Is it all worth it?


Do you ever get the feeling when you start to question whether playing records is really worth it all?
You know with everything involved with great record playback.
The setup, the cleaning regime, the $1000 plus cartridges that start their finite lifespan as soon as stylus first touches vinyl and spirals into less and less value with every play.
All the tweaks involved, cables, mats, isolation etc.
Then the media itself with it's inevitable disapointments.

Don't you just like to push a couple buttons on your phone app and be listening to great sound with a worldwide catalogue at your fingertips.

Or is it that when all of it lines up and the sounds are just sublime, then yes you sit back with a wry smile and say...

Yep, it's all worth it!
128x128uberwaltz
I retired my Thornes turntable with SME tonarm 4 years ago. Bought a LUMIN D1 5 years ago. Once Tidal added MQA the sound quality was amazing. Just upgraded to the LUMIN T2 - sound is even better. My access to music is amazing - finding new artists all the time. 
Just my 2 cents

Happy Listening
I play mostly vinyl. But after a few (or more) adult beverages, I will switch to a digital source. Of course finding new music through streaming services is an amazing advantage 
all mine were hand washed in the sink, and vacuumed.

 the sound fine, some pops, crackles, whatever, its fine, back in the 80's we didn't have all this stuff to clean our records.

 i record all the ones  i dont have to CD, and theres some rotation pops, crackles, here and there, i actually LOVE that sound, as the relaxed tone/sound is on the cd when i playback.

it is worth it.

dont worry, just play your records, and clean the best you can, NOT rocket science, let the millionaires, use ultrasonic cleaning with that special 200$ fluid, etc etc.

play your records, and enjoy !

that is all.

happy listening.
To me definitely not worth it. Even with extensive cleaning the clicks and plops always came back. Give me the convenience of CDs and streaming anytime even at the cost of some SQ. 
just picked up a  pair of KT150's cheap on ebay,,pluged them into my Jadis Defy7, running 4 KT988's/+ the 2 KT150's in one channel vs the 6 KT88's other channel,,,Yeah its all worth it, 
HUGE sonic gain. with the pair of 150's in the right channel vs the wimpy left/Kt88's. 
The 150 is musical nirvana vs the lack luster 88's. 
got another 10 arriving this week.
Monsta size gain in dynamic fidelity. 
hope that answers your Q.