“Good news: incredible sound - as close to the master tape as one can get”
Digital can get closer. Particularly when you consider the info from the master tape is modified before the cutting.
I’ve actually heard original master tapes - both Doobie Bros and Frank Sinatra - with the re-mastering engineer.
I have the Doobies acetate as well as a CDR burned direct from those master tapes. Alas, “only” CDRs burned from the original master tapes of Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Simon&Garfunkel, Eva Cassidy, Doors...and so many more.
Conclusion: nothing is really close to those original master tapes...but using a high-end turntable/arm/cartridge/phono stage - the acetate cut with a $35k 300B amplifier easily comes the closest albeit with a very limited life. The acetate is light years better than the commercial vinyl release, too.
That said, my CDR copies from the original master tapes can sound extraordinary - especially the versions I have burned BEFORE the reverb was added for the commercial release. In fact, some of my CDRs are not only “dry” but have studio chatter that was not on the final commercial release.
An aside - mastering can make all the difference...especially if the mastering engineer can avoid the dreaded compression and noise reduction; however, often the label makes that decision for the mastering engineer.
2nd aside: I have the original Beatles albums - UK first pressings - considered to be THE best sonic version. I also have the relatively new ReMix/ReMaster 24-bit versions of SP and White albums. The latter are superior in terms of transparency, detail, dynamics & tonal accuracy. Finally, McCartney’s bass can be heard.