Remasters - are they better? What exactly is it?

For both of those newer artists mentioned the majority of releases are heavily compressed. It is indeed a preference thing.

There are plenty of examples of remasters that better earlier or original masterings. That includes remasters with DRs as good as or sometimes better than earlier versions. Remasters by engineers Hoffman and Gastwirt are the first that come to mind but there are plenty of others.

A bit of research will bear this out. Any new "older" CD I buy goes through a research process that includes remasterings, dynamic range and other factors that allow me to buy the best. Often the original releases are best. But often they are not.

@dtximages 

"un-dynamic" recordings aren't typically thought of as soiunding "thin". If anything because all vocals and instrumentation is more level-equalized it can have a "thicker" sound. 

As far as telling the decade of a recording by the quality, nope. Plenty of old recordings (last 40 years anyway) equal or better newer recordings, and the opposite is also true. How do I know? I have them in my collection.

Compression is just a small part of the process and is more a sign of the times in general than just of remastering. The rise of compression since the mid 90s can effect all releases whether remasters or new issues.

@geoffkait  good examples. I do prefer the original Bowie CD releases,  though pricey to obtain.

@select-hifi agree with the Japan Sanyo release, I paid top dollar for mine. Love how Gold Dust Woman preserves the original screams at the end.

@dtximages

I have records and CDs that are 30 or more years old that do have lots of slam, very little noise, and definitely don’t sound like AM radio.

Not sure why you take exception to everyone who has a different opinion, including someone who claims to be a sound engineer and others whose opinions are pretty well regarded here.

Meanwhile the artists you mentioned for the most part have very compressed recordings, so it might be said that you as well could enjoy those with less than great equipment or at least don’t have to be great at handling dynamic swings. Some people like this effect, most audiophiles do not.

Maybe if you told us your equipment we would have a better understanding of your position.

@ivan_nosnibor 

Research on Hoffman forum and DR DB helps make the right buying decisions. Bad side of this is when research tells you the best recording is that one on Discogs going for $100 (but sometimes cheaper on eBay if you can trust the seller).