... thoughts on Taylor Swift's REPUTATION CD...

Again, I don't see what a full range dynamic system can do to help recordings with a DR of 5.

I'd guess the distortion you're hearing in the Swift CD is from clipping because of the DR compression.

I agree completely that DR isn't everything and a recording with high DR doesn't mean that it has good SQ or is well produced. But it seems that it would be an impressive feat to produce a quality recording with low DR.

I have a sneaking suspicion people are just guessing even they say oh, dynamic range is not the only thing they do to the recording, they also make it more detailed. There is no evidence for that claim at all. In other words, it’s wishful thinking. They compress dynamics to avoid clipping and so more people will buy the product, you know, because it’s louder.

gosta: interesting that we both hear similar elements from this CD.
When I posted this forum, I wasn't looking for validation to my enjoying the CD, and although it took a left-hand turn from the 1st input, it has opened my eyes to serious audiophile considerations...
Truthfully - in making future CD purchases, although I will access the DR file, it WILL NOT BE THE OVERRIDING FACTOR in deciding to hear new music...

I agree. And that has been my m.o. these last few months. If I like the band and like the music I buy it. Just be prepared for disappointment. 

This morning I also listened to som of the tracks on my large systems which are Westlake (used for "Thriller" and "Bad") and ATC 150 (used for most recordings). I actually need the 15 inch woofers of the ATC to reproduce the heavy kicks and the bottoms in the superb "Delicate" to make it sound what you would consider as correct. Most of the tracks are really powerful and very well done. I'm actually reconsidering my thoughts on Swift :-)
They are however not without faults, probably because of heavy digital processing. But I would say in its genre reference quality. And testing this cd loud on a lot of "audiophile" speakers voiced for "smooth" reproducing of music will certainly uncover them....
In my opinion this cd is very dynamic. But because the average level is rather loud it could be that the measurement method behind the DR list doesn't do it justice. In most of the tracks there are nearly silent parts followed by a loud part which I call dynamic, maybe a 25 db change from one moment to another.  

If you like Swift you may also like Dua Lipa.