Background Hiss on Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything? CD (Rhino)

[DeadBeatAnon]

I was recently listening to Todd Rundgren’s Something/Anything, ripped from my original CD discs to WAV files in Apple Music.
My desktop system: Mac Mini M4—>Fosi ZD3 DAC—>Yamaha HTR-5960—>Pioneer HDJ-2000 headphones/ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 speakers.

There’s a lot of background hiss on the opening track, “I Saw the Light”. I checked the source CD (Rhino remaster), don’t see any noticeable damage on the physical disc. So I started messing with Apple Music’s software equalizer. The EQ settings in the screenshot below seem to yield the best results. Ironically, Something/Anything? includes the track “Intro”, where Rundgren provides examples of studio artifacts and bad recording effects. Any comments/suggestions appreciated.

 

[Redacted]

Recorded in 1972 on possibly 8-track tape?
The most accurate possible transfer to CD will still include the tape hiss.
You should hear the shellac 78 rpm version.

 

[Apesbrain]

I have several different masters of that album, and haven't noticed any "hiss". I don't have the Rhino and they do have a spotty history of reissues.

Hiss would not be something caused by disc surface damage; it's in the recording/mastering process.

 

[DeadBeatAnon]

Recorded in 1972 on possibly 8-track tape?
The most accurate possible transfer to CD will still include the tape hiss.
You should hear the shellac 78 rpm version.

My CD is a Rhino digital remaster, but there's no date provided for the remaster. I hit Rhino's website, they're currently selling a 2022 remaster, but I've had this CD set for
way longer than that. I think this title has been re-issued several times. Not sure what type of equipment TR used for the original 1972 recording. But I think it was a one-man show, with TR playing most or all of the instruments.