Recordings did not become listenable until the 1940s, and even then sound quality often left much to be desired.

What? What? (!) I've just been listening to the Original Dixie Jazz Band playing "Palesteena" - a little rough and ready around the edges in sound quality (1920s), I grant you, but still highly delightful. Think of all the wonderful music you'd miss if you listened to nothing before, say, 1950s...

Actually, some marvellous work was been done by people by John R.T. Davies in England (d. 2004) in sound restoration of jazz classics from old, original 78rpm recordings. But even without the likes of JRTD, I still love old shellac recordings.