I'll take the other side. Getting back into vinyl over the last 10 years has been by far my most rewarding experience as an audiophile. The you-are-there realism of my vintage Thorens 125II/SME 3009II Imp/Pickering XSV 3000 is stunning, jaw dropping. I marvel at it every day. My digital set up is dull dull dull by comparison.
In terms of hit and misses- to me that is part of the fun of this hobby. Sure there are disappointments but for every record that is a 'miss' there is a surprise 'hit' that comes from out of nowhere and sounds better than any of those (boring) audiophile staples you have to shell out $50 for. There are some fabulous sounding jazz records from the 50s and 60s and even the 70s that can be had for $10 from ebay in excellent or very good + condition. They often beat the pants off new releases-even so called audiophile reissues-in many cases.
The hunt is part of the fun and sure you have to take the bad with the good but it's the same with any other hobby worth persuing- just think of what die-hard sports fans have to endure.
Finally there is just the pure physical aspect of vinyl. From cartridge mounting to tube swapping in phono stages to record cleaning to that ever so satisfying click as the stylus settles into the groove. There is something that is so entirely visceral about playing vinyl that is lost in the streaming environment.
To me it is no contest. Gimme that black licorice.
In terms of hit and misses- to me that is part of the fun of this hobby. Sure there are disappointments but for every record that is a 'miss' there is a surprise 'hit' that comes from out of nowhere and sounds better than any of those (boring) audiophile staples you have to shell out $50 for. There are some fabulous sounding jazz records from the 50s and 60s and even the 70s that can be had for $10 from ebay in excellent or very good + condition. They often beat the pants off new releases-even so called audiophile reissues-in many cases.
The hunt is part of the fun and sure you have to take the bad with the good but it's the same with any other hobby worth persuing- just think of what die-hard sports fans have to endure.
Finally there is just the pure physical aspect of vinyl. From cartridge mounting to tube swapping in phono stages to record cleaning to that ever so satisfying click as the stylus settles into the groove. There is something that is so entirely visceral about playing vinyl that is lost in the streaming environment.
To me it is no contest. Gimme that black licorice.