keep my phone sealed in a container and keep this right next to me, and even answer the phone without taking it out.  That's nice.

I was sent a sample to evaluate because of my background in technology and I must say I was impressed by this speaker.  It's small, rugged and light.  At as final bonus, I simply love the way it feels.  There's something about the rubber on the outside that makes it feel soft, comfortable and durable.
3564920
I have read other reviews of this recording and I think they are incorrect.  This is a very good recording and for those that compare it to the early 60s they just need to move on.  This is worth buying.
268737
I injoy music from the 60's and this cd is one of the best. The re-mixed sound is fantastic and the melodies ... well who can forget these great songs. I recommend this cd as one of the best in years.
3926161
Well worth it for the memories.  Great sounding, appears they updated the instrumental parts but sounds like original vocals.  Nothing cut-out as often found in remastering.  Just as perfect as I remember it.  Wow what a great piece of work.
Amazon ripped it to my cloud storage plus I had the CD in my mail box the next day.  I had to go 5 star it was just all so easy and the  sound was so so clean; high quality.  Can't go wrong if this is your style.