lowrider57,
You got the part about 1987 New Year's Concert right. It is far from the best sound quality that ever was. I, don't ask why, happened to have had a plain any-store copy Made in West Germany, one more like that Made in U.S.A. and now I have this Japanese K2. I bought K2 simply because it existed and those regular copies were getting on my nerves. Not that I listened to them more than once a year, or every two years. K2 is definitely better than ordinary CD, surely not four times better like the price might suggest but I think it is decent. Still, I suggested it as a decent-sounding material for some easy-classical listening. Kind of when we get tired of Mahler's attacks and need a break.
As far as actual Deutsche Gramophone recordings go, would it make a difference that this particular CD/concert was recorded live with whatever constraints the venue might have brought? I have no idea, but I do have some of the Deutsche Gramophone recordings you are implying and I think you are spot on about the imperfections of sound. It may be my ears, but I think that this particular New Year's Concert is a bit better to start with. To repeat, not great.