Remastered CDs, HDCDs, SACDs

FWIW I just purchased my first remastered CD; J. Baez GH. Found it crushingly disappointing with little consistency in the tracks! Tested on my $.5k auto system and two others; including my serious home system. Several tracks seemed just short of fingernails on the blackboard.

Looking to get my Nakamichi cassette deck fixed as I remember that album was pretty good,

The first time I noticed a difference between mastering was the MFSL release of the Getz/Gilberto CD.  When I first listened to it, I was stunned by the difference between it and the original Verve release.  It was like they were mastered by completely different tapes.  When I rip the MFSL to CD, it sounds like the Mofi.  I also have made rips of Hi rez files made for me from LPs to black blank discs with great sonics.

Bluray is generally the best sounding digital medium.

Bluray can sound excellent but so can any of the other formats. It really depends on the mastering. It's frustrating that often times a vinyl release has different master than a CD release. Major difference in dynamic range. Streaming is also frustrating in that you often don't know which master is used.

I personally like the old JVC XRCD discs. Not that I necessarily believe all their marketing about their K2 dithering process being superior (maybe it is, I don't know). But mainly because the majority of material released on XRCD had amazing mastering. So buying an XRCD almost always guarantees great sound.

I used to rank SQ as many have stated starting with Redbook CD, then HDCD, remastered CD, remastered HDCD, original SACD, and the highest being  remastered SACD.

This ranking system falls apart when you listen to the Redbook CD track called 'All About You' on the album 'Soul' by Sophie Zelmani.  

Give it a listen.  You'll be amazed at how good Redbook CDs can sound.