According to "Is the sound on vinyl records better than on CDs or DVDs?," sound is naturally analog. Analog recording is the representation of the sound waves in their natural form. Records have grooves that match the analog sound to recreate every nuance that even the ear doesn't hear, making vinyl a more accurate sound.
CDs are recorded digitally. Digital recording only captures a percentage of the sound actually created; however, it records enough of the sound wave that it sounds full enough to the human ear. According to "Is the sound on vinyl records better than on CDs or DVDs?," when a CD is played back through a speaker, the speaker converts it to an analog signal which is sent to the amplifier.
The sound quality of a record, however, can be degraded by wear and tear or dust on the record. Any scratch on the record will cause static, and this can sometimes be overheard in moments of silence on the recording. On the other hand, a digital recording is less likely to degrade in quality. Compared to records, however, CDs are easily scratched. The cost of replacing a CD, though, is marginally less than that of replacing a record.
With advent of home recording software such as Garage Band, recording a digital file has never been less expensive. The cost of creating a record is higher, which makes new vinyl more costly to purchase upfront. The difference in cost to purchase vinyl vs. CDs varies, according to Bluecollardistro.com. For example, a copy of "Hold Time" by M. Ward on CD costs $13, and the full-length LP costs $15 plus a coupon to download the digital version; on the other hand, according to SubPop records, the 23-track, three-record LP "Around the Well" by Iron and Wine is $21 with free digital downloads, and the two-disc CD set is $13.
According to "The History of Electronic Music: Part 28: The Champ is Down but Not Out," CDs are more portable than records and easier to play, and they were meant to replace vinyl. Record players can be hard to come by and very expensive, whereas nearly every computer, DVD player and car stereo system can play CDs. MP3 players allow customers to upload all of the CDs in their collection and carry them around in a pocket or attached to their arm at the gym. To dedicate yourself to starting a record collection can be an expensive hobby, but for music lovers, the sound quality is well worth the investment, and there isn't anything like flipping through the endless racks at a record shop or antique store.