Were the 2016 Pink Floyd ‘Back Catalogue’ vinyl reissues cut from analog tape? And which are audiophile-grade?

None of the 2016 Back Catalogue vinyl reissues were pressed directly from the original analog masters. They were all remastered by James Guthrie and Joel Plante from high-resolution digital transfers (24-bit/192kHz) of the original analog tapes. So if you’re looking for an all-analog pressing, this isn’t it — that would be the earlier 1970s/80s pressings or certain Mobile Fidelity releases.

That said, the 2016 pressings are considered high-quality by most standards: they’re cut at 45 RPM for double-LP albums (like The Wall, Animals, Wish You Were Here), pressed at Optimal Media in Germany, and widely praised for their clarity and dynamic range. Audiophile forums often single out Meddle, The Dark Side of the Moon, and Wish You Were Here as particularly excellent in this series — not because they’re analog, but because the mastering and pressing produce a very clean, quiet, and detailed sound. If you want an “audiophile-grade” modern reissue of the Floyd catalog, the 2016 series is the best bang for the buck, just don’t expect a purely analog signal path.