It's more than just a neat physical artifact - cassettes add a pleasing saturation and natural compression (of the musical kind, not the file kind) to the sound

It's more than just a neat physical artifact - cassettes add a pleasing saturation and natural compression (of the musical kind, not the file kind) to the sound, which most would describe as a bit more 'warmth' and 'energy'. This is why people sometimes say that music just sounds better on cassette or vinyl. In some ways, it literally does! Perfect reproduction of sound is not the only dimension of musical quality or enjoyment.