WHat did Audiophiles hear during Tape deck era?

I taped AM stations on my reel-to-reel in the mid 1960's, waiting for that Stones or Beatles or Supremes song to show up on KFWB and KHJ.  I'd always wait for the weekly Top 40 Countdown (or was it Top 30?) and press the pause button whenever there'd be a commercial...which, yes, was more than often.

bob540
@geoffkait, That link is for real?! Hundreds of dollars for a pre-recorded cassette? That is crazy!!!

>>>>I’m not hot dogging you. 🌭

eek!

https://blog.discogs.com/en/top-100-most-expensive-cassettes/

$4117 for a tape.........

What was heard during the tape deck era?

Invariably, some level of hiss.

Listen through the hiss, grasshopper. Or use Dolby tapes. Problem solved!  You know, like you listen through pops and clicks on vinyl. Which reminds me, what the heck happened to the tape hiss on CDs?