Is it all worth it?

Uber, I go back and forth.  I can't tell you how many times I pick up a record and am really disappointed by the quality of the pressing.  Many times I've gone to the streamed version of the same recording and it sounds 1000 times better and there's none of the rigmarole, ticks, pops, etc.  I can skip songs easily, change quickly to something else if the mood hits, etc.  Times like that I want to get rid of the turntables completely. 

I just took my JVC QL-Y66F in to have it serviced.  After I got it back, I checked to make sure the cartridge was still aligned properly and saw that it was a little off.  After a bit of fussing around and putting on a record, no sound out of the left channel!  I've checked everything I can, no idea what happened.  The service shop where I take it is closed for now, so it's a paperweight for now.  Luckily I have a spare table, LOL.

But yeah, when it's a nice pressing and everything is working right, and the "magic" happens, it does make it all worth it.

I used to think because I had to be more alert and concentrated to play records it meant I was paying more attention to the music.
Not sure as that's the case.
In fact sometimes it can have opposite effect when I know a side is getting near the end and I have to move my ass to lift the needle. Yeah I know get a Little Fwend!
Of course if on the SL-10 or QL-A7 that's not a worry.

But wait, WTH am I doing with all these TT? And ten plus cartridges??
I have one streamer, one DAC.

I picked a hell of a week to quit glue sniffing!

All in, no regrets--ever. 

It is all good.......and not so good at times. But I enjoy it the same.

Funny about a year ago my partner built a reference level phono stage.  He brought it over to my house to have a listen.  The funny part is that neither of us owned a turntable to test the thing out.  I then borrow a TT from a friend of mine who buys old vintage equipment at estate sales.  He gave me a basic TT and off we went.  We had on e record to play and it was fantastic.  Out of curiosity my partner looked at the TT to see who manufactured it.  Turns out it says JC Penny on it.  I called my friend and he told me that CEC make them for various companies back in the day.  But it sounded fantastic.  We took the phono stage to VPI a few months back and they loved the sound also.  I still only own two or three records to play but the sound is fantastic.

Happy Listening