For years the Nimbus label turned out such unlistenably echoey recordings that it"s still necessary to check out the vintage of any Nimbus recording. This one is relatively recent and sounds just fine. The performances are fine too--vastly superior to an earlier Nimbus series by the Medici Quartet. In these early Beethoven Quartets, the Brandis offers a sensible alternative to the more driving approach of the Emerson Quartet, expansive and reflective without becoming slack. No one performance tells you everything you need to know about a Beethoven Quartet; this disc ranks among the most worthwhile opinions available. --Leslie Gerber