Go on – start me up... I went to see The Rolling Stones on the first date of the UK tour. You know what? Jagger really does strut, pout his lips and sway his hips like a snake. And posture... wow, can he posture? He is – and they are – quite extraordinary. It's pure rock and roll from the guitar headstock collaboration of Keith and Ronnie to the taciturn drum strokes of Charlie. It was the best example of rock hegemony since Led Zeppelin played Earl's Court in 1975. No really. Honest.

So I get home – all enthralled and high – and play my favourite Stones album Exile on Main Street. Although I haven't a clue what the lyrics of Tumbling Dice are about – really I don't – it's my favourite track on a quite brilliant album. The Stones did it on stage that night, so I want to hear the studio version. Being a sad and lonely hi-fi figure, I play it on my pure audio system. That's a Linn LP12 turntable (1983 vintage) with Naim amps of a similar age. Speakers are KEFs. I'm in heaven – I don't just hear it – I can see it all over again. I see Jagger moving, I see him playing to the audience. It's bliss. I could be in the Marquee Club in 1969.

Okay. Do any of you know the story of the Emperor's new clothes? No? As briefly as I can, then, it tells of an Emperor, not the sharpest blade in the drawer, but widely feared throughout the land, who is duped into buying a suit made of bugger-all in which to parade amongst his people. In fact, there are no clothes... but he is a dim-wit and his court and people are so in awe of him that they believe his every word. If the Emperor says he is wearing a beautiful suit of clothes, then he is. At the parade, however, one brave little lad exclaims "but he's got nothing on".

This is my point. For my girlfriend, I downloaded Exile on Main Street and then listened to it on a popular, well-known ‘quality' MP3 player. No names, no pack-drill. So. What's with all this download nonsense? It's the Emperor's new clothes; why doesn't somebody admit it sounds awful? Whatever happened to hi-fi... It stands for high fidelity, remember? This example – being able to compare my sonic and spiritual experience of listening to The Rolling Stones as they should be heard – and then listening to the squashed, ersatz muck that is accepted today made me realise that music is being disregarded in favour of vulgar transportable convenience. It came home to me.

Can you really listen to classic albums while you're on a plane or a train? Be the brave little lad that said "but he's got nothing on". Just be courageous – and say it's rubbish. Listening to MP3 – or any compressed music – is soulless.

When I played Exile on Main Street back on MP3, I never saw Jagger strut, pout, sway or posture in my mind. Not once.

It made an old man cry.

Andy Giles is one of British hi-fi's biggest personalities. A former journalist, he has strong industry ties and a long-standing PR business.