Large Classical Record Dealers

Mre2007, congratulations on getting on the road with vinyl. eBay can be a good resource, but prices often can be bid way beyond rational expectations and you do have check out the seller before diving in too deeply. There are many good and reputable sellers with good classical stock on eBay, and a number who are clueless and/or unreliable. Look carefully at the feedback posted; also try emailing the seller and see how you feel about the correspondence.

My favorite sources of used classical vinyl over the years have been some of the fixed price sellers who post their lists of LPs for sale from time to time (usually monthly), or who maintain a searchable database of their inventory. Several with whom I've found great success over many years are:
Paul Hartin at Ars Nova,
Peter Fulop at Mikrokosmos,
The Classical Collector, and
Classic Choice (UK).

Be thoughtful about whether you are buying as a "collector" or buying for the music and/or sonics. There can be a vast difference in how you go about this depending on your orientation. As a primer, I encourage you to read some of the material Arthur Salvatore has posted on his web site about his own experiences chasing classical vinyl over the years looking for the best sounding version of given performances. Whether you ultimately agree or disagree with his perspective (and I do agree), Arthur's comments are worth considering.
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Hi Mre2007, the question you're struggling to answer is complex and not answered in any simple way or in any way that gives one a consistent formula for case-by-case decisions.

With respect to DGG issues... First, DGG does not have a good track record for making great sounding orchestral recordings, but their earlier recordings are far better than their 1970s and later multi-miked messes. Thus, many DGG records that do have a "tulip" release often have a greater liklihood for being well engineered. But this doesn't mean that the "tulip" pressing is itself the best sounding release.

Sonically, I find the original "tulips" to be lovely in a sweet, highly euphonic way. At the same time, I've found some of the later non-tulip pressings of a tulip-era recording to be sonically preferable to the "tulip" original in terms of detail, transparency and immediacy, even though they often lack the bloom and richness of the tulip. A "tulip" pressing is more "collectible," and for some people it may be sonically preferable if their listening priorities strongly favor that sweeter, richer and more euphonic sound. (My listening priorities place a higher value on a more neutral sonic picture. But don't mistake my biases, I'm also a tubeaholic with all-tube electronics in my home system.)

Similar differences will play out for many different labels. Reissues will NOT always sound better, but neither are original pressing always superior. The mantra that "the earliest pressings have the best sound" very much depends on one's listening priorities. More often, I've found I prefer several other pressings to the very early (pre- mid-60s or so) originals. There will be others who would vehemently disagree with me on this. One simply has to figure out one's listening priorities with respect to all the various trade-offs.

The Speakers Corner reissues will be more neutral than any tulip pressing, with greater detail and improved transient response, and probably much closer to what's on the master tape. I haven't heard this particular Speakers Corner reissue, but I've generally had very good success with their reissues.

FWIW, if I were chosing between purchasing the tulip or the Speakers Corner reissue, I'd take my chances with the Speakers Corner as a safer bet for better sonics. Of course this is all based on my listening priorities and my experience with many SC reissues.

Gerald Canter lists two non-digital Philips recordings tonight on his web site. Look up Music Categories on LP/Keyboard, then scroll down to Brendel:

Philips 6500 140 Brendel Mozart- Piano Con 12, 17

Philips 6500 283 Brendel Mozart- Piano Con 19, 23

And then there is a third Philips LP of the Concerto No. 15 that is designated as digital (dig). I think all of the Philips 6500 series is analog. Not sure when the catalog switches to digital, but most dealers like Canter will specify.
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I would not say that across the board. I have a few digital LPs in my collection that I think sound very good indeed. There are simply too many variables to make an absolute statement. Overall, though, when given a choice I tend to stay all-analog.
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