For most listeners, it's not an issue, portability is much more important than quality. For people who are really concerened with quality though, you've gotta have a turntable and a good needle. It's sad to hear people debate the merits of various sampled formats. If they're really concerned with super high quality sound, they're in the wrong arena altogether. A majority of people who have considered analog have only ever heard it in the form of the scratched up and abused records that their parents ruined with $5.00 needles. I use my ipod in the car and my turntable in the living room. They both have a place.