I would add that physical media has its own charms beyond simply the art (which I love). Removing vinyl from the sleeve, finding the perfect spot to drop the ne

I would add that physical media has its own charms beyond simply the art (which I love). Removing vinyl from the sleeve, finding the perfect spot to drop the needle, flipping the record- this is all very pleasing if you enjoy physical objects that are engineered yet beautiful. I have reel-to-reel, minidisc, digital audio tape, and cassette in addition to CD and vinyl. I find reel-to-reel hardware fascinating. Well-built machines are heavy, with tactile switches and buttons that are very pleasing. I can get better audio quality from a minidisc player the size of a deck of cards - but with r-to-r you get this lovely machine spinning about, counting time while VU meters dance. Obviously the hardware is part of the experience for me. FWIW - cassette can actually sound fantastic. They often did not, but the capability is there. The Sony Walkman’s I still enjoy are delightful to listen to and operate. Just for fun I bought one of Taylor Swift’s new releases on cassette (yes, she sells cassettes) and was a terrific audio experience.