Ok; Here's The Big One! (Potential Debate Looming)

[Fkeu'itan]

Vinyl, Cassette, CD or MP3?

I myself would say vinyl. I have one or two songs in all 4 formats and I have to say, vinyl beats all of them by far. The bass is stronger, the treble is crisper and the middle is extremely well balanced. Plus, there's nothing quite like the feeling of getting a record out of it's slip, dropping the needle on and just sitting back and listening. I love the almost manual feel of it. Not quite like pushing a button or clicking a mouse. It feels so great.

What does everyone else think?

[Dreaming Of Pandora]

Vinyls certainly have that vintage, hands-on feel and full quality is captured on them but obviously the seriously lack versatility and convenience. Vinyls are more difficult to get your hands on and players are a bit of a rarity too. CDs and Mp3s are quite the opposite. If I had to chose, it'd be the Mp3 because its uses outnumber a vinyl's by far.

But if this is a debate for which sounds better, I know from personal experience that a good quality vinyl and player triumph over CD and Mp3.

[X.,.Pandora.,.X]

Mp3 cause mp3 can hold vinyl, cassette, and cd music, none of the others can do that

[Gunny]

I have vinyl records in mp3 does that count?

I will go with mp3 just because I do not have a valid opinion on vinyl and players. Only ones I have come across kinda sucked LOL.

[Eltu]

Vinyl. Hands down.

Only downside is that much of my favorite music (orchestral) is not available on vinyls - however, when it comes to "feeling", vinyl is the definite winner.

[Empty Glass]

I do like vinyl for many of the reasons already mentioned here, and there is actually a lot of good music being made today that is released on vinyl. Sometimes exclusively on vinyl! And don't forget all those vintage records that have never been digitally re-released!

I can't deny however that I do like the versatility and portability of mp3s. I like having some music in my ears when I go jogging, and I can't exactly carry along a turntable and a 45 while running, let alone an LP.

Kind of unrelated, but I once saw a guy with a tape cassette for a belt buckle and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

[Advent]

CD. Probably because they're cheap, (CD spools of 25 for $10) and they have lot's a space. Occasionally depending on the brand, that is.

[Fkeu 'Awpo]

Depends what kind of music you listen to, depends how good your speakers are. MP3 wins my vote because it's all I've ever used, also it's very convenient just tossing abunch of tracks onto a flash drive and popping it into your car.

(Also, seriously, whoever votes for cassette, shame on you.)

[Sacred Tsahaylu]

I don't think I have once in my life listened to a vinyl

[Aquaplant]

Quality wise, I don't think anyone can really tell the difference between vinyl, CD or mp3 of 256 kbps or greater, because we never really listen to music in a purely optimal environment. Then again maybe my ears are just that bad when it comes to quality of music, but it's a rule of a thumb that most people can't even tell the difference between 192 kbps mp3 and CD.

Vinyls do have that old-school feel to them, but they are highly inconvenient even compared to CDs, in which you can change tracks with ease for example. And I like to be able to take music with me wherever I go, so there's really no contest with mp3 available.

It's always a balance with quality and convenience, but for me there's really no better alternative than mp3, since it's a perfect mix of quality and convenience.

[Human No More]

mp3. Background hissing == bad, it reduces the quality, which is very bad for complex musical styles. Analogue formats also degrade over time and when played and copied. Also, convenience, ease of sharing, can edit things or do your own, can be encoded differently as you like.

Maybe it's what I listen to, but I have never seen anything released exclusively on vinyl , even seeing ANYTHING that is mentioned as being on it is rare. Then again, a fair bit of my music fairly complex compared to a lot of music out there and low quality detracts from it quite a lot in my opinion.