Would I be wasting my money to get a turntable?

Vinyl isn't the money pit that many would have you believe, depending on your wants/needs.  For many people, myself included, the fact that a rock being dragged through a piece of plastic can sound so amazing is kind of magical. There is a ritual to playing a record that appeals to me (and again, many others) that cannot be replicated by pushing a play button or tapping an ipad. Of course, I love the range of options and choices I have with streaming but it doesn't connect with me in the same way as my records do. Awesome for music in my car, at my desk at work, turned up so I can hear it while I bop around the house, etc, but when I sit down in the old sweet spot I don't even consider putting on a streaming source. I've said it before, black licorice is the best candy. Don't agree? No problem! It doesn't affect my enjoyment one whit. 

When I started down this road I hadn't heard the term "audiophile" and wouldn't hear it for years (decades?). All I knew was that I spent many pleasurable hours lying on the floor in front of a pair of my parents' Thorens turntable connected to a Marantz integrated amp driving a pair of Sansui speakers (you know, the ones with the grills that looked like carved wood). Of course, back then I had no clue whatsoever that these were "high quality" audio brands, but I believe I would have still caught the bug if it was a Realistic rack system.

Long story short - get a turntable. Get a few of your favorite records. If you don't feel like you made the right decision, you can sell the lot for a little less than you paid and call it a day. The rabbit hole is only as big as we indivually make it.

So much cypherin' goin' on. I need a nap. I'll play records. I'll get a snack. I'll read a book (starting Gormenghast all over again Fuchsia's attic system is class D    atta girl).

not if you like records or have a bunch

@grislybutter 

That is a pretty accurate diagram!!  It’s not a shot at the analog group nor digital.  It’s been said a million times, to get really good analog to match a well sorted dig rig, it costs $$.

It’s about goals I think, do you want a top shelf analog rig that sounds really good, or something good that one can still enjoy (not shooting for best SQ) > because it WILL cost you.

Being I’m in a similar situation deciding whether to pursue this, in my limited time and experience (TT) thus far building an analog rig, it takes a lot of work and setup to even come close to dig and can see how accurate the statement regarding analog cost is 100% true.

i have hardly any vinyl, starting from basically scratch, and have a learned a ton thus far.  Purchased a RCM, new albums, learning about pressings etc…I’m still in early stages of trying diff components out and am still kinda on the fence whether or not to do this as I can see first hand what it takes => $$

However it’s really more about the physical aspect, the interaction and ownership of music.  SQ alone will cost a lot, so it’s a balance of getting good sound that’s enjoyable (good enough without an insane outlay).  At least I think that’s a fairly accurate perspective.  SQ, cost, goals etc…are all very subjective so one has to find their own “balance” and perspective. 

Unless you just want to play with a turntable, the answer is yes, you’d be wasting your money. Sound quality is no better and on most recordings, it worse.

There’s no amount of money one can spend to make a poorly recorded album sound like a great one.