Disappointing Elton John CDs?

the original masters are pretty good. surprising the remasters aren't also, but a lot of newer remasters are remastered to be louder than original. some underpowered systems may have trouble getting the most out of them. also many just flat out do not care for loudness wars remasters due to often compressed dynamic range, so they can be more hit or miss in each individual case.

"Makes the recording sound like a broadband noise generator not even slightly resembling music.'

It would surprise me if this were the case with the EJ CDs. Remasters are most likely louder overall but are in general not distorted unless recorded that way intentionally, ie distortion applied to electric guitars or synthesizer for ezample.