Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD

Hi Lowrider, I have not yet listened to the Bernstein Mahler remasters. However, if I were looking for a gold standard set of Bernstein recordings, then his Mahler would be it.
The Karajan 3 and 4 remaster that I mentioned is a Japanese import and it's not included with the other Beethoven recordings. I could only find it on the Acoustic Sounds website;

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/75807/Herbert_von_Karajan-Beethoven_Symphonies_Nos_3__4-SHM_Single_Layer_SACDs

I just listened to the Gardiner Beethoven 7th and I have to say that as with the 3rd, the phrasing and emphasis between the instrumental sections is what stands out as uniquely exceptional. Also, his attention to dynamics is most obvious once he has gotten through part of the final movement. I would hope however that DG Archiv effectively remastered the most recent release as there are notable places throughout the CD's that appear inconsistent to the overall sound. If so, that would make this cycle even more appealing.

Goofyfoot... I don't mean to beat the subject of Karajan to death, but I find it curious that Nos. 3 & 4 are so superior to the rest of the set and meanwhile there exists the Japanese SHM of 3 & 4. One would assume the DG engineers did not do the remastering of these tracks.

Also, I'll bet there are more Japanese Karajan 1962 to come, since there is now #9 for sale on Amazon. I would have thought their first release would be Symphony No. 5.

Oh well, just very disappointed in this Karajan set.

Lowrider, my intuition tells me that the 3rd and 4th offer superior master recordings when compared to the others and that is not only why they sound better in the the DG box set but it is also why they were chosen by the Japanese engineers for remastering. The Japanese labels aren't going to waste time with recordings they can't make sparkle because they have to pay too much for the tapes and rights.
Also, I wasn't aware of this online citation because it wasn't included in the Karajan Japanese Beethoven description but I found it elsewhere and I feel it to be relevant since most of us have standard CD players (including myself) and not the SACD type players.

' Reissue features the high-fidelity SHM-SACD format (fully compatible with standard SACD player, but it does not play on standard CD players).'

Too bad.

Guys I suspect that the master tapes on 3&4 are superior to the rest. That is why the DG remasters sound so much better than the other symphonies, and why the Japanese selected the 3rd and 4th for their efforts as opposed to the remaining symphonies.

I'll buy your explanation, Goofyfoot. It makes sense and would dispel my conspiracy theories.

' Reissue features the high-fidelity SHM-SACD format (fully compatible with standard SACD player, but it does not play on standard CD players).'
I saw that as well... thanks for that link.