The importance of the Dynamic Range Database? Maximum score?

[Beyakusenn]

Basically, yes. The original material seems to have been treated in a less appropriate way for most of the later masters.

 

[Kheadfi]

   
Could just be the hi-res is a bit more compressed. Do you have access to both versions?

no but if you check the dr database; http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=&album=Gaucho
 

Steely Dan

Gaucho [HDTracks]

2000

09​

07​

11​

lossless

Steely Dan

Gaucho [vinyl]  i​

1980

14​

13​

16​

lossless

 

[RRod]

  no but if you check the dr database; http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=&album=Gaucho
 

 
Yeah I had already looked it up, but a lower DR score doesn't instantly mean worse sound if other aspects of the mix/master are better.

 

[Kheadfi]

True. 
But here the difference is quite big and that makes me hesitate buying the hi-res.

 

[RRod]

  True. 
But here the difference is quite big and that makes me hesitate buying the hi-res.

 
I can't blame you. You would think "make sure it's better or at least not worse" would be the overriding principle of this sub-industry, but sadly there just aren't guarantees.