Vinyl***What If***

I would agree with the "buy an entry level Project or Rega and have some fun!" take...If you are a music person and can stretch to $500-$1,000 for a TT/cartridge, you may enjoy the analog experience. If you are fully committed to digital, great. If you have $1,000 to spend and like to hit garage sales/thrift store/used record stores the vinyl part of this endeavor can be real fun and help connect you to the music on an even deeper level than digital. TRY IT! and ignore the folks who imply spending $1,500 + is needed to get the vinyl effect. 

I have two nieces who wanted to try records, and both (independently) bought the U-Turn turntable.  They are both very happy with their choice.  As they are both just out of school and have limited means it was a good financial choice. I also sent them each a vintage amp to get started.  Don’t worry about the naysayers; start low on your budget, and if you catch the fever you just keep upgrading. It’s all about the music. 

Also, hit the flea markets and garage sales.  Great surprises await, and you get to meet some fellow music lovers. 

@jkreidler, there is nothing about CD or digital that requires one to skip around or cut songs short. It is an option. So too is having digital music droning on in the background.

The thing is, there is nothing wrong with either of those things if that's what you like to do. (I don't).

I tend to listen to whole CDs straight through......if they were produced as cohesive 'albums' and not just a random collection of songs....in which case I often shuffle them for a change.

To me one of the great things about digital, all sound quality preferences aside, is the ability to occasionally skip a song altogether. There are a few bands, The Police come to mind, who produce great albums that are punctuated by one or even sometimes two really awful songs that I can hardly stand to listen to. The song "Mother" on Synchronicity and "Behind My Camel" on Zenyatta Mondatta are two prime examples. Also, "Les Boys" on Dire Strait's Making Movies. Really nice not to have to listen to those without having to get up and lift a tone arm.