I do not fool around with the musical content by using pop or tick removers or graphic equalizers. They do nothing but screw up the original. Yes, a good D/A converter is required to make good recordings and you can't "red-line" any digital recording like you could with analog.
I have been recording for about 45 years, owning some real nice gear from ReVox, as have a Tascam DA-30MKII DAT. I gain ride the knobs a bit to get maximum level, without overload, and this technique takes practice, practice, practice.
In the old days, we would buy a record and a 3500 ft. of audio tape (I like Maxell) and record the LP on the first play and then put it away. Of course, many LP lovers got rid of their systems when CDs came along and now many are re-discovering what they have missed.
I will make this comment, that I really don't think it's the medium, but rather the recording, the artist and the label. I have excellent CDs as well as LPs that certainly can bid against each other over who is superior. I also have plenty of bad examples of both, thinking that a first time boy scout could have made a better recording with an old Lloyds portable cassette recorder.
Wayner