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

@jollytinker 

"I haven't spent more money on the digital side of the system because I just don't believe it will change the sound significantly enough to justify the outlay."

This is where I am at too.  I have an NAD Masters M51 DAC (Stereophile thought it was A list) and I can't get it to sound as good as my analog section either through Tidal's masters, through hi resolution downloaded files, or through CD to the DAC.  It does sound great though. Maybe the NAD is not the best, but if it's a Stereophile Class A I wonder how much more I'd need to spend and I'm not confident that it would get me to the land of Oz. 

jperry, no problem.

I would not have tripped over your post if, instead of writing,

"We are all entitled to our opinions Geoff. I think if you are going to make a comment saying someone's system, or portions of it are inadequate, you should show what you have as a comparison."

you had written,

"We are all entitled to our opinions. I think if someone is going to make a comment....he should show what he has as a comparison."

cheerios

Thanks for the correction

@jbhiller 

That NAD sounds interesting - I hadn't heard of it.  I like the Hugo a lot (people say it sounds 'analog' lol) but it's a bit high maintenance because of its small size, so one day I'd like to get something more hefty like the NAD.  with modern conveniences like HDMI inputs... 

But on the topic here - I honestly don't care whether people like analog or digital better. To each his own, and if people get a high from going down the rabbit hole of computer audio, more power to 'em. I do think there's an objective "truth" I'm hearing, but I also have to recognize that what sounds good to people is a result of training and culturally informed tastes. I grew up listening to vinyl, and I never liked CDs from the time they first came out. so maybe i like that sound because I'm used to it, and the clicks and pops don't bother me. My friends in their 20's are more 'digital native' and they just seem comfortable with that sound, even though to me it feels compressed and lifeless. who knows... 

But what bugs me - and I see it in this thread - is the assumption that people like analog because of some deficiency, like they're hearing impaired, or out of step with history, or too rich and elitist for their own good. In other words, the argument against analog at some point turns into an ad hominem attack, instead of an actual (factual) debate. Why?  

I've ALWAYS known vinyl was better. Didn't you?  Yes even through the dark days...