I recently put together a nice 2.1 music only system ($3K USD range) and use streaming (Spotify HQ and Qobuz <I'm a beta tester in US>) as my source. I'm extremely happy with the results - the sound quality is amazing, everything I had hoped for, and impresses me more everytime I listen.
I keep seeing, especially on Reddit/Audiophile, many, many turntable setups feeding similarly nice or better equipment. I'm familiar with the science behind it, but curious as to the appeal. The arguments for seem to be an "organic" sound that many prefer. I'm curious, but not sure I want to invest several hundred more dollars on an appropriate rig, not to mention cost of albums. I'm not looking to challenge anyone's preferences, but am looking for a better understanding of the appeal?
For those who like listening to turntables on their main systems, why should I consider putting money into this? Can you help me understand why you like listening to records better than HQ streaming?
Thanks in advance for sharing your opinions.
You've has lots of posts telling you why you shouldn't bother with records and record players so I'll suggest why you might like the experience:
1) you listen to the music.
As many have mentioned, with File Based audio in particular there is a tendency to play music in the background and not really sit down and listen.
2) I've found I listened to albums, not just tracks and this gave a better perspective of the music a particular band performed.
3) there are lots of things to tinker with on a record player. You can swap cartridges and get different sound, spend hours making sure the tracking is just right. Disrupt the decor of the house trying different wall shelves to limit vibration effects. Adjust suspension. Men are compulsive tinkerers and records will help satisfy that part of your personality.
4) you get a few square centimeters of of flat surface in your home where nobody puts plants pots, or bits of tat they recently got given by friends or neighbors and one piece of equipment that doesn't get hidden in the dark recesses of a cupboard by your partner as she tells you 'Oh you don't use that any more so I thought I would tidy it away'.
5) record sleeves, I've held them for hours. You can't really hold a handful of pixels and even the high resolution images don't seem to convey the importance of the third recording engineers credentials like an album cover.
6) records and a record player might make you value your music more. You can't download another record should you happen to scratch it like you can if your computer decides to delete a file.
7) music piracy would probably not exist if the only format was records should that be a concern to you.
8) A record collection may be worth something as years go by. Despite having many MFSL and other 'audiophile' copies of many albums on file this approximately thirty thousand pounds worth of music isn't worth much more than the hard drive it exists on.
9) When I see a rack full of 'Hi End' digital equipment in someones home, given the dac tests on this site and my own experiences I tend to think 'a fool and his money are easily parted'. I don't think that for some reason when I see an expensive record player.
10) It could be argued, particularly for music recorded before the adoption of the digital mixing desk that the sounds recorded on to vinyl are a more honest representation of the sounds the musicians produced in the studio. With modern recording techniques you may as well just credit the recording engineer.
I don't have a record player any more. I don't miss it. I do miss the reel to reel I used to own.