I agree entirely with the first reviewer. The Emersons never manage to get so near the the heart of this music; the Italians are often too slow and reverential. To me, the only rivals are the Pro Arte and the Calvet - both pre-war Quartets, neither of which came anywhere near to recording the full Beethoven repertoire.But my main purpose is to point out that Budapest collectors do have an alternative for Quartet No. 13, Op.130. The 1934 HMV recording with Ipolyi on viola was reissued on Biddulph two years ago. coupled with Op.59 No.2 from 1935 (ASIN:B000EBFMDU). It was doubtless the existence of this recording which prevented its commercial duplication by Sony in the early 1940's. Whether or not it is preferable to the Library of Congess version on Bridge is a moot point. Neither recording is sonically up to the standard of these four by Sony.