Vinyl sounds better (shots fired)

@russbutton

I don’t doubt your PC/DAC combo is quite good, but so would be a turntable of similar cost.

Although the loudspeakers make a big difference to the character of the sound, it is the source that makes the most difference to the sound quality.

@russbutton "That modest PC/DAC combo I spoke about is actually quite good and illustrates the unfair advantages that digital has over vinyl"

It doesn’t illustrate anything about the sound quality differences of one versus the other, it simply conveniently makes a statement about the cost that you are comfortable with for your source. No harm with that everybody needs to makes the choice they are comfortable with, but beyond that the point doesn’t support anything regarding sound

It’s simple, when I have time to enjoy a drink and a puff, I listen to my vinyl. When I’m getting ready for my son’s hockey game or having some people over, I stream. Both are great and completely different. I’m glad I have both at my disposal! 

@newton_john @facten

My discussion is really centered on value.  The PC/DAC combo Iʻm talking about is something generic.  DAC has come a long ways and you get very good reproduction with modestly priced units.  The differences between a decent $500 DAC and your $5000 wonder are not $4500 worth, unless youʻve got $4500 and nothing else to do with it.

Streamers are just miniPC boards running someoneʻs custom front end on top of Linux.  None of those mega-buck streamers are running their own custom O/S.  Bits is bits, but thatʻs a completely different discussion.

The point here is that for well under $1000, a PC/DAC combo can be very, very good.  You can easily drop $10,000 on a turntable/tonearm/cartridge/phono preamp combo and youʻre still having to deal with all of inherent imperfections of vinyl.  Vinyl is NOT a good value.
 
And letʻs not forget that the majority of newly issued recordings are offered in vinyl, which is a signifcant downside.
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@mickeyb "It’s simple, when I have time to enjoy a drink and a puff, I listen to my vinyl."

- "like a penny rolling up the wall inside"?