Presently, I'm enjoying a new tape I just made, and recalling a story about a well heeled audiophile who could afford just about anything he wanted. This was some time ago when audiophiles were bad mouthing computer audio.
Him and his club got together every week. If I remember correctly, he had "Joule Electra" amp and pre; at that time he was comparing his vinyl collection he had recently archived to the PC library, to direct from the TT. Once he discovered that he couldn't tell the difference between playing a record and listening to the computer playback, he quit spinning vinyl; instead, he selected the evening listening session from the PC library, and settled back into his listening chair to enjoy.
At the next club meeting; "Well John, how did your audition with the XYZ cartridge go"? Rather than tell everyone he'd been listening to computer playback, and had not taken the time to audition "XYZ" cartridge, he faked it.
I'm listening to the reel that I selected, and recorded from the PC library; it's so much easier than the old way of running back and forth from the TT to the deck. I don't think I can tell the difference between CD and LP, much less the difference between spinning a record and hearing it from the TT direct. while most of what was selected is vinyl, there are also some CD's in the mix.
Just recently I posted a thread asking if others could tell the difference between TT direct, and PC playback; they answered they couldn't, and neither can I.
Sometime ago, we went round and round on the PC forum about the best way to archive LP's; and "Stereophile" had articles on the subject, plus, they even selected the best computer cards for interfacing the transition from LP to PC library.
There is absolutely no doubt, that if done right, you can not distinguish between listening to a record from your PC or TT.
BTW, appreciate recommendations for blank tape.
Enjoy the music.