Vinyl vs Streaming

The transformation from analog being superior, to digital equality, and now supremacy has been going on for twenty year (seriously for 20 years... you can argue for much longer... but it was not close back then).

I’m not sure when equality was reached... but I would say in the last five years. It has not occurred up and down the investment level at the same time. Some important qualifiers. You have to be comparing the same kind of house sound. The goals of different equipment makers are different... so, you can easily prefer one over another because of their design goals. But assuming you know what you are doing, at most price points, in general, you can assemble an equivalent or better digital end for about the same price at most levels of investment. 

Currently I have a very good analog and digital end... each cost about the same at $45K. Each time I think that vinyl would sound better... I pull one out... then to check I’ll find the same recording on Qobuz and I find it sounds as good and sometimes better. No surface noise on the digital. I have have friends with less expensive system and better system... so it is not just at the level of my system... that’s just an example. 

What your analog or digital end sounds like is completely the result of your component choices.. not of the media. Although vinyl has surface noise and is dependent on the pressing number from the master that pressed your copy. But the analogy / digital better is over... except with some old die hards that are romantically attached or like some old recordings not available in the millions available in streaming is over. 

You can see my systems under my user ID in virtual systems. 

@kevemaher I like my albums a lot.  But there are times while I work I cannot get up to change the record to the next side.  I don't have auto-lift on my current Sansui record player.  So sometimes Streaming helps with with that.  And I feel at the same time I am not abusing my record or my turntable.  I also like SiriusXM and listen to a lot of music on that.  

Lastly, I have a Qobuz subscription and Roon.  Roon has been pretty decent at mixing music and finding new music.'

I wanted to give you a slight twist on your perspective which I understand and appreciate.

PS: Rent vs own - I get that as well.  But we are where we are.  You will own nothing and be happy.  :P

I've got a streamer but rarely use it; I much prefer my LPs and CDs or watching live concerts on YouTube. 

@jay73 I get exactly what you mean. Although vinyl is a richer experience... I use the analogy of enjoying excellent frozen yogurt vs tasting real ice cream... streaming is just so much more convenient. I'm listening to my "Straight Ahead Jazz" playlist that contains over 250 tracks, shuffled on Qobuz. I've done a couple of things to optimize the sound to make it more analog, less digital sounding. I can listen for hours

These days, I only spin vinyl on Sundays. There's the whole ritual of selection, brushing each side prior to play, placing turntable weight, cueing up and then settling in. Then it's up again to remove, replace and do the same thing again. Is there a superior sound? Yes, but sometimes I question whether it's worth the hassle for marginal improvement, trading off convenience. 

There are all the other challenges with vinyl: surface noise, cracks and skips. That last part just burns me up! I cannot for the life of me, figure out how I can take a newly pressed re-issue. treat it with utmost care, and still develop a "scratch"?!

I'll end it with this. According to many reviews - professional and user testimonials - Linear Tube Audio's Aero DAC comes extremely close to producing that vinyl effect many of us crave. That's one of my next upgrades. Then I might only play records once a month.

@ctlesq 

Certainly streaming is more convenient. Back in the good ol' days one listened to the radio all day. 

I listen this way also from time to time.

Listening as you described is not critical listening. it is simply listening to music as background.

You can purchase an aftermarket  tonearm lifter if not having an auto lifter is a burden. I use one on my Technics Sl-1200G and am now in the process of fitting one for an outboard tonearm on that table.. You will still need to get up to change the LP..