I can't speak to modern digital recordings, but if we are referring to the analogue rock genre, I own 3 to 5 pressings of the same CD. I was on a quest to find the best pressings of my favorite artists from the analogue days. These are original issues from 1984, 85, 86, not remasters . This means they were pressed in Germany and Japan. My issues from the US are usually 1987.
My findings are that first releases and early releases almost always have superior SQ over later releases and reissues. Finding the best CD is very similar to searching for the best record pressing. A first release doesn’t guarantee that it’s the best quality; there may have been a thousand discs pressed before yours. Your copy may have been pressed at the end of the production run.
I find the early pressings from Germany and Japan are typically superior to US production, but there are always exceptions. Also, a German Target release from 1984, 85 may have very similar sonics to a 1986 German 1st release. But IME, Targets are guaranteed to have excellent sonics.
A reissue may sound just as good as the 1st pressings. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell ahead of time since the original master had to be taken from the archive and duped again. Sometimes the original master wasnt available or was missing, so a 2nd generation protection copy was used. The process is the same; a new lacquer was cut for the reissue.
What makes a CD similar to a "hot stamper?" All the best pressings will have a very low noise floor, imaging with separation of instruments in 3 dimensions and a soundstage where you can almost see the performance. However, the early Japanese have an extended top-end compared to the German and US. I believe it may be related to their cutting process.
Most of my research was done on Discogs which lists all worldwide releases and matrix numbers. Steve Hoffman’s forum has the most valuable info regarding SQ and user reviews to back up the research.
One important item I learned on the forum was that an early pressing on the original record label usually bests releases from a major label that has taken over distribution.
My findings are that first releases and early releases almost always have superior SQ over later releases and reissues. Finding the best CD is very similar to searching for the best record pressing. A first release doesn’t guarantee that it’s the best quality; there may have been a thousand discs pressed before yours. Your copy may have been pressed at the end of the production run.
I find the early pressings from Germany and Japan are typically superior to US production, but there are always exceptions. Also, a German Target release from 1984, 85 may have very similar sonics to a 1986 German 1st release. But IME, Targets are guaranteed to have excellent sonics.
A reissue may sound just as good as the 1st pressings. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell ahead of time since the original master had to be taken from the archive and duped again. Sometimes the original master wasnt available or was missing, so a 2nd generation protection copy was used. The process is the same; a new lacquer was cut for the reissue.
What makes a CD similar to a "hot stamper?" All the best pressings will have a very low noise floor, imaging with separation of instruments in 3 dimensions and a soundstage where you can almost see the performance. However, the early Japanese have an extended top-end compared to the German and US. I believe it may be related to their cutting process.
Most of my research was done on Discogs which lists all worldwide releases and matrix numbers. Steve Hoffman’s forum has the most valuable info regarding SQ and user reviews to back up the research.
One important item I learned on the forum was that an early pressing on the original record label usually bests releases from a major label that has taken over distribution.