it is from phonographs to the newest music streaming services or 4k physical
FLAC. Pretty much perfect, lossless compression for great sound quality.
I really like CDs. I know they’re not the best but it’s got the physical niceties of vinyl without being too bulky.
Something comforting and nostalgic about putting a CD into your car 6 disc changer.
It’s still higher quality than many streaming services especially when you take Bluetooth into account.
I really wish music DVDs would have taken off. The few albums that came out, you could adjust the equalizer settings of each individual track.
Although I don’t use them day-to-day any more, cassette tapes are what I have the most warmth and nostalgia for because they’re what I grew up with. Messing around with tapes and making mix-tapes were a big part of my childhood and teenage years, difficult to sell to those who never experienced it but I can’t think of any other format that allowed that same level of playfulness and creativity.
As physical mediums CD and Mini-disc were the most practical. But I do enjoy the rituals of Vinyl. Dusting them off before playing them and such.
Mp3 wins overall thou, simply by the amount of music I can have on me at any time.