Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD

Lots of approvals for Gardiner, but I think for ME, the sound and the performance is not good. The 3,5,9, sysmphonies are the worst for me, but the others are better.

Thanks, Stingreen...what Beethoven symphonies are your favorite?

Sorry, a lot of things going on. Surprisingly, I found a Konica II rangefinder in excellent condition as someone was throwing it out. But anyway, I listened to Gardiner conducting the Beethoven 5th and have to say that either the hall and/or the miking is the culprit for criticisms surrounding this recording. It reminds me of when I saw Wozzeck at Avery Fisher Hall; the tympani heads sounded as if they were made out of paper and the woodwinds over powered the strings. From what I could tell with the Gardiner 5th, the brass was shrill and often overpowering, the oboes and bassoons could hardly be heard at all and the strings fluctuated between being dynamically balanced or washed out and behind the curtain. Staccato in the strings was for the most part unintelligible. What is most odd was the opening 4 note motive and that entire phrase by comparison to when it's repeated further along in the exposition. Why on earth is the introduction of that phrase softer with less emphasis than when it's played again later? I don't have the score on hand but the introduction should make a definite statement. The second movement was played and recorded beautifully. Any comments?

Wow that was quick...may i interpret this is as an initial indication that this is NOT a must-have set? The opening criticisms did not seem minor (from an audiophile or pure music fan's standpoint)...obviously, you'll want to hear more of the set...nevertheless, not a particularly encouraging start.
Fair interpretation? Thanks for taking the time!!!!!

Loydelee, what I've heard so far isn't sub standard by any stretch, in fact there are some beautiful moments but the things that stand out in my head are those things that I mentioned. I suppose that this is how I'm wired. Yes, of course I need to listen to the rest of the set. I now remember when this Gardiner set came out and I believe the Harnoncourt set came out right after. I ended up buying the Harnoncourt. Some nice things about this Gardiner set is the ensemble size in the sense that much of the instrumentation is revealing when its balanced. The musicians are capable and their tone is what I prefer. There is no falling out by strings, woodwinds etc... and there are no obvious blunders.