I guess I'll be the lone dissenter. I'm currently using Goldmund transport and DAC in about the $20K range, not counting platforms, power cords, and a short list of tweaks. Though the best redbook combo I've heard, they don't hold up to the best that vinyl can produce. I agree Newbee, it is about the music, and the medium that gets me closer to the illusion of the performance is vinyl. Does all vinyl out perform CD? Of course, not. I'm referring to the best that CD has to offer versus the best from vinyl. I certainly enjoy CD through my digital gear, but I find that I'm much more emotionally connected to the music when listening to great vinyl.
Perhaps it is the level of vinyl equipment that others and I use which has convinced us that vinyl still holds the upper hand. Maybe it is just a fondness for the ritual that surrounds vinyl playback or the personal involvement and effort that is required to extract the best from the equipment. Possibly it is all of the above. In any case, I believe that if you look around, you're likely to see that there more than a few of us who still prefer the best that vinyl has to offer. In the end, enjoy the music.
Perhaps it is the level of vinyl equipment that others and I use which has convinced us that vinyl still holds the upper hand. Maybe it is just a fondness for the ritual that surrounds vinyl playback or the personal involvement and effort that is required to extract the best from the equipment. Possibly it is all of the above. In any case, I believe that if you look around, you're likely to see that there more than a few of us who still prefer the best that vinyl has to offer. In the end, enjoy the music.