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.
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.