When and how did you, if at all, realize vinyl is better?

When I got into audio, digital playback was just a gleam in an engineer's eye. All we had was vinyl, reel-to-reel and FM. (And live music.) Really.

I've stayed with the LP ever since - while also adding digital into the system. I simply don't see it as a "what's best?" question. I enjoy all of it.

Only after spending some bucks on Wadia 781i and Naim CDS3 and tons of efforts/$$ hunting down boxes of  Japanese mini-LP CDs.  Lesson learned the hard way, but I soo hated warped LPs that just refused to hear the obvious!...

I would not say vinyl is better but it can be especially with the digital loudness wars of the last 20 years having ruined a lot of good music. Japanese vinyl is usually excellent and that is all I have ever boiught - the rest can be disappointing and even terrible - it is easy to hear the difference good vinyl over bad vinyl. The 33 LP is also a big compromise. LP stands for long play and squashing all that music on to one LP is a huge compromise. It is easy to hear the difference between a good 12" 45 rpm single and a regular track on a 33 LP album.

Some obscure stuff on vinyl is wonderful for the musicianship - much not available on digital. I have an album by RASTUS which is a Tower of Power like band that never made it big. The young drummer "Smokey" is incredible and easily could have become a Dennis Chambers had he not drifted into obscurity and died young too. If you can get your hands on RASTUS - they could actually keep up with TOP. Rarities like RASTUS make vinyl fun and interesting but to say it is better than digital is to ignore all the great digital recordings and all the very bad vinyl out there - so not a fair statement.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9hFlyLNI1Hk

I am about to find out. See my previous post on recommendations for an equipment stand:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/equipment-stand

Long story short, after 33 years I have just purchased a TT (Michell Engineering GyroDec, SME IV and Clearaudio Maestro V2 Ebony). First 3 MoFi LPs will be delivered today and the cartridge on Thursday. So, with luck should have the system up and running at the weekend. I will report back.

I never though vinyl was better.  I always thought it sounded different.  

And since 90% of my music listening if off vinyl, I guess this is a difference that I prefer.  I can make more of an emotional connection to the music faster than with digital - its gets my toes tapping sooner.  And tunes linger in my head longer after listening to vinyl.

And yet there are still some albums that I prefer digital with.  Although its just 10% of the time.