Just a nitpick: Classical music from 200 years ago is definitely not "early music" by any cultural tradition. Western music 200 years ago was a highly developed

Just a nitpick: Classical music from 200 years ago is definitely not "early music" by any cultural tradition. Western music 200 years ago was a highly developed art form, and this is even more true for other classical traditions that exist today, such as Chinese classical music and Indian classical music. 200 years ago, the symphonic form was already highly developed, which most would argue is the most advanced form of Western classical music. I don't think music from this period necessarily gives you any pointers for gauging the quality of modern pop music, but it might influence your tastes in a positive way. Just keep in mind that very advanced music is still being written, and it mostly doesn't sound anything like what was written 200 years ago.