Seems to be a lot of eh regarding this cycle. I listened to the second movement of the 3rd symphony, which as of a few weeks ago was the only thing online. I liked it but could hear it's a bit fussy.
Not many to choose from but, on balance for sound and performance, I'd choose the Vanska set on BIS. I also like the earlier Kamu set, also on BIS. I have not heard the recent Rattle/Berlin set.
As in the performance is kind of fussy and detail-oriented or the sound is excessively clinical, or something else?
Actually, neither. The performance is not particularly fussy but is typical Honeck with interesting pacing and emphatic dynamics. The recording is not what I'd call excessively clinical because I do not know what that means. The sound is clear, balanced and rich but the individual instrumental groups are unusually distinct. The best description I have is that it's like increased color contrast on a video display. I could probably get used to it.
Interesting that they reauthored the discs with just the symphonies, when the original single-disc issues included a great deal more.Just came across this veritable bargain @ ImportCD:
https://www.importcds.com/complete-symphonies/0095115530320
Sure. Not hating on it, and it is a good price. More noting that people who purchased some of the issues can't resell the individual discs and get the box.
I enjoyed the Immersion album but the Alcatraz was depressing and boring, imho.
Immersion is an interesting album worth owning - the whole project from composition to recording to mixing was designed for surround sound.
