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TechnoTV - Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica
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List Price: $199.98
Our Price: $141.23
Your Save: $ 58.75 ( 29% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Rhino Records
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0081227990466
Format: Box set
Label: Rhino Records
Manufacturer: Rhino Records
Number Of Discs: 12
Publisher: Rhino Records
Release Date: 2008-11-11
Studio: Rhino Records
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: all Zep all the time
Comment: This is the bestcollection EVER! Every Zepplin song ever made in one set. Who could ask for more.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Collector's Box Set
Comment: There has been some controversy regarding this mini lp set, specifically regarding sound quality. To make things a bit more confusing, there is an identical set available printed in the SHM format. So, which one to buy? If your wallet is your guide, this version from Rhino is your choice since it is much less expensive than the SHM version. Although the remastering has not been updated, the audio is slightly better, perhaps due to the Japanese printing; the Japanese seem, for the most part, to take a great deal more care with the manufacturing of their CDs. That seems to be the theory behind SHM CD's, so it may be applicable to a lesser extent here. The artwork and reproductions are stellar, so this set is a worthy purchase for a collector. One caution; the cellophane envelopes around each mini lp reproduction are fragile and easily torn. They also have adhesive on them which can adhere to the artwork and mar it. I had a close call on that count. I would advise disposing of these envelopes and replacing them with non-adhesive ones. The bottom line is if you can afford the SHM set, by all means go for it. If you have to "settle" for this set, I don't think you will be disappointed. Just be aware of what you are buying regarding the remastering aspect.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Definitive Collection of Mini Lp Sleeves
Comment: Not sure what to make of this set. If you want highly detailed exact reproductions of the album covers of all the Led Zep discs, including LZIII with the pyschodelic image wheel, then you got it with this box. If you want all the various covers to In Thru the Outdoor, it's here. If you want all the official studio albums and the sound track to The Song Remains the Same in glorious remastered sound, well...
My primary concern in getting this box was to see for myself if these were indeed remastered discs with better sound than the 1994 Jimmy Page/George Marino box. Drum roll please...these discs sound different. It will be up to others with more audio critic cred to decide definitively for the masses if these discs sound better or not. My take on this set from a listening session on my headphone rig (the only way in my book to compare discs or hardware for sound quality issues) is that these discs sound like silver whereas the 94 discs sound like copper. That is to say that the Definitive Collection sounds like there is silver wire used somewhere in the playback and remastering of these tapes. There is a brightness to the sound that reminds me immediately of listening to silver interconnects or silver speaker cables. This can be a good thing on the right system or just a prefered sound to some folks. It's not really for me in this case as I think the low frequency (read bass) suffers because of it. The more I compared the 2 box sets discs, the more I found myself liking the more balanced sound of the 94 set. It just sounded more right to me, the way I remembered it maybe. To these ears there is nothing wrong with either set and the new box is stunning in it's detail and completeness in regard to the mini lp sleeves (except there is no booklet of excellently reproduced photography that is included in the 94 set). You can't go wrong either way. This edition has the Song Remains The Same sound track which I never cared for. A copy of the DVD with a DTS soundtrack would have been a better choice or possibly even a Blu-Ray disc of same with a high bit sound track.
94 box owners need not run out and buy this one to get "better sound". There are other reasons mentioned that may entice you to buy it anyway. If you don't have the collected works of the brothers Zeppelin, then here is another choice to consider. Me, I'm hoping for an SACD or Blu-Ray remastered box set edition with 3D video...
Customer Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Comment: This is my first ever review on Amazon.com. Although I purchase much of my music on Amazon, I acquired this box set from a local retailer which also happens to be an Amazon marketplace vendor. For clarification purposes, the set I acquired was distributed by Atlantic/Warner; there is no mention of the Rhino subsidiary on any of the packaging. The packaging indicates that the product was manufactured in Japan, and indeed, all of the CDs are in fact the (non-SHM) Japanese pressings. Each CD indicates a copyright date of 1994, suggesting that the source material for the CDs was likely the mid-1990s Jimmy Page remasters.
First, a few words about the packaging. It is spectacular, befitting the band and the music on the CDs. If only all CD reissues were packaged this nicely. The CDs are collectively housed in an elegant black cardboard box with the "LZ IV" symbols engraved on the binding, the front and the back, respectively. Each CD is housed in a mini-replica of the original UK album release (yes, "LZ III" has the spinning wheel), with two mini album sleeves, one paper and one cellophane. Additionally, there are alternate album covers for "LZ I" and for "In Through The Out Door (numerous extra covers)", a nice bonus for the collector.
Of course, packaging is nice, but what about the music/sound? Obviously, if you a reading this, you know how fine the music is, particularly on the first six albums ("LZ I" through "Physical Graffiti"). I have now listened to "LZ I", "LZ II" and "LZ III". The sound quality is, in a word, outstanding and sometimes spectacular (and I am very picky about sound quality). (In fairness, I have not listened to these enough to properly gage the ear fatigue issue which sometimes plagues overly compressed CDs, but based on my initial listenings, I suspect that will not be an issue with these CDs). I did an A-B comparison of this "LZ I" with the mid-1990s (currently available) Jimmy Page remaster of the same, and the Japanese pressing was superior.
In sum, this set is an absolute must for any lover of LZ's music who has the discretionary income to justify the purchase. I suppose some audiophiles will opt for the Japanese SHM version of this set (which I have not heard), but, as of this writing, that set is significantly more expensive. On the other hand, I suppose some will opt for the 1990s box set (US pressings of the Jimmy Page remasters), which is significantly cheaper, and would likely suit those who utilize MP3 players, or who are not particular about sound quality, just fine. This offering of (non-SHM) Japanese pressings is probably the best buy in terns of price/quality ratio. I doubt that any purchaser -- ptovided they receive the set I obtained -- would be disappointed. Highly recommended.
Customer Rating:
Summary: To answer and ask some questions...
Comment: ...there are 12 cd's since it includes "Song Remains The Same". Unlike the early 90's box set, this is not billed as studio only.
With due respect to audio quality, my concern is what the American (non-SHM) release contains vs the much more expensive Japanese version. Since Amazon is not giving any track listings, I had to do some hunting around at other sites. From what I can gather:
- The American Version contains the original tracklisting of the vinyl releases. Meaning you DON'T get "Baby Come On Home", "Traveling Riverside Blues", "Hey Hey" etc. You also ONLY get the original 9 songs on "Song Remains The Same".
- The Japanese Version (as per [...], contains the 4 Coda bonus tracks, as well as the re-vamped track listing for "Song Remains The Same" (incl "The Ocean", "Misty Mountain Hop", etc).
Is this correct? Does anyone have information to the contrary?
For all that money, it would be nice to know exactly what you are getting...
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Editorial Reviews:
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2008 twelve CD box set from Led Zeppelin featuring all ten albums in beautiful mini-LP reproductions! The Led Zeppelin 40th Anniversary Cardboard Sleeve Reissue Series features advanced cardboard sleeve replicas of the original UK E-style album jackets, plus six bonus cardboard sleeves including five alternate jackets for In Through The Out Door and one alternate jacket for Led Zeppelin I utilizing the original ink. From their 1969 debut album straight through to their final album in 1979, Zeppelin laid the blueprint for what is now known as Classic Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. It really doesn't get better than this!. Warner. 2008.
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