Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD

Brownsfan,
certainly these engineers who are remastering in the SHM format have little time 'for wasting where with fools' as I would guess that there's an abundance of good material for them to choose from. They seemingly aren't dumb enough to release something that won't live up to that $60.00 a disc price tag. I don't know what the Japanese labels are required to pay for the original tapes and for the rights to release the material but I would assume that it isn't cheap and so it's a professional decision to limit what they're willing to work with.

The artistic merit alone is enough reason for someone interested in the art of classical music performance to purchase the entire set. For example, I have William Backhaus remasters from around 1918 including the first full recording of the Grieg piano concerto and I couldn't begin to tell you how much I value those CD's.

The DG 3 and 4 sound like they shine in the face of what was initially a difficult set of conditions. After what you've told me however, I would probably pass on the recent box set only because I have other recording antiquities that I am mildly more interested in but I would certainly treasure a good 3rd and 4th be it either on the DG label or on the Japanese label.

As far as forking over cash on CD's, the reality sometimes creeps in when I'm looking at a slow work month and the bills are piling up. This is where I am now, so internet window shopping has become a regular past time. I am rather curious however why these Japanese label reissues are so limited with respect to which websites will even make them available.