Streaming Is To Audio What Red Plastic Cups Are To Wine

I don’t do and have never done vinyl, but I have heard top tier vinyl and in that comparison it was better than the “equivalent” digital source.  The comparison was in a local shop over a decade ago on a $300,000+ system. 
 

I think that the actual result from a purely sonics perspective is very dependent on the system as both can be amazing. The tactile interaction with vinyl media (and even to a much lessor degree with CDs) can add to the experience.  A lot of our listening experience is physiological so for some the vinyl experience could truly make the experience better. Some have had that experience and then as their experience with digital improved their joy in the vinyl journey was overcome by the convenience of digital. 

I’m in my late 50s. I grew up listening to vinyl. Went through cassettes and then to CDs. Then onto streaming. Now back to vinyl. Now with the type of system I could only dream of having as a kid. Vinyl sounds sooo good. But man, with a good DAC and great interconnects, Qobuz streaming sounds sooo good. Sad for any of you one dimensional types that can’t fully enjoy both. Your loss!

I’m also in my late 50’s.   I had a decade or so  hiatus from vinyl and got back in a few years ago.   Fortunately I kept my records plus I now have a bunch of my Dad’s records and a few crates of 45s from the 60’s through the 90’s 

I just traded up and got another Sota turntable.   My girlfriend and I spun dozens of records Sunday,  it was fun.   She also pulled up some of her favorite songs on my streamer and they sounded great too.   My digital front end is pretty decent  but honestly some of my LPs definitely sound better than their CD or stream version. 

Agree with RJDuncan ,  I love all media types but sometimes theres nothing like a great LP.  

Streaming, CDs, vinyl records, and shellac records all have their place.  All of them sound good on my system although vinyl sounds a bit better.  A lot depends on what is available on each format.  I have about 2,000 CDs, about 750 vinyl records, and about 4,000 shellac records.  I listen to mostly jazz, classical, acoustic blues, and some varieties of rock.  The streaming services have limited choices for jazz and classical, and what they have for jazz is often a poor recording.  I often have no choice, but to listed to a CD or a record.  On the other hand, sometimes I find something very useful from a streaming service that I don't already have.  For example, I am missing some of Beethoven's Quartets played by the Vegh Quartet, and I just found both the 1950's recordings, and the 1970's recordings online.  I would not want to give up any of these formats because they are all useful to me.

We lost power and internet a few weeks ago.   I have a generator and a whole house surge protector so I was listening to records, CDs and FM while my neighbors had no lights or heat.    That's the beauty of physical media , it's yours.... you own it.