had the same problem with Badfinger re-released stuff. Sounded OK but not the same quality as the original. Thank God I have the vinyl. Now I just need to find a cheap way to get it to my computer.
Yep, compression and de-noising are pure evil but so many “modern” mastering engineers use it liberally.
On an upbeat note, the industry is slowly beginning to understand the damage these techniques have on the music - especially when re-mastering classic albums.
Did all of my wife's 45s that way. Around 30 of them.
There is software that will remove the pops. You have to be careful, though. Need to know what method it uses. I usually just trim them out.
I saw turntable that has a USB port. Don't know how good it is, though.
Do a search for “Audacity”. Free download that will allow you to record analog (simple hook-up from stereo to computer), adjust levels, name tracks - everything you need to do. Then convert to MP3 to put on your player. Works great and sounds better than anything from i-tunes or off CD’s. Can be a little time consuming if you name each track and fiddle with every little setting, but a quick and dirty works just fine - besides, back in the day we would listen to the whole album anyway.
Too bad there hasn’t been an album that you could listen to the whole thing in years....lucky to get two songs worth a damn anymore.