Does Age Matter?

I don't know why you're doing this, we already have several digital vs vinyl threads going and they all read about the same.

If you want to know what's selling in the US, the RIAA reports it's about 95% digital (including streaming, which is about 80%) and 5% vinyl as of 2019.

RIAA-2019-Year-End-Music-Industry-Revenue-Report.pdf

I realized last night, when talking to the fellow who is buying my old Sota that it is the ritual of playing a record that is special. Loading a file is not.

I can sit down with my tablet and my Roon and Qobuz subscriptions, start with something I know or just start listening to new-to-me albums.  I can browse or search and get  recommendations from there.  When I hear something I like, I set the tablet down and listen.  I then get more recommendations based on the fact that I liked that album.  I can switch choices in seconds, till I have the perfect album for that moment. 

I can listen to albums I might want to hear once or twice but don't want to own.  I have access to millions of albums.  No more bringing home 3 or 4 records and finding out I don't like any of them.

I will say, I don't get the ritual thing.  Sliding a piece of plastic out of a cardboard sleeve and brushing the dust off of it isn't much of a ritual to me.  I can think of many better rituals to use to prepare for a listening session if someone needs that.  I'm able to enjoy music without a little bit of fussing before hand, but if others enjoy that, more power to you. 

I don't expect anyone else to share my preferences, and I don't think mine are better than anyone else's.  Enjoy the music in whatever way works for you!

chakster, It's great that you enjoy record collecting, but that's not the only way to enjoy music with excellent sound.  I really find it hard to understand people who feel there is only one way to do things, their way.  

We live in a time with micro brews of every conceivable variety, and now micro distilleries.  We have restaurants selling the food of just about every nation on earth in medium sized cities, and yet people still push the idea that there's only one right way to listen to music.  

You are absolutely right that there's only one way for you.  When you say that there's only one way for everyone else, you're just wrong.