Mike Inez and Mike Starr (RIP) played bass that growled. In FLAC, the opening bass slide of "Would?" has subsonic texture. In MP3, it becomes a muddy thud.
: Listening to this set in a lossless format like FLAC is highly recommended to capture the "bleakly disorienting vibe" and layered vocal harmonies that define the band. Audiophiles frequently note that digital compression can be "devastating" to Alice in Chains' dynamic range, making lossless files or original CDs superior to standard streaming. The Essential Alice in Chains 2 Disc Set -FLAC-
Are you comparing this to the box set, or are you specifically looking for the best sounding version of a particular song? The Essential Alice in Chains - AllMusic Mike Inez and Mike Starr (RIP) played bass that growled