Beethoven String Quartets: DDD recordings....

Any recommendations for true DDD recordings?...looking at Telarc's Complete set...but not familiar with Cleveland Quartet...thanks....

phasecorrect06-05-2004 1:46am

rushton Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,445 posts 06-05-2004 at 07:17pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete The Vegh, particularly for the later quartets, are my favorite. The sound quality is is better for not being DDD. It is beautiful, timbrally correct analog. The LPs have gorgeous sound; I haven't heard the transfer to CD.
phasecorrect OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,013 posts 06-05-2004 at 08:28pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete How about the Smetana Quartet? I use to own some of their Denon releases which I thought were quite stellar...and DDD to boot...any thoughts?
zinfan2 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 154 posts 06-05-2004 at 10:55pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I'll weigh in with a vote for the Takacs as well. I heard their middle quartets for the first time just this week and was very impressed--love their Bartok too. For years I've enjoyed the Cleveland Quartet recordings and am not about to stop, but the Takacs is indeed special. Based on this thread, I'm eager to hear the Vermeer and Vegh as well--whether something is DDD or not doesn't matter much in my mind. There's many old Decca recordings that stand up sonically to what's being "waxed" today. I also enjoy going back to the old Italian Quartet Beethoven cycle on Philips, especially for the middle quartets--they had such grace.