The problem with streaming

 Streaming is for lazy people.

This is a ridiculous comment to make, even more absurd to be repeated three times.  As though deliberately making something more difficult on one's self is a sign of being industrious.  And flipping a record isn't quite the same as an hour of Orange Theory.  Perhaps if you powered your TT with a pedal-cycle.  

That's not an attack on analog.  I have over 2000 records and an even larger CD/DVD-Audio/SACD/BD collection. There's nothing wrong with physical media.

Streaming can be frustrating in that typically very little provenance information is provided. But that is not true in all of digital - you can sort through all the masterings and pressings you want just like analog and get similar results. 

Digital requires skills that don't equate to analog.  So many audiophiles use analog logic that just doesn't apply, and then assume that digital isn't as good.  It takes a totally different skill set.  

Besides, the number of times I have to reboot Roon or my Auralic Aries to keep the music flowing can sometimes be similar to flipping vinyl.  Lazy indeed. 

As of last week, I have two close friends who are using dedicated Dell laptops as servers (Linux) with high end/quality DACs with high end/quality USB connection.  The media are CDs of theirs (about 3,000+ each of them) downloading them to thumbdrives using EAC.   The sound is spectacular and they retain ownership of the media and accompanying booklets.   They (and I) am not interested in streaming most of my music.  I've already stated why previously.   If it weren't for the time loss and complicated filing of 7,000+ CDs that I have, I would join them.   Plus, I have organized drawer filing for CDs (and 28,000 LPs).

After reading all of the comments on this thread, I decided to dive into the streaming world. I bought an Audio Quest Dragonfly Cobalt with a nice cord and I'm using my laptop with Qobuz and Audirvana.

I have to say that I'm blown away with the sonics while streaming! About 70% of what I play sounds better than my vinyl. Not a ton better but there's a noticeable improvement.

I still love my vinyl. The 30% of my vinyl that sounds better than what I've been able to find streaming gives me a sense of pride. I'll be upgrading my cartridge next to try and improve my analog setup. Streaming doesn't give me the joy of playing, holding and looking at the special pressings of my albums.

Someday I'll buy a real DAC and I know the sonics will improve even more. 

Good for you, and yes, the sonics will continue to improve as you improve your streaming setup. Sound quality potential with streaming will amaze!

OP,

Congratulations. Once you get a taste, it is easy to start realizing the possibilities. I used laptops and PCs for a long time… my moment was when I bought my first stand alone streamer (Aurlic Aries G2).

It only gets better from where you are. There are DACs of better quality and nearly any stand alone streamer can provide better sound than a laptop. It opens a whole new world.