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How to find the good CD recordings?

I'm new to high end audio but have a decent system. One of the things I've noticed with this new (old) system, is that some of my CDs which I used to think sounded fine just don't sound all that good anymore while some of them sound great. A lot of these CDs are 30 years old and came from CD clubs (remember those?) and typical record stores.

I've noticed in particular that some of my Led Zep CDs just sound a little flat and a little shallow while some of the Pink Floyd and Rush CDs sound quite good. 

Is this just a matter of Floyd and Rush having higher production quality from the beginning? 

Would later "remastered" Zep CDs sound better? Is "remastered" always an indication of better or superior quality? Is it just marketing hype sometimes?

Anyway, with this new system I am inclined to buy the best quality recordings of any newer music I buy and possible replace some of my old favorites.

So is there a place on the internet where one can go to get reviews of the actual recording quality and not just the music itself. I don't see iTunes or Amazon as particularly useful here. At this point I am not interested in pursuing vinyl or high end audio files. I'm still just getting my feet wet and CDs seem like a cheap way to do that.

Any assistance much appreciated,

George
n80

Showing 1 response by metropical

metropical
21 posts
 
compression, EQ and bad mastering killed many CD issues of LPs.When CDs 1st arrived, most labels used EQ'd masters to make CDs from, as compared to a 1st gen master mix flat 2 track, or even a 2nd generation flat.
An EQ'd master was made in the days of vinyl to compensate for the physical limitations of vinyl.  Vinyl is really only good for 18 mins per side with decent dynamics.  When LPs became 25 mins per side and the last song was most dynamic, the mastering engineer really had to compensate.  Great ones could make compensation during songs if need be, but most stuck to changes in between songs, so as not to shock the ear.
But even then, when a US label shipped a master to the UK for local LP or CD production, it was still 2nd gen.
I was recently looking for a cut that I knew I had on at least 3 CDs.  They sounded completely different from each other.  One was a US issue and the others on later Brit collections.
A lot rests in the recording engineers hands.  Glyn Johns, Tom Dowd, the Beatles guys - Emerick, Scott, MacDonald, Smith, and others. Brilliant sound with minimal mics.
Check out Buena Vista Social Club for a truly fine recording with space and limited augmentation of sound.  Jerry Boys, old school Brit.
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