What is the best sounding Mahler symphony cycle?

Brownsfan,

Just curious,
What are your favorites?

I would recommend Bernard Haitink & the RCO for Mahler 7 & 9, and the Philharmonia with Lorin Maazel for Mahler 5. I’ve noticed that in some of the Philharmonia’s more recent recordings there is an increased presence in the lower winds and brass. This particularly shines through in the fourth movement of Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique with Esa-Pekka Salonen. 

Also, the Gergiev/LSO cycle may not be the absolute best, but it is one of the most consistently good Mahler cycles right now. 

@rvpiano, I will list the symphonies in order with my preferred conductor.  NSP = no strong preference.  3 (Haitink), ,1(Abaddo), 6(Bernstein), 4(Solti), 2 (NSP), 5(Jansons), 8(Wit), 9(NSP), Das Lied(Zinman), 7(Zinman), 10(Zinman).

Here's a real sleeper recommendation for no. 4.

On the shelf I have Bernstein, Fischer, Maazel, Mengelberg, Salonen, and Szell, but I always return to Franz Welser-Most.  In particular, Felicity Lott floats the soprano part in the fourth movement more beautifully/ethereally than any other recording I've heard.