@retrocrownfan -
My point is the same as Paul from PS Audio. Even as a maker of high end gear, he clearly states “nobody hears the signal” and the single most important investment in your system is your speakers, because they create the sound pressure that moves your ear drums.
And yet: Paul recognizes/realizes that, "capacitors and dielectrics" DO change their characteristics, over time and with use.
https://www.psaudio.com/blogs/pauls-posts/the-break-in-myth
Just like an oft copied page run through as a copy of a copy of a copy, each step reimages the original.
...“can you just res-up this 80k jpeg to use on my 40 ft bus graphic?”
NOT the same as trying to increase the size of a digital image, with a limited number of pixels and retain resolution!
An analog musical signal's voltage and/or current is increased, in every gain stage. That's WHY: the more faithfully the signal's innate properties are retained in the process and the cleaner the power (from the wall, cord, fuse and PS), the more faithfully the resultant signal, when it reaches your speakers for reproduction.
More akin to the images of an IMAX, 35mm film being increased in size, to fill the huge screen, on which it's viewed.
If the bulb that produces the light is compromised, or the lens is dirty: the image won't have it's intended resolution, regardless of it's original clarity.