Primarily a vinyl system with some CD capability (no streaming, no server, not never).
The ratio of (Value Of Vinyl Collection) divided by (Value of HiFi) is still > 5, so my values are still balanced towards the music, not the gear.
I have some wonderfully weird, rare, obscure and amazing vinyl - and I love it. CD's sound pretty good too through this rig, but I am getting an Audio Note L4 player soon (because it sounds more like vinyl).
I frequently get asked "why no streaming, why no server?" (usually followed by "surely it's so much more convenient?"). While these are well meaning, such statements are muddle-headed. In these fast-paced days (to which I am ill-suited) we all seem so hell-bent on sacrificing quality at the altar of "convenience". I happen to enjoy the ritual of (a) locating a record, (b) taking it out the sleeve, (c) cleaning it, (d) putting it on the deck, (e) carefully putting the needle in the groove and [finally] (f) enjoying it. [then getting off my big fat arse and turning the record over].
As I see it, the artist [usually] took great care in making the best record possible and then laboring intensely to create beautiful cover art (sometimes stunningly good).
Here's proof: go to discogs.com and see the full-sized, first UK pressing, fully-opened cover art of "Warrior On The Edge Of Time" by Hawkwind, or "Space Hymns" by Ramases (in a huge and jaw-dropping 6-panel poster sleeve).
Thus, playing a record is like a mini-compact between myself and the artist. They (usually) respect the record buyer and I try to respect their effort in return. Files and streaming breaks this compact so I refuse such "convenience" on moral grounds (this is aside from the fact that most digital sounds harsh and clinical).
