High quality CDs

I think the key point here is the assertion that certain recordings are “bad” to start with. Bad is a very subjective and general adjective. It will literally mean something different to everyone.

Expectations matter. If you expect all recordings should sound the way you think they should that is the trap that many fall into or chasing something they want that does not exist.  You will always be disappointed and lose interest  

Think of recordings as works of art. There are all kinds all different. Each has something to offer. If you have good vision you are in a position to best assess art visually. Same with a hifi. A good one gives you a clear view of the recording at hand. You either appreciate what it has to offer or not. Each is different though. Try to listen for what is there in the music that might be of interest. That allows one to find something to appreciate in more recordings. That’s what music lovers do. Whereas a hifi or technology lover will focus more on the imperfections and all recordings even the best have those. Recordings are what they are. You either value a recording in some way or you don’t. It’s all fine. Just don’t get caught on the merry go round where practically nothjng sounds the way you think it should or want it to. It is what it is. No hifi will change that. It can only let you hear how every recording is different, which I view as an interesting thing worth experiencing. Cheers!

One other suggestion I can make in cases where someone has a great system but finds most recordings lacking is consider Ohm Walsh speakers. These do things totally differently. They present the music like a live performance on your room rather than as a conventional stereo speaker delivery of what is in the recording. These are for people who just want to enjoy all kinds of music effortlessly by placing the music in your room rather than just firing a recording at you.  It just might be the ticket a true music lover is looking for.   I have two pair in addition to others. 

Buy classical and jazz on the Telarc label.  

Telarc is out of Buisness.

I find that the Audiophiliac, Steve Guttenberg, often  reviews many a good sounding CD during his review of products on YouTube. 

But there are loads of used CDs on Amazon and other sites, and among those CDs plenty of Telarc.  And, strange to tell, owners of classical CDs tend to be gentler on their discs, so most are still in very good condition.

@clearthinker I agree about Chesky. I never heard one sound good.

I would recommend the Hyperion label. They have very nicely recorded classical material on CDs with wide dynamic range and very low noise. ; 

Sounds more like you are dropping bits from the data stream. Good digital cables and a good source are a must. I find this to be a problem all to often.

Elusive disc did have a good sale on First Impression CDs level for $14.99 , LIM label is as good, For my taste this will compete with SACDs, The pure perfection series are even amazing, FIM has Decca box cd, wait when it go on sale. It goes 50% off. I have collected FIM and LIm label.This are Winston’s Ma collections works..

In defense of Chesky... They have a free hi res sampler down load at HD Tracks that has some classical tracks and sounds amazing on high end headphones.  Not classical but their binaural church recordings are ear candy, e.g. Amber Rubarth.

@old_ears  and   @secretguy 

I don’t have a $hit load of Chesky discs (as opposed to MFSL & DCC of which I do own a $hit-load of), but I can think of a couple that I own that sound quite nice:

Rebecca Pigeon/The Raven and I have a Sarah K CD (that I cannot think of the title of at the moment) that sounds excellent.

If you are also interested in relatively old recordings with a good new processing and a good CD manufacturing process, try CD Japan

www.cdjapan.co.jp/music/classic/

Check out Music Direct. Search on Analogue Productions and MoFI.  ~100 selections although some are strictly sacd vs hybrid sacd

I'm mostly familiar with ECM from their jazz offerings, but Manfred Eicher is legendary for spending an hour and a half positioning a single microphone to record Keith Jarrett.  Their early recordings of artists like Keith, Chick Corea, Ralph Towner, Egberto Gismonti, & Jan Garbarek are among the most important reasons I began this pursuit.  More important than the fabulous sound quality, the music itself ranges so far & wide that neojazzical seems a more appropriate label.

Naxos is another label with range, but with a focus on classical.  Within that genre, they produce a quality discount product while still being able to go outside the "standards" repertoire, recording with less well known conductors, orchestras, & soloists.  Of course, being less known is not the same as being less.  Their success has demonstrated that, for both the music and the musicians.

I wouldn't overlook Mapleshade CDs. Very high quality for 16 bit format. Thanks.

Lots of classical recordings are horribly recorded, so it's the source that is the problem, not the physical media (the CD) itself.