Why do records made from digital sources sound good?

This question defeats my understanding.  If analog reproduction sounds better than digital, and my ears say that it usually does, how can a digital master, for example make for a better sounding record?  I also have a Sugar Cube, which removes pops and clicks from old or damaged records and it does this be making an instantaneous digital copy and editing out the noise.  And it works and the records sound quite listenable and the digital part is almost undetectable - emphasis on almost.  So can someone explain this to me?  Please no diatribes from fanatics about the virtues of analog and the evils of digital.  What would be appreciated is a technically competent explanation.