Funny how streaming/digital still chases that analog benchmark.

Why is MC calling people perverts when MC himself has no ears or a decent system that he can actually hear a difference in SQ between sources?
IMO, digital has left vinyl behind years ago. With hi res, dsd, MQA, and with the newer better dacs out there, digital has gotten much better.
There is no “reference” tt setup for $2500. A decent cartridge costs more than that. A good tonearm is $3000 minimum, and the tt itself is more. You can get a music hall tt with a grado mm cartridge using a built in phono preamp that will play records which will cost $1000-$1500, but it’s not going to sound that good, been there, done that. I also had a very nice tt setup that cost more tan a Toyota Corolla and still prefer digital.It’s also true that a good sounding dac is going to cost around $7000 and up.

@glupson

People outside of this very small group of "audiophiles" cannot care less for analog sound.

Yep. Yer right. Most listen to mp3's and have no clue about bitrate or codecs, etc. Cheap & convenient is what they want. Digital does fulfill that. Still doesn't change the fact that digital is and always has been chasing analog


@cakyol
 

Only the nostalgic oldies are chasing the old analog sound. People living in the 21st century are not

Indeed, and among those " nostalgic oldies " is a 40 yr old named Digital. FWIW, many of us sold or got rid of our albums for the new improved perfect sound forever. We wanted to believe it was better because it was so convenient & new.  Then in the 90's someone pulled out their albums and listened to it and began to question whether the digital format was really better. Then slowly we began to realize it really wasn't. My 20 yr old Dual rivaled my $2300 CDP. I bought many VG+-NM albums for ten cents apiece. Hardly ever paid more than $1. Fortunately I have 4K albums so I don't need anymore. But if what you say is true, WHY aren't the albums still $1 apiece? No, they start at $20. $8-10 is the lowest prices I've seen for used VG+. That is usually not the popular ones. They sell for $15 in 2021
& have for 4-5 yrs now. 

All that said, I still ordered a Streamer/Dac today. The reason is convenience. At this age I can foresee a day that may come sooner than I like which I will need the convenience of digital. And I still have & play my CDP because some good music never was cut on vinyl. And sometimes, I like the convenience. 
.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

@cakyol.....I've been listening to the over 9000 lp's dufus's got rid of for pennies in the eighties on a a kick ass system... 

Don't use the crap about digital recording like your the only one who knows....
I am very aware.....my ears...my ears....my ears...Did it sink in....want to make sure you heard it...in digital some of the information is dropped...
Oh. .but you must be one of those special people that can't hear it.....or won't. ...or thinks it's still natural sounding.....
The fact vinyl has been recorded digitally such as Dire Straights as an early example means sfa to the fact digital is still trying to be analog.....
I don't have to ask an engineer. ..your making assumptions. ..
Perhaps you should ask the engineer if he wants it to sound digital....just what is he attempting to do in his manipulation of those bits...
Another assumption on your part....the vintage of the vast majority of lp's I own...and why.. .. I use tubes in my pre...phono...and amp too...care to make more assumptions about those choices too... 

Let’s keep both, one for background every day music, workouts, cars, work, new music discoveries and music surfing, lazy listening..... another one for listening of favorite music in no rush, paired with glass of Blue Label, critical approach and best emotions.  Mig-29 is history now. SU-57 is new really.