Why vinyl?

What I'm wondering, is new music mastered from an analog source or is it digitally mastered and then pressed on Vinyl?

Wouldn't this greatly affect the sound.

I'm not overly technical and to tell you the truth don't know if I could tell the difference.

For example, I ordered a 200gram copy of Nirvana MTV Unplugged. Pressed by Simply Vinyl UK, which I've found out has (had) been accused of using CDs as masters, and it sounds not too great. Really compressed.

My analog rig sucks right now, so I'll wait to make final jugdement, but I assumed since it was an all acoustic version of Nirvana, it would sound great. The CD is really good.

Also, I started listening to music on Vinyl (34 years old) and kinda skipped the whole CD period. I've never really owned a CD player. Now, I just use a Macbook, iTunes and an Airport Express into a tube DAC... now that is convenience..

Great for parties/guests.

For the CDs I do have, I just use a 1st generation Sony Playstation that I bought for $35.

I figure if I really like the MP3/Aiff version, I'll buy the LP and use analog for "critical" listening.

Records are fun to collect and looking for them is a great way to kill and afternoon.

I agree with the packaging and fun factor of collecting vinyl, I was just in London and picked up this funk compilation album "FUNK DROPS: Breaks, Nuggets and Rarities from the Vaults of Atlantic, Atco, Reprise and Warner Bros 1968-1974" (I wasn't even born yet) and it comes with these liner notes with a brief history of the songs and the musicians...very cool.

I also just got a tube preamp (first one, tube anything) and hooked up my crappy turntable and it sounds awesome... I was just A/B-ing the gear with some friends.. and I'm beginning to see what what people on Audiogon mean about soundstaging, speakers disappearing and "holographic" images.

Very happy with my $40 turntable today.... can't wait to get a proper power amp that is a good impedance match.

Played a 1969 live John Mayall record too.. and it seems fine musicians playing acoustic instruments sound so much better on vinyl.... I don't think it matters as much when I'm playing JT (Justin Timberlake) but I think I saw Sexyback on LP.... (just kidding... sorta)