[melevittfl]

I think there is a difference between transparent amplifiers, etc in the recording stage vs transparent amplifiers in the playback stage.

In other words, harmonic distortion is art if it was put there during the recording process and not art if it is put there during the playback process.

[JonnieCache]

But presumably the average home listening gear in 1969 was truly awful too. Does that mean nobody had really appreciated In A Silent Way until decades later, when they were finally able to discern every detail of its noise floor in high resolution?

When you abandon the traditional audiophile silliness of subjective judgements in favor of scientific measurement, you just enter an even deeper mire, and it becomes completely impossible to determine why you're doing what you're doing, or what you're looking for.

The best thing about art, and especially music is that your soul/subconcious/whatever can tell you if its good or not, immediately, for free. Your brain does not need six sigma of certainty to decide if you should currently be weeping with joy.

[peterfirefly]

I was born in 1970 and I wasn't able to appreciate In a Silent Way until almost four decades later ;)