best mahler no. 5

I second the recommendations for both the Solti and Haitink. I've often thought old Bernard didn't get the critical acclaim I feel he deserves less because of the Concertgebouw and his work and more because he wasn't idiosyncratic enough, i.e., too conventional. (His Bruckner cycle is also very, very good.)

try Inbal or Barbirolli...both of them will make you forget Solti and Bernstein and Haitink...especially Inbal...

No, I think the consensus has it right. If you want to go over the top (like me), you'll want the last Bernstein in pretty decent sonics. The Solti is, for me, an amazing sound, and you don't have to make too many excuses for the 1970 analog tape. The bass drum is unexpected for that era.