Funny how streaming/digital still chases that analog benchmark.


Funny how manufacturers of streaming and digital gear continues to chase that elusive analog sound. I thought digital was better?

Before you all get your panties in a wad I enjoy both Digital and Analog but much rather listen to an analog source than digital.

So today I see  Innuos Introduces The PhoenixNET – A Network Switch For Audiophiles @ only $3500.00

Guess I do not see the point you can get superior sound for say $2500 or less with a decent turntable cartridge combo and phono stage. Hell Clear Audio has an all in one for $2500.

I just don’t get it and I do not care to either.
128x128skypunk
chakster,

I am well aware that it is possible to sell a record for a lots of money in February 2021. That is why I mentioned it may be time to sell it now. While there is still someone who wants to buy it. Of course, if you start a little business by buying and selling, the story is different. It may be lucrative, I guess. If you are only owning records and looking at them at home thinking how it was an investment, you may be fooling yourself. They are worth nothing (in monetary terms). You would need to pay someone to lug them to the junkyard, they are heavy. I am not even sure if they can, at least, be recycled. Unless you sell all those precious records, they are of perceived, but never materialized, monetary value only to you. To the rest of the world they are trash do be dealt with some day.

Check oregonpapa’s posts along similar lines on another thread (I think it is "Better Records thread"). He has what seems to be an enviable collection along the lines you are implying. He does not know what will happen to it some day. His descendants have no interest in it.

What can we do? Not much, progress marches on and we are left behind with our little fantasies.

Or, you can read mrbobm’s post above more than once. He made it very clear.

Even he decided to go digital...

Willie Nelson, Sister Bobbie - Who'll Buy My Memories (Digital video) - YouTube

Sadly, it seems it has never been released on an LP, only CDs...

Who’ll Buy My Memories? Vol. 1 (The IRS Tapes) | Discogs
Record collecting is a pursuit / hobby in itself that requires a different commitment and specialized knowledge.  I have two acquaintances who are record collectors who rarely play their collection, but enjoy their record collection just as much as those who purchase to play.
Like all hobbies, there will be peaks and valleys with respect to value.     
I have no horse in the sound quality wars. I find it remarkable that records sound as good as they do given the obsolete technology. 
As far as record collections being “investments” they are certainly emotional investments but not financial. When it’s our time the vast majority of us will have our record collections 
1.  Handed down and likely listened to rarely if ever sitting in boxes
2. Sold at estate sale for a fraction of their cost, or
3. sold to record shop for a fraction of their cost. 
I find collecting of anything, except rare cases, to be mainly emotional and OCD than trying to amass some perceived value
@Goopson...@Goopson...

" has2be,

It may be the age difference between us that makes your posts logically incomprehensible. It is my fault for trying to understand them.

Your choice of a CD player is impressive, but has2be a little inconvenient when going around town. Being younger, I mostly use earphones"


/////^^/////////////////^^^^^^

Well, Goopson. Perhaps you can’t comprehend because your reading retention is like digital. It purposely omits half the information....like this...
"Digital in the car, on the bike, on the trails....
To me it’s "best feature" is its portability."
You still can’t manage a logical and sound argument back at the context I provided ... insults don’t quite do that..right , goopson.... oh and so you don’t hurt your wrists..I’m not advocating headphones in the car...just on the bike and the trails....
So ...still waiting...is digital not been trying to sound more analog and that’s the bar set...
Please do tell ...logically of course....but I degress. ...your still arguing which is better based on ownership bias...not the context of what and who was and still is chasing who...

Here is something else your comprehension digitally glossed over....
" Digital has come a very long way, seriously."
I stand by that. It’s a fact. Digital these days is very good. In some ways exceptional. But an original pressing of a well recorded lp in the hands of someone who actually knows how to set up and get the music out of the grooves. ..sorry Gloopson. ... obviously you don’t have the ability or patience to do or comprehend. ..you obviously haven’t heard good playback with vinyl or tape for that matter to not get what I’m saying.....anyone who has , gets it immediately.
Now the argument of hassle , cost , maintenance and effort...those arguments have merits worthy of challenge....the context of what and who is trying to sound as good as the other can...no..not at all...it is just that....a chase...one that remarkably isn’t over....

@golfmd2
I agree with your post mostly.
The value should be the music itself.....once we go...it usually does become about something else....never understood owning unplayed sealed records though...