I have three books recommending classical recordings. They almost never agree. There is no such thing as a definitive recording, and there's no one right way to play Beethoven.
So don't get hung up on looking for the "best." Instead, buy cheap and in quantity. (The Naxos label was made for people like you!) This will give you a chance to decide what you like and don't like, which is far more important than the (nonexistent) consensus of the critics. When you find composers or styles or periods or genres that you like, buy more of it.
The one thing a guide might be helpful for at your stage of the game is in choosing the pieces, rather than the recordings. For that, I'd recommend buying the guide with the *fewest* entries!
So don't get hung up on looking for the "best." Instead, buy cheap and in quantity. (The Naxos label was made for people like you!) This will give you a chance to decide what you like and don't like, which is far more important than the (nonexistent) consensus of the critics. When you find composers or styles or periods or genres that you like, buy more of it.
The one thing a guide might be helpful for at your stage of the game is in choosing the pieces, rather than the recordings. For that, I'd recommend buying the guide with the *fewest* entries!