Personality

mylogic

Surely a CD ripped and loaded onto a server should not sound better.

Oh, but it can. Consider that a CD is playing in essentially real time. (I say "essentially" because many players sample at 4X, 8X, or even higher.) But a properly ripped CD using software such as EAC can re-read sections of a disc over and over again until it reads it perfectly. The software can identify any sectors of the disc where there were errors.

When I ripped my CDs to HD years ago, I was surprised at the number of discs that required extended reads to get accurate rips. Till, I'd still describe any difference between a CD and its ripped file as usually subtle.

Lloyd Price - Personality (1959)

@1bitsoul  My hipster younger relation has been buying vinyl for a few years now. I asked them how it was going only to be informed that the records rarely get played as they prefer the convenience of streaming. 

it raises the question whether next generations would be sharing the same experiences, or whether they would prioritise the convenience of 'pushing buttons' above the process of physical media.

@noromance - do they look at the vinyl album cover and/or read the liner notes/booklet while streaming the music on the vinyl they buy? 

many buying vinyl do not even own a turntable...but the LP's look good, next to the unread full bookcases...