But I am interested in the current vinyl vs digital discussion (has digital/streaming earned its place compared to vinyl, does it hold its own) so I can start exploring in a good direction.
IMO, Digital vs analog has not really advanced since the early 2000's. Instead of CD players, now it is streaming that mostly represents digital. However, IMO, trying to stream your own library is quite difficult. Because of this, many choose to rent their music via Qubuz, etc. because their have an interface that works. For me, this is a deal breaker. I have no desire to spend $20 a month for music that I already have. The music sounds good when I get it to play but the CD often sounds better and the vinyl blows it outta the water. If you are going to try streaming your own library, I'd suggest a streamer which has its own hard drives (NAS). Otherwise there are too many pieces in the chain that have to communicate.
I'm old enough to have lived through a lot of format changes and it usually more about the Mfg's making $$$ from a new product, rather than a great sonic leap forward. Its usually about convenience. And streaming is very convenient. You don't even have to buy music, just rent theirs for $20 mo. Now. What will it be 5-10 yrs down the road? I remember CATV when it was new. It was cheap too.....and convenient. Now its $200 mo with 350 channels of pure crap to watch. And the wheel goes round & round. The more that things change, the more they stay the same.
IMO, Digital vs analog has not really advanced since the early 2000's. Instead of CD players, now it is streaming that mostly represents digital. However, IMO, trying to stream your own library is quite difficult. Because of this, many choose to rent their music via Qubuz, etc. because their have an interface that works. For me, this is a deal breaker. I have no desire to spend $20 a month for music that I already have. The music sounds good when I get it to play but the CD often sounds better and the vinyl blows it outta the water. If you are going to try streaming your own library, I'd suggest a streamer which has its own hard drives (NAS). Otherwise there are too many pieces in the chain that have to communicate.
I'm old enough to have lived through a lot of format changes and it usually more about the Mfg's making $$$ from a new product, rather than a great sonic leap forward. Its usually about convenience. And streaming is very convenient. You don't even have to buy music, just rent theirs for $20 mo. Now. What will it be 5-10 yrs down the road? I remember CATV when it was new. It was cheap too.....and convenient. Now its $200 mo with 350 channels of pure crap to watch. And the wheel goes round & round. The more that things change, the more they stay the same.