Search - Ludwig van Beethoven :: Beethoven: String Quartets, Opp. 130 & 133 [Hybrid SACD]

Good, but not as good.

Bruce J Murray | 08/22/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I had great expectations of this recording, and was disappointed on both the performance and the sound. The sound does NOT sound like SACD DSD recording; it has the same lack of imaging, and diffuse "sandy" quality in the high end that regular 44.1 KHz pulse code modulation CDs have. In fact I wonder whether this SACD was not simply a 44.1 PCM recording up-mixed to SACD. Compared to the 1987 release of the Lindsay's playing Op. 130, this recording just isn't as beautiful. Many of the delicious flavors that their magical 1987 performances bring to the phrases are just missing here, and with it some of the "philosophical" quality that the late Beethoven quartets are renowned for. But even on a bad day, the Lindsay's are better than most other quartets with Late Beethoven. These performances are still very good.But after buying this CD, I went out and bought another set of the 1987 Late Beethoven Quartets because my original set had decomposed. Those are the recordings to nourish the soul."

A stellar release

Bruce J Murray | Tuscaloosa, AL USA | 01/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First, this is a superb performance of one of the great works of European music. Second, the hybrid disc is arranged so that the listener can program either the original finale, the Grosse Fuge, or Beethoven's subsequent effort. (Interestingly, there are two versions of the Cavatina, too.) Third, the quality of the sound in SACD stereo is astonishing, with a dynamic range that verges on the overwhelming. The sense is one of being in a front-row seat in a fine hall, on a night when the Lindsays are really on."

Have other cds in series, and plan to get this one

DKDC | Washington, DC USA | 12/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Volumes 2 and 3 are excellent (though not sacds). I assume this (Volume 7) is about as good.



The cds in the series are "recorded at DCS 24-bit A to D convertors at a sampling rate of 176.4Khz." This is not a 16-bit 44.1 Khz recording!



SACDs have "a high sampling rate system with 1 bit resolution of 2.8 Mbps" but sound equivalent to DVD-Audio discs which have 24 bit / up to 196Khz specs. (from what I gather on the web).



The recording done for this cd seems like a very pretty good recording quality if microphoned correctly. So what if it is not DSD - it is pretty close, and may be equal or better, right?



If someone out there knows more, please correct this discussion. Thanks."