I promise to use headphones the next time I start them on the Vita (when I get one this Fall) maybe  the less than stellar PSP speakers didn´t do the soundtrack justice ?

Which game is the best ? I heard that the third is supposed to be better than the rest.

I agree with that, but you should really play them in order. The third thrashes the rest however.

Highly disagree.  Aside from possibly the hub worlds in Spyro 2 which seemed to go for minimalistic background music, I think that all of the first 3 games are littered with "catchy tunes"; which also help to set the tone for the level, making them integral to the overall experience.

I disagree. Spyro wouldn't be Spyro if it wasn't for the music. 

But as you said, it's that difference I guess. Spyro was the first game I ever played, and it wasn't for another 8 or so years that I played my first Nintendo game (aside from on handhelds, but I never had the sound on for that). So those tunes bring back the nostalgia in a way other games with arguably better soundtracks can. 

Something which happened this past summer, infact.

Meh all of those games u listed and spyro are from my childhood, but I still think the music from spyro is just as good if not better then SMB. Not only that the voice acting is not to bad and the rhynoc grunts add to the game.