For lowest suface noise, choose audiophile pressings or imports.
For recording quality, audiophile pressings are often best, but not always. And they are expensive.
I have found for my wide range of music tastes, and budget, that imports have been the best combination of quiet background and good quality recordings, as they were originally done, and not re-mastered.
If the original master tapes were poorly done, there is nothing you can do about that, but live with it, unless a better re-master was done by an audiophile company later.
Digital re-masters are a mixed bag, and I have found that I didn't like them personally.
For recording quality, audiophile pressings are often best, but not always. And they are expensive.
I have found for my wide range of music tastes, and budget, that imports have been the best combination of quiet background and good quality recordings, as they were originally done, and not re-mastered.
If the original master tapes were poorly done, there is nothing you can do about that, but live with it, unless a better re-master was done by an audiophile company later.
Digital re-masters are a mixed bag, and I have found that I didn't like them personally.