The debate rages on. Analog purists swear by the "warmth" of vinyl. Digital natives claim FLAC is superior.

The Dynamic Range

Technically, digital audio (CD quality and above) has a higher dynamic range (96dB) than vinyl (around 70dB). This means digital can go from silence to loud explosions without a noise floor.

Harmonic Distortion

The "warmth" of vinyl often comes from "imperfections." Analog formats add even-order harmonic distortion, which the human ear finds pleasing.

The Ritual

Ultimately, listening to vinyl is about the ritual. Taking the record out of the sleeve, placing the needle, sitting down. It forces you to listen to an album as a cohesive work of art, rather than skipping tracks on a phone. That attention span is what makes the music sound better.