I've found tremendous bargains on CDs, SACDs and HDCDs at local thrift stores, usually less than $2 each. Some remastered, some original releases.
I don't stream nor do I spin vinyl. My only source is an SACD/CD player that I enjoy very much.
I grade each of my 800 or so albums A+, A,B,C or D based on sound quality.
Parameters listened for are the usual stuff- clarity, timbres, soundstage, imaging, air, bloom, cohesiveness, dynamics.
Remastered almost always sounds significantly better than the original, especially if the engineer was Bob Ludwig. There are a others that are good too.
SACDs usually sound better than the standard "red book" versions, but not always.
Same thing for HDCDs.
Some artists do consistently class A sound, especially when remastered. Dire Straits, Depeche Mode, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Enya, Steely Dan, Wang Chung, INXS, Bob Seger, ABC, Ozzy (yes, Ozzy!)...
For me, it's a lot easier to relax and enjoy the music when it's sound quality is classes A or A+. Class B is tolerable to listen to.
Classes C and D are mostly used to let a guest hear how bad they sound and then how much better classes B, A and A+ sound. Like hearing a different system, but it's not!
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