I am in a session of comparing different masterings of Sonny Rollins — Way Out West, Bernie Grundmann (2022), Doug Sax (1992), the British mono recording of 1958 and the original stereo pressing of 1958.

these are the Bernie Grundmann (left) and Doug Sax masterings (right)

this is the British Mono (with the West Brothers laminated flip back and black printed Vogue on the centre labels)

From the internet I learned:

„Doug Sax offers a more warm, pushy and organic repetition while Bernie Grundmann is precise, more on the clear and detailed recording side“. Let’s see if this comes true.

There are other contenders which were compared by a friend: 1969 King Japanese (non-flip back), 1973 Contemporary, 2025 UHQR. Also Doug Sax’s 1992 Analogue Production was included: The results, from best to worst: #1 – Analogue Productions, Doug Sax. Best rendition of Sonny’s horn – rich and textured. Very engaging. #2 – King Japanese. Best soundstaging – Horn, bass and drums moved to the center of the stage, with least hole in the middle. Horn and bass not as good as on the Sax version. #3 – Contemporary re-press. Nice, pleasant listen, but not in the league of the others. #4 – UHQR. Huge hole in the middle; sax shifted hard left, bass and drums hard right, with drums in the back corner. Very unengaging. Doug Sax version was the best by a margin.

this is the original stereo recording from 1958 above !

Here are my experiences:

I had the time to liston into Grundman vs Sax versions.
Grundmann is a little lower, you need to put the tone louder to reach Doug Sax volume.
All instruments play on the same level at Grundmann while Doug Sax separates the instruments in a better way. The bass of Ray Brown and  the drums of Shelly Manne are clearer, with more dynamics.
Grundmann seems to harmonize all trying meeting the original taste. It is not bad, don’t get me wrong.

I also had the chance to liston to the 1958 version which is very direct, has nice colors and a kind of live atmosphere. I think Grundmann tried to reach this original version while Doug Sax and the mono are more precise and more dynamic.

Playing the UK Mono from 1958 over a true Mono line with my Koetsu Coralstone Mono via the Mono-Phono “AS Monophonic” into the EMT JPA 66 via XLR Purist Audio auctoritas cable.

This is really “True Mono”

What can I say: Sonny’s Sax stays in the middle accompanied by the bass and drums, which are in the foreground when Sonny does not play.
It is so authentic and clear – sorry to say – but much better than the stereo masterings/pressings.

My experience is just the opposite of what you are reading on the internet, Doug Sax is much clearer and more precise.

When you are going for a buy you may select the Grundmann boxes as Doug Sax, the mono and the 1958 version are quite expensive. The latter one up to 750 Euro.