I wouldn't draw any conclusions based upon a single CD. The technology is a factor in sound quality, but the skill of the recording engineer trumps everything. A great engineer can make a good sounding recording with a single Shure 57 and a cassette recorder while $10 million in SOTA equipment won't help an inept engineer.
Early 90s digital: whatz up?
With all these dicussions about the quantum leap digital sound has made since the early 90s I had to post a recent purchase...I picked up a CD import form one of my favorite Brit indie bands from the early 90s(Pale Saints)that has never been remasterd and was flabbergasted at how good the sound was...huge open soundstage and very 3-d instrument detail...and this is a fuzzy guitar band(which usually dont transfer to digital well)...at any rate...this is one of the best sounding rock cds i have heard...which leads to believe...its all in the initial recording...which as we all know...varies considerably...any thoughts...granted digital has improved...but to what extent?