Reply #8: It's information density

[MN ChimpH8R]

Ordinary CDs sample 44,000 times a second. To have the same information density as an LP, the sample rate would have to be over 2,000,000 times per second. Some engineer wrote this in Stereophile or the Absolute Sound a number of years ago after conducting some fancy statistical analysis. More information = more compelling and lifelike musical experience.

Not to say that CDs can't sound very good, and SACD samples at something like the rate needed to equal analogue. But there's so little music on SACD that it's a moot point.