Is there any point to an "entry level" vinyl playback system?
Is there any point to an "entry level" vinyl playback system? I recently ran ran across someone asking a this question, and it got me thinking... In a world where "entry level" digital playback is so damn good and so accessible, why would anyone go for an entry level vinyl playback system, which is both lower absolute quality and often significantly more expensive. Let's start with a cost comparison: Streaming services range from free to about $20/month. Generally you get what you pay for in this arena, but even the free services are of reasonable quality and have catalog's consisting of millions of songs these days. The highest quality services, such as Tidal and Qobuz, cost a bit less than one new record per month. Records range from about $3 for less desirable examples at used record stores, if you happen to have one in your town, to upwards of $100. On average you can expect to pay $20-$35 for a new record at Target, Walmart, or Amazon. Streaming mus...