[perhapss]

  There are new recordings that don't sound natural to me, Like the Beethoven's string quartet/Alexander string quartet. It sounds too digital, Not smooth, Not analog. I don't know how to explain it. Why is that? Are all of the digital recordings like that?

Listen Grasshopper,
 
I forgot to add one point in my last post:
 
3: Try new things and sources 

 

[RRod]

  There are new recordings that don't sound natural to me, Like the Beethoven's string quartet/Alexander string quartet. It sounds too digital, Not smooth, Not analog. I don't know how to explain it. Why is that? Are all of the digital recordings like that?

 
They all sound like that if your mind is convinced that all digital recordings sound like that.

 

[perhapss]

  Can you recommend a good analog sounding recording of Beethoven's string quartets?

How about a great sounding digital recording??

 

[RRod]

  Can you recommend a good analog sounding recording of Beethoven's string quartets?

 
You can try the Juilliard Sony set.
 

 
How about a great sounding digital recording??

 
There are too many to list, or am I missing something?

 

[perhapss]

   
 
 
 
There are too many to list, or am I missing something?

 
 
Depends on your point of view I suppose.
A lot of people disagree with me but I'm actually quite keen on the ABQ  on EMI.
Maybe it"s just the playing (or music) rather than the "sound".
Can't really say it's my "favorite" but it's still quite fine I think.
 
There are many others I enjoy as well.
Both analog and digital.
I think they've been referred to in the past in this thread so I'll spare y'all....

 

[Tyson]

  Can you recommend a good analog sounding recording of Beethoven's string quartets?

 
Check out the hirez Tokyo String Quartets recorded over the past 5 years.  The SACD's are very, very good sounding.

 

[Quinto]

  Can you recommend a good analog sounding recording of Beethoven's string quartets?

The sound and playing on the (2nd recording) Alexander Quartet is excellent, I have 15 or so cycles and this one is my favorite, also SQ wise..
 
Takacs Quartet is also very good.

 

[SunTanScanMan]

  Can you recommend a good analog sounding recording of Beethoven's string quartets?

I'm currently enjoying the Barylli Quartet very much. They certainly sound 'analogue' and SQ is 'good' (not excellent but good)
Other recommendations are excellent also, in terms of musical expression they may also pull ahead in some parts - but multiple interpretations are always interesting

 

[sh4dowd4ncer]

Talking about Beethoven SQ4s, despite analog or digital, one should always mention the fantastic Quartetto Italiano:

 

[SunTanScanMan]

Btw if anyone's interested in the Decca Sound box set (Not the Analogue Years) , they're at the cheapest I've seen them on amazon UK/IT. They only seem to release them in small batches, so took my chance and grabbed one. Been eyeing it for ages.
 
 

 

[Quinto]

  Thanks everyone, I'll try the Tokyo string quartets for now.
I am just listening to Horowitz in Moscow playing a Mozart's sonata and it's simply amazing, Mozart sounds so sublime when played by the Maestro!

Eschenbach's Mozart is cool too!

 

[sh4dowd4ncer]

For Piano Sonata, check also the complete cycle by Maria João Pires (DG).

 

[RRod]

  Thanks everyone, Very much appreciated.
Now i am looking for Shostakovitch, which i very much like, In amazing quality. Symphonies, Concerti and quartets (Oh, His quartets! The MADNESSSSSS!)

 
Too hard to make singleton recommendations for the symphonies. For sets, you can try:
Concertgebouw + Haitink
Dallas + Litton
NSO + Rostropovich
WDR + Barshai
Liverpool + Petrenko
or whatever poorly-recorded old Russian recordings people will send you to.
 
For the concerti, try:
Violin: Vengerov, Oistrakh, Mordkovitch, Kogan
Cello: Rostropovich, Mørk, Schiff
Piano: no opinion really
 
Quartets:
Fitzwilliam
Pacifica
Borodin

 

[Quinto]

  Thanks everyone, Very much appreciated.
Now i am looking for Shostakovitch, which i very much like, In amazing quality. Symphonies, Concerti and quartets (Oh, His quartets! The MADNESSSSSS!)

Jansons is great SQ, Kondrashin is great as well.. String quartets Borodin quartet
 
..piano Melnikov, (2nd) piano trio Algerich/Maisky/Kremer!
 
youtube:
 

 

[uchihaitachi]

 
Pogorelich, never heard such a sensual performance of the Brahms Intermezzo... Complete abandon of the 'proper; Brahmsian interpretation but just wow....