When and how did you, if at all, realize vinyl is better?

Thanks for the correction

@jbhiller 

That NAD sounds interesting - I hadn't heard of it.  I like the Hugo a lot (people say it sounds 'analog' lol) but it's a bit high maintenance because of its small size, so one day I'd like to get something more hefty like the NAD.  with modern conveniences like HDMI inputs... 

But on the topic here - I honestly don't care whether people like analog or digital better. To each his own, and if people get a high from going down the rabbit hole of computer audio, more power to 'em. I do think there's an objective "truth" I'm hearing, but I also have to recognize that what sounds good to people is a result of training and culturally informed tastes. I grew up listening to vinyl, and I never liked CDs from the time they first came out. so maybe i like that sound because I'm used to it, and the clicks and pops don't bother me. My friends in their 20's are more 'digital native' and they just seem comfortable with that sound, even though to me it feels compressed and lifeless. who knows... 

But what bugs me - and I see it in this thread - is the assumption that people like analog because of some deficiency, like they're hearing impaired, or out of step with history, or too rich and elitist for their own good. In other words, the argument against analog at some point turns into an ad hominem attack, instead of an actual (factual) debate. Why?  

I've ALWAYS known vinyl was better. Didn't you?  Yes even through the dark days...

Jollytinker

Don’t know if you read it but if you can get a copy of the latest Stereophile you might want to read the first paragraph of Analog Corner by Michael Fremer to see just how heated this debate between analog and digital can get.

To answer your "why" I would only say there is nothing rational that could remotely answer that, as there is no clear answer for the political division in our country other than one simple thing to my mind, we have a tendency to talk past each other rather than to each other.

Looking for a digital solution that won't drop the sound quality drastically from my vinyl setup but listening to the LPs last night I am simply mesmerized by the sound quality- the soundstage, the flow of the music, the character of the sound.  I play a CD and it sounds un-natural and like someone is putting on the brakes after notes- no flow at all- stop start stop start....
I'm interested in the Sony ES server but from what I have read it uses some upscaling engine. That seems like processing / coloration although the times I have heard it I have liked it.  I still believe it will not sound as good as playing an LP though- but a trade off for convenience.