Natural sound is not being captured correctly.

[Rexp]

Current delta-sigma ADC's used by recording studios add an unnatural glaze to digitally recorded music. Attending any Trade Show, the AAA rooms are a welcome relief compared to aural assault going on in the digital-only rooms. Occasionally you will hear a good digital recording but in the main you will hear unnatural sound.

This unnatural sound easily comes across over well recorded youtube videos like this one from Michael Fremer. When Michael is interviewing in some of the rooms playing digital, you can hear him fighting to be heard, there is a clear contrast/battle between the natural sound of his voice and the unnatural playback in the room:

 

[hopkins]

There could be many other factors involved: speaker tonal balance, room acoustics and volume levels...

Try putting a grand piano in a small hotel room and you'll be fighting to be heard as well. "Natural sound" heard in our daily lives are pleasant as long as they don't exceed a certain volume level (that level may vary by individual).

I find, generally speaking, that systems which are able to play well at low volumes generally offer an "easier" sound to listen to.

Perhaps show rooms that feature vinyl tend to use those types of systems?