Is remastered mainly just less jitter?

The only other thing I can add of any (potential) value is this. Some remastered discs do a good job of adding additional tracks that are worth listening to. I won't buy a cd any more that isn't remastered, unless it's from Japan, West Germany, or some version that is generally accepted as being one of the best versions.

I agree that remasters are a crap shoot.  But I always seek to hear them as some are worlds better. 

The most recent Beatles is an excellent example - the 24/48 files from their USB key are the best I've heard by a large margin.

I think the 2009/2010 Japanese remasters of the Stones albums are probably the best Stones versions as a group.  YMMV with individual albums.

Any Steven Wilson remaster is an automatic improvement.  So good he has me buying albums I didn't even want before he remastered them.

If you really want a new and compelling way to listen to remastered music, seek out the DVD--Audio, SACD and Blu-Ray multichannel versions.  Some of those are pretty mind-blowing, again starting with the Steven Wilson ones (try King Crimson Discipline on DVDA).

Sorry for going a bit of topic but are there any websites that simply show which is the best lp or cd version to buy for the best recording/sound quality? I was listening to Depeche Mode Violator on CD last night which is easily in my top 10.  Discogs https://www.discogs.com/Depeche-Mode-Violator/master/18080 does a nice job of showing the different versions but is there a website detailing the best sound quality version?  Thanks for the help 

spoutmouzert8 posts04-14-2017 1:55amSorry for going a bit of topic but are there any websites that simply show which is the best lp or cd version to buy for the best recording/sound quality? I was listening to Depeche Mode Violator on CD last night which is easily in my top 10. Discogs https://www.discogs.com/Depeche-Mode-Violator/master/18080 does a nice job of showing the different versions but is there a website detailing the best sound quality version? Thanks for the help

http://dr.loudness-war.info/

As you can see the best is the earliest non remastered that are the least compressed, I buy all my cd this way s/h and it been right 100% just click on the one with the most green and find the cat no. and go ebaying.
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=Depeche+Mode&album=Violator

Cheers George

If you're interested in long, in depth discussions of which version is best, check out the Steve Hoffman Music Forums:

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/forums/music-corner.2/

George,  IMHO, while dynamic range is important to sound quality and the loudness wars are a blight on music, dynamic range isn't the only factor to consider when choosing between different versions of an album.