Beethoven: Complete String Quartets

I own complete sets of these works by The Emersons, Talich, Vegh, Quartetto Italiano, Berg, and now this recent set by the Tokyo. While each has their individual style and interpretation, I must say this is my favorite set overall. Firstly, the tempi are wonderful, the slight portamento are in good taste, ant the technical aspects first rate. Then the recordings themselves are of the highest order. The individual instruments palpably occupy their own space. The soundstage is wide, and the sound has warmth. No edginess digital sound. The SACD layers are superb. I have listened only to the stereo SACD layers so far and the are spectacular on my system. I plan on playing these in my surround sound system later for comparison. I can only imagine the soundstage then.If you are a Beethoven Quartet aficionado, or simply are wondering what set to be your one and only, I strongly recommend these.

All of Beethoven's String Quartets on SACD in surround sound for a bargain-CD price? It'd be silly not to buy it based on value alone. But considering the talent playing the quartets and the label offering it, this should be a required purchase for anyone with an SACD player - heck, even anyone with just a regular CD player. The recordings have just the right amount of ambience to give the soundstage space while retaining the detailed crispness of the Tokyo String Quartet, who perform these pieces effortlessly as they wrap up a 43-year run. It's exciting to hear a string quartet who are so in tune with each other's playing after so many years of being together.We actually spent an evening listening to the early Opus 18 cycle of 6 quartets in one evening's sitting, and it was thrilling. I can't wait to hear the rest.

These performances are absolutely marvelous. The SACD sound is superb as well. and I find this latest Tokyo set uplifting all the way. Of course there are many ways to play these terrific quartets: The Vegh set for example is more dramatic, and the Medici set digs even deeper still, etc.But for sheer beauty, this latest Tokyo set is an absolute winner, and I dare say would bring a big smile to the normally scowling Beethoven we usually see portrayed.

I'm no great connoisseur of classical music but I do love string quartet music and this is probably the best of the lot. Are these recordings the be all, end all performances of Beethoven's music? Beats me but it sounds absolutely wonderful.

The Tokyo Quartet, in infinitely better sound, are wonderful here. This is an extremity enjoyable account of the Beethoven quartets at a great price.At any price, though, this would be an excellent first choice for these quartets.

Hard to beat these performances for sensitivity and clarity. Impossible to beat these recordings for clarity and quality.

Outstanding performance, perfect sound.

Rapid dispatch. Top condition. Couldn't ask for more.

I read the other five star reviews and have to agree this is a five star box set of the Beethoven Quartets. I felt I had to buy these discs. The discs will play on an ordinary CD player even though they are SACD hybrid. The quality of sound and performance are some of the finest I have ever heard. What makes the Tokyo quartet stand out for all their technical skills and brilliance, is, they put their heart and soul into the music.

Pretty darn close to outstanding.Leaves just about all others for dead,on grounds of either sound or interpretation.A great swan song for the Tokyo quartet.

These are superb recordings on wonderful instruments. I'm working through them for a second time. The music delights. A really good value addition to any collection.

Simply a delightful set of quartets played marvellously. The recordings are high quality. A great buy.

No problems here if you want all the quartets performed by experts and expertly recorded