I figured that I was going to have to turn my audiophile credentials in when I started truly enjoying listening sessions with 128kbs, 256kbs and 300-400kbs FLAC, much less digital vs. analog. I don't know when the 'crossover' occurred and digital got better, but I would hazard in the last eight years or so. Before then, I listened almost exclusively to LP.
I used to think my audiophile credentials were in jeopardy, too, when I preferred Redbook playback to SACD. I got in some flame throwing arguments with young turks on Audio Asylum about that one. I didn't throw the flames, they did, particularly one young Asian chick from Australia who was a weird know-it-all.
I found SACD annoying, after the first blush of analog-like presentations.
I subsequently heard of others who also were annoyed, possible because of the carrier, and the analog-like stuff was mostly from noise shaping algorithms chosen to sound that way, but irritating to some listeners. I also found out about the bit rate falling off above 8 Khz on SACD. The high upper midrange to highs were'nt actually bit-better than Redbook. Ultra high frequencies were there, but at very low bit rate, even though Redbook would usually sharply filter at 20 khz.
I also wondered about 45 rpm vinyls. I have many 45's, several 'audiophile', and I found them to be sharper and less smooth sounding than 33 rpm albeit perhaps a bit more detailed. Of course, the vinyl mavens rave about their 45 re-issues like they are nectar of the gods. I thought, that if I listened to 45's, I would have to re-equalize my system.
I don't really 'care' that much any more, because the goal is to enjoy the system, and enjoyable it is whatever I put into it.
Maybe being able to enjoy 256kbs stuff is a blessing because that seems to be a prevailing medium, rather than a curse to my audio ego.
I wonder how many audiophiles would even admit they could listen to such dreck without polluting the purity of their audio souls.
I have been interested in getting a few more philes over here to listen to see if they agree, or if my hearing is just shot.