the mp3 format is hugely inferior to the 44.100 / 16 nature of CD audio files. even at their highest, a distinct and remarkable loss of sound quality (particularly with regard to the extreme high and low frequencies of audible sound) occurs. the mp3 format is completely inferior to CD. and the music notably suffers as a result.
i was just thinking this last night, i was listening to zero by the smashing pumpkins (yes i know) and it came to the guitar solo, which i remembered as great sounding, and it sounded like shit. so i started thinking this load of madness:
mp3 to my knowledge clips 'inaudible frequencies' to save space. now inaudible frequencies on their own are inaudible, but when they are the upper end of a pitch shifter solo like in zero they are physically and harmonically reacting with each other as they move air, creating harmonics.
harmonics in english is basically to notes reacting with each other to create new notes.
now as far as i'm concerned, mp3 is going to harmonically subtract from the song every time, and it made me want to buy everything in vynil and grow my beard antisocially longer.