There was, and is a lot of snake oil in consumer audiophile gear. There is in most fields. Let's discount idiots suggesting snake oil, and stick to the rational

There was, and is a lot of snake oil in consumer audiophile gear. There is in most fields. Let's discount idiots suggesting snake oil, and stick to the rational. :) That there was a noticeable difference in equivalent quality master sources where one is digital and the other analogue, that can be heard in blind testing. As a result some engineers and artists preferred analogue mastering long into the digital age. Digital mastering had issues for years, and they could be heard on both the CD and vinyl. Hardly a case of claiming record is always better. Superficially there is some sense - the higher frequency signals are rendered less and less accurately, and nearer a binary on-off. Who knows what nuance and harmonics may be lost affecting what's heard at lower frequencies.