Looking for the Szell box

[ChopinBroccoli]

Because I already have almost all of his Columbia albums, I put off buying the Szell box when it was issued in 2018.  Yes, I'm a bit of a cheapskate.

But I've really got to get it because the improvement in sound that I've heard in the bits and pieces I've managed to listen to is impressive.

Unfortunately, it's out of print (Sony issued a limited number) so there's no place to buy it conventionally.  I'm perfectly happy with a used set as long as it's in good shape.  However, all I see are some eBay offers where the most reasonable is $315 ... does anyone know of any other offers out there?  Perhaps even you yourself have one you'd like to sell?  315 isn't necessarily terrible but it's still a considerable markup from when it was in print.

If this topic violates any terms regarding solicitation, etc. please feel free to delete it with my sincerest apologies.

Thanks!

[ChopinBroccoli]

Also, Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays

[Biffo]

My advice would be spend your $315 on something else. I didn't even consider the Sony boxset because (1) it was way outside my budget and (2) I already had most of the contents in previous issues. Is it really worth all that money for what will probably turn out to be a marginal improvement in sound? I probably wouldn't mind the Schumann and Brahms Symphonies in more modern masterings but I don't recall anything else I would duplicate.

[j winter]

Don't know of any, sorry.  Amazon Japan used to have it listed a bit cheaper, but I just checked and they're now at 32,700 yen, which is just under $300 US, and then shipping.  You might try other Japanese vendors, there's a strong market for classical recordings there.

At this point you might want to wait a bit longer, perhaps the prices are higher due to the holidays.

Happy hunting!  And Merry Christmas!

[ChopinBroccoli]

Thanks for the replies... much appreciated

[Ratliff]

My advice would be spend your $315 on something else. I didn't even consider the Sony boxset because (1) it was way outside my budget and (2) I already had most of the contents in previous issues. Is it really worth all that money for what will probably turn out to be a marginal improvement in sound? I probably wouldn't mind the Schumann and Brahms Symphonies in more modern masterings but I don't recall anything else I would duplicate.

I don't have a direct basis for comparison in the Szell set, but the remastering of the Berstein recordings were a huge improvement, a game changer, to my ears. I don't want to gloat, but I got the set when it came out, the shrink-wrap just came off last week. Scheduled for ripping in the near future.

I feel your pain, though. I kick myself for missing the Reiner and Fournier boxes.

[ChopinBroccoli]

I don't have a direct basis for comparison in the Szell set, but the remastering of the Berstein recordings were a huge improvement, a game changer, to my ears. I don't want to gloat, but I got the set when it came out, the shrink-wrap just came off last week. Scheduled for ripping in the near future.

I feel your pain, though. I kick myself for missing the Reiner and Fournier boxes.

Reiner!  Yes, that would've been a nice pick-up

Although those recordings already sound amazing anyway

What I've heard from the Szell box has been impressively improved from what came before

[DaveF]

Is this it?:

https://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2272840

[ChopinBroccoli]

Is this it?:

https://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2272840

Yup... you'll notice it's on "back order" ... it's been on "back order" for like 6 months on that site because it's out of print

[DaveF]

Yup... you'll notice it's on "back order" ... it's been on "back order" for like 6 months on that site because it's out of print

Ah, I see - sorry - I think "back order" must be US English, since I failed to understand it.  Over here we would say "Get stuffed, we ain't got it, you can't have it ha ha ha".

[ChopinBroccoli]

Ah, I see - sorry - I think "back order" must be US English, since I failed to understand it.  Over here we would say "Get stuffed, we ain't got it, you can't have it ha ha ha".

Haha, no worries