From a performance POV, what I find most gratifying is the group's comfort with the music's complex rhythms and oft-changing meter; never does their playing sound ill-at-ease.

Humor--dark or otherwise--is caught, as well as the sadness, chilliness, folksiness, and ardor of Bartok's incredible scores. The Juilliard's slip in and out of each mood seamlessly without sounding slick. Only in the 4th Quartet does their edge-of-seat playing lapse into raggedness.

From a recording POV, the Lps I've owned were exceptionally vivid, a bit of congestion notwithstanding. IIRC, the performances were recorded directly onto massive discs and the excellent mono sound is so rock solid that it often seems nailed to the floor.

Coming from vinyl, Pristine's 24 bit "ambient stereo" processing was just a touch distracting at first hearing because it didn't feel as stable.

Once my ear adjusted though, the positive attributes of the mastering made themselves abundantly clear: much more space around the players and much less claustrophobia between the music's densest lines.

So go with the LPs or Remaster?

Comparing with Pristine, I'd still give the vinyl a slight edge when it comes to startling, uncanny realism at times, (those string snaps!), but overall, the Pristine set still gets me in that special "zone", just in a different way.

Here's the problem: if you want to early cycle on Lp, you'll have to deal with Columbia Blue label or 6 eye vinyl, which can be noisy. (They quit pressing the early cycle when the new, stereo set came along, featuring all the same players except for the cellist.) You can find quiet copies, but it will take a bit of work and patience.

In any case, and whatever your background, if you like these quartets, I'd highly recommend at least trying the 5th and 6th, available as one 24bit download at Pristine for around $15. If you still do CDs, Pearl offers the set as well, but it may be hard to find these days.

I'm not familiar with current cycles; the DGG Emerson's and Decca Takac's Quarets were my last modern outings. I'd love to know your thoughts on the latest releases, esp those in hi res.

• https://www.pristineclassical.com/pacm089-24.html

 Tatrai, Talich and Vegh - banpuku 05:55:55 09/13/16 (4)
 RE: Tatrai, Talich and Vegh - Utley1 06:29:25 09/24/16 (0)
 I know them well, but please do try the 1st Juilliard cycle. in a class by itself. nt - jdaniel@jps.net 07:53:30 09/13/16 (2)

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 Tatrai, Talich and Vegh - banpuku 05:55:55 09/13/16 (4)
 RE: Tatrai, Talich and Vegh - Utley1 06:29:25 09/24/16 (0)
 I know them well, but please do try the 1st Juilliard cycle. in a class by itself. nt - jdaniel@jps.net 07:53:30 09/13/16 (2)
 RE: I know them well, but please do try the 1st Juilliard cycle. in a class by itself. nt - banpuku 08:11:11 09/13/16 (1)
 RE: I know them well, but please do try the 1st Juilliard cycle. in a class by itself. nt - jdaniel@jps.net 08:24:59 09/13/16 (0)
 I prefer the Hungarian or Tatrai - andy evans 02:52:56 09/12/16 (4)
 RE: I prefer the Hungarian or Tatrai - rbolaw 06:45:32 09/13/16 (0)
 Hey, Andy - you're undermining jdaniel's resolve! - Chris from Lafayette 10:49:59 09/12/16 (0)
 Thanks, will give them another listen. I actually imprinted on the Hungaroton (sp) Takacs and DGG Hungarian. - jdaniel@jps.net 08:28:25 09/12/16 (1)
 The Tatrai - not the Takacs! - andy evans 15:06:28 09/12/16 (0)
 RE: 50s Bartok Quartet cycle with the Juilliard Remastered by Pristine: Fantastic - Amphissa 19:57:08 09/11/16 (0)
 Have you heard the Vegh on Telefunken LP? - steve.ott@kctcs.edu 19:10:10 09/11/16 (3)
 Yes, on Telefunken and Valois. Against all the odds and pedigree, too soft-edged. - jdaniel@jps.net 22:40:02 09/11/16 (0)
 Not the Prazak - the Parkanyi - see my post below - Chris from Lafayette 19:18:57 09/11/16 (1)
 RE: Whoops. Thanks Chris. [nt] - steve.ott@kctcs.edu 20:14:19 09/11/16 (0)
 Thanks for that fine review - rbolaw 18:09:37 09/11/16 (1)
 Glad you can hear what I'm hearing. What a gift Bartok left us. nt - jdaniel@jps.net 22:43:55 09/11/16 (0)
 Pristine is of course known for their "interventionist" approach to re-mastering - Chris from Lafayette 15:40:28 09/11/16 (0)

There's an older mono Vegh set, which I haven't heard, that is supposed to be a bit more wild.

Better for me is either the Hungarian Qt. or the Tatrai. I went through an exhausting process of listening to a whole bunch of different versions.

My listening preference is not for drama, tension, and excitement in itself, or for any added "passion". What I listen for is how much the music makes sense purely as music - melody, harmony, inner logic, if that makes sense.

The Tatrai and Hungarian quartets are very close to this music - they "get it". Two very intelligent and idiomatic readings. Hungarian is more lyrical, Tatrai is very focussed and the architecture and flow is very clear. Hard to choose. Hungarians have a closer and more immediate recording, Tatrai more dry and a more medium perspective.

In many places with the Tatrai you think - "that's exactly right - how could you phrase it any differently?", and then in other places you feel the same way about the Hungarians. I'd probably give the nod to the Tatrai - whatever recordings you eventually choose, do hear this one - I think it's really special.

Tatrai - Hungaraton 1966
Hungarian - DG 1962