I recognize that Am7 (A-C-E-G) is considered a minor chord because, when stacked as thirds, the A is on the bottom.

But I cannot make my ear perceive it as a minor chord out of context. To me it sounds a 50-50 mixture of a minor chord (A-C-E) and a major chord (C-E-G). In fact, it might even be 70-30 in favor of major, where I hear a C6 chord. Also, my ear doesn't seem to care which note is in the base.

So am I fundamentally missing the way trained musicians hear this basic chord, or is its classification as a minor chord just a matter of technicality?