How to find the good CD recordings?

@n80A small contribution fro me. I started using Tidal two years ago and have since then put huge amounts of good music and also recordings to my playlists. Thought I had it all but no no no... The recommendation for a simle Node 2 or maybe just a Sonos Connect os similar is a very good advice. You might be able to get a little better sound but also if the quality isn't good enough from the beginning its not worth it to search for better material or buy more expensive equipment. The fine with digital is that you start from a very high level compared to before (when I was young). The negative is you get a resolution that is not very friendly to bad recordings (and most are).
Since you like good old rock I would suggest you to look for recordings made 1965 - 1975. Preferably UK artists recorded in the UK. The Who live at Leeds is fantastic. The last issue of Cat Stevens Tillerman might be the most dynamic of all time. It's a little scary to listen to :-) The Doobie Brothers always top notch. Takin' it to the streets the most perfect recording i know of. You can't play that loud enough (on my ATC 150 ASL). There's lot to discover. On these recordings it feels that the technicians didn't interfere at all (or didn't know how!), they just put the music through. Nowadays, I would say you find the best sound in the Americana and Alt-country scenes. But if you are playing LZ and feel the music is flat then I must advice you to change some equipment of yours (speakers). The last issues of LZ I - III are very dynamic. A little overemphasized around 2-4 khz which could bring you some fatigue if you're listening loud, but you can feel the kick!! I also would like to thank the person that gave us Black Cat Bones - like finding a new Free record!

Hi again!
Yes if the record was med loud I think it needs to be listened to loud if you want to have the right feeling of it. The human hearing functions that way (the loudness curve). And I'm sure they played rather loud...
Thank you for the tip. Sting is an artist that always have a very balanced and highquality sound. Today actually I happened to find another for me unknown record when seaching around on tIdal. I thought I would have a look at the production of Lynyrd Skynyrd. And I found some live recordings that really sounded live and also with a good well-balanced sound that don't hurt your ears at higher volumes.
And - I found an acoustic record of Lynyrd "Endangered Species" that really stands out. And I mean REALLY. It's absolute top quality. In the same league as Eric C. or Nirvana MTV or Nils L. Maybe better if you prefer LS songs (I do). Why isn't this recording more well-known? Never seen any comments about it. But seen a lot of recommendations on rather dull audiophile acoustic recordings... This is what you sometimes will find exploring Tidal or similar services. And well worth 20 a month. Thanks.

@shadorne 

++1 on your recommendation. I would say very well composed, played, sung and produced americana. Nice warm organic sound. Live feeling. Even the harmonica! Curs of Lono have great harmonies and impressing sound landscape with lots of interesting details. You could almost believe Daniel Lanois was sitting there behind the controlboard. Hope they will make a hit song! Other favourites:
France Gall - Concert public - Concert privé 
Pretenders - Live at the Isle of view
Guy Clark - Keepers - A live recording
Little Feat - Waiting for Columbus (PLAY LOUD!! - not best quality though...)
Enjoy!

Ani DiFranco to that list! Maybe not the latest cd though. Thanks for Patty Griffin. Silver Bell for me unknown Daniel Lanois production.

Been studing this Dynamic range website. Interesting to see that "finer" SACD, bluray etc pressings seldom means better dynamics. Or is it the measuring method that does not deliver correct results? It compares as I understand average dynamic in a song with highest. So if the song is very loud all the time it could get a low rating, while actually beeing very good and destroying your hearings? Iggy Pop - Lust for life...someone. Also, there seems to be not that great correlation between a dynamic and a good recording. Look at ZZ Top Afterburner which has a good rating, comparable to Pink Floyd The Wall, but is completely unlistenable. And it seems to favor vinyl, which is not how I see vinyl in general. (Ok, I also played Telarc 1812 and Decca Carmina Burana and studied the tracks in the vinyl when I was a little younger :-) Interesting that older cd issues like Nephilim says seems to have the highest ratings (i.e Talking Heads). 

I'm in my apartement now and can't play very loud but will pump up volume in the weekend to find that tympani in my room :-)

N80, I agree with your view of the quality of Soul Cages except for that the timpany drum (or what it is) is far away back in the soundstage and that the bass is actually perfect in balance. Not muddy or boomy at all :-).
Interesting what different speakers and room can do to the sound....

However, I would wish Sting used his bass more offensively after he left the Police. It's mostly playing very low and hard to hear at all and in my opinion rather boring to listen to. Actually you don't listen to it at all. Suppose he wants it that way. But besides that I agree most of the songs are really well recorded with layers of instruments and a very deep soundstage. So reference quality and also a fine test what the speakers can do with the bass.