You exemplify the fact that the original recording quality is often more important for "hifi" SQ than components or cables.
Do you grade your albums?
I've found tremendous bargains on CDs, SACDs and HDCDs at local thrift stores, usually less than $2 each. Some remastered, some original releases.
I don't stream nor do I spin vinyl. My only source is an SACD/CD player that I enjoy very much.
I grade each of my 800 or so albums A+, A,B,C or D based on sound quality.
Parameters listened for are the usual stuff- clarity, timbres, soundstage, imaging, air, bloom, cohesiveness, dynamics.
Remastered almost always sounds significantly better than the original, especially if the engineer was Bob Ludwig. There are a others that are good too.
SACDs usually sound better than the standard "red book" versions, but not always.
Same thing for HDCDs.
Some artists do consistently class A sound, especially when remastered. Dire Straits, Depeche Mode, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Enya, Steely Dan, Wang Chung, INXS, Bob Seger, ABC, Ozzy (yes, Ozzy!)...
For me, it's a lot easier to relax and enjoy the music when it's sound quality is classes A or A+. Class B is tolerable to listen to.
Classes C and D are mostly used to let a guest hear how bad they sound and then how much better classes B, A and A+ sound. Like hearing a different system, but it's not!
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