WHat did Audiophiles hear during Tape deck era?

Recorded compilations from records through preamp onto CrO2 tape using 3 head machine. No Dolby. Played in the car on a Pioneer tape deck slung under the dash, hot wired to the battery, into separate amps for bass/mid and tweeters that were cannibalized from a pair of B&Ws. 2x10" sub in the trunk. No built-in stereo bs back then. Sounded vastly better than any CD or rip in any car since.

@tomic601 It was a Pioneer Component KP707G.

If i hear tape hiss on an older record, I know I'm getting an even better recording without filtering.