Re the history of reproduced music how far back in time could we go with a reasonably discerning listener and have them judge the quality of the reproduced music to be at, or near, the quality of modern reproduced music, or at least be judged “very good”
I’m thinking some high end stereo rigs from the early to mid 60’s may meet that criteria, but I can’t see going much earlier.
Depends on your definition. The invention of stereo and the long playing record in the 1950s allowed for very good quality with the right equipment.
Some people would even say that high-end stereos + vinyl produced superior, more “human” sound than current digital technology.
Movie soundtracks using the optical process were that good even before Peter Goldmark invented the long-paying 33 1/3 rpm record that gave rise to “modern” reproduction.
The Movietone system was invented in 1925.
When the theater speakers equaled whatever level you’re asking about I couldn’t say. Remember, people today are satisfied with MP3s.
Or are you talking solely about home stereo?
I bought a Harmon Kardon (I think) hifi system (10 watts!!) back in 1956. Was a huge improvement over the regular systems. Remember being very impressed with it. Don’t remember when I got my first stereo system, though.
In the late 1950s, early 1960s, lots of comedians doing comedy on records did bits or songs on high fidelity - hifi, pre-stereo. I have examples by Flanders and Swann, Stan Freberg, Spike Jones, and even Lenny Bruce. This was when it became available to the masses, if that is the date wanted.
Here’s a 1908 recording of Enrico Caruso. Recordings of that era were surprsingly good – it’s the limited high end range and the fragility of the shellac discs that were the limited factors.
Electrical amplification developed in the 1920s helped to eliminate the first problem. As Expano said, optical soundtracks got around the second problem.
Low-noise commercial vinyl recording disks were available as early as 1930 but didn’t catch on during the Depression. It wasn’t until after World War II that magnetic recording tape, graphic equalization and vinyl came together to make high fidelity reproduction available at the consumer level.
The Magnetophon at least when it comes to high fidelity sound and magnetic recording.
EDIT: A Magnetophon recording circa 1933. Frequency response of 13 KHZ.
The Western Electric recording system used by Columbia Records and successors in the 1920s and '30s is still considered to have been of very high quality, with increased (if not truly hi-fi) frequency response. Columbia’s laminated pressings cut down on surface noise, too, inspiring the tradename “Viva-tonal - like life itself.”