Remasters - are they better? What exactly is it?


What exactly is the process to remaster.  Not the FULL 10 page answer but just in general.  What is being tweaked?  Why can't I hear a bigger difference?  Old recordings (through Tidal) seem to sound essentially the same as the original.  But I've also not done an exhaustive a/b test either.

Anyway, do you skip the "Remastered" titles or seek them out?
dtximages
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.
It sounds like you just prefer newer artists and recordings and there’s nothing wrong with that.
For both of those newer artists mentioned the majority of releases are heavily compressed. It is indeed a preference thing.
It’s a crap shoot.
Some re-masters are better, some originals are better.
Same goes for re-mixes.

An observation about bass:  I don't remember hearing deeper bass than on the Eagles' LP "Desperado" played through Cerwin Vega subs.