op.9 wrote:

I've no idea if the LP will be better. In my experience Mike Dutton really makes excellent transfers. I'd be fascinated though if you could do better...

I do not a lot about Dutton label but when what I was searching for this CD I found a pleasant retailer that cares Dutton:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/

op.9 wrote:

BTW. do you listen to mono recordings with one single speaker? I've listen to this recording both ways and I'm still not sure what I prefer. There are moments of real magic with a single speaker... but I think my brain makes some sort of false stereo when I listen with 2 speakers, and I find it easier to separate different musical lines..

Nope, I do not like mono recordings with one single speaker. There is a big and very correct I have to add theory that two speakers might not present mono properly. However, I do not subscribe and I do not like sound at least my Macondo with my channel. I feel that it has to do with… horns. My observation about horns generally is that horns with one channel pick some honk more aggressively then with one channel. I have no idea why.

op.9 wrote:

I know all three Tchaikovsky quartets well. I think they are ALL masterpieces. No.1 is played the most and seems to me to be a greater work each time. (some moments in the finale are amongst my favourite EVER)! I've just recently got to know no.3 after a good and trusted friend insisted. He is very right. I found it tricky to get attuned to it until I was TOLD it was great.

Interesting, I did not now come across to a lot of people who know, not to mention like Tchaikovsky. BTW, if you like Tchaikovsky chamber music then there is one absolutely great CD that you might try to found, though it becomes too hard to found nowadays. Youri Vamos made up a ballet  with name “Tchaikovsky”

http://www.amazon.com/Youri-Vamos-Tchaikovsky-Belcanto-Strings/dp/B000009KIK

It has a phenomenal compilation of Tchaikovsky’s chamber music played by “Belcanto Strings” with piano quest.

op.9 wrote:

I have no recordings of these myself at the moment. Strange, because I used to have a recording of the Keller quartet that was really quite good if I remember rightly. Might be worth searching for it. This sort of music really begs for a live performance though doesn't it?

Well, I do not buy a lot chamber music lately. Here in Boston we have WHRB station that does a few time per week LIVE broadcasts from Fraser Performance Studio.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wgbhradio/sets/72157601983642793/

The quality of Broadcasts are phenomenal and no recording can stay near .The quality of performances are not even but sometimes some very bright moment are happens.  Today there was Weilerstein Trio, in fact some of their music was not bad.

http://www.weilersteintrio.com/

Here is the list of Fraser Studio’s broadcasts from the last month of so… It is bad MP3 file but very good for office listening and give some idea…

op.9 wrote:

(Latest secret tip - Just been rediscovering 'unknown' Dvorak quartets....do you have any recordings? I'm growing to HATE the Prague Quartet. But its all I've got. Try the f minor no.5... )

Do you mean that it is time for you to buy the Otophone SPU? If it not help then there are always the Talich and Hollywood Quartets. BTW, if you do not know them then do no be distracted by Americana name – the Hollywood Quartet. The Hollywood Quartet is an ensemble of the highest caliber imaginable, but  if I remember correctly, they recorded only one Dvorak quartet…