Purist or practicalist
I start almost every day with music. My morning ritual involves listening to instrumental music albums by my favorite artists, especially those whose work had always inspired me. Since I'm creating music myself and have a default preference toward a quality sound, some might think that I listen to music on some posh equipment. Wrong. My current equipment for music listening, at least the one that I use the most often, consists of a six-year-old smartphone and a pair of Bluetooth headphones worth abt. 60$. Sacrilege? Perhaps, and perhaps not.
Although I'm one of those for whom music is a sacred thing and a meaning of life, I can't say that I'm a die-hard audiophile. Here I'm referring to those old-school fanatics who have specially designed rooms for enjoying music, full of expensive record players, reel-to-reel players, amps and preamps, etc. Plus a cushy armchair with a built-in stand for headphones and a drink. First of all, I can't afford this, especially since the equipment that I'm using in my creative work isn't exactly cheap. Also, as much as I appreciate those who are passionate about quality sound, the abovementioned approach is not the most practical one at the same time.
Many studies have been written on the subject of the quality of specific audio devices and the media itself. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that you cannot enjoy music in relatively modest conditions. The perpetual question is: what sounds better? Is the sound of vinyl superior to a CD or other modern digital media? I think it's more gratifying to speak about a "different sound". Vinyl and tape have a characteristic sound quality although they're technically inferior types of media to more modern ones. The latter also has several practical benefits, starting from price, availability, durability, longevity, and needed equipment.
The way how a typical person is listening to music nowadays has drastically changed, though as usual, not necessarily for the better. A record player was once commonplace in almost every household. Buying and collecting LP albums was also something quite ordinary. These days, most people listen to music "on the fly" from some streaming service or another. Listening to albums has sadly become a thing of the past, at least for the majority.
Over the years, I've built a solid collection of music albums, mostly featuring instrumental music. My current library counts abt. 200 CDs. I have also inherited a well-preserved record collection from my parents and grandparents, although I'm yet to invest in a modern turntable. To be perfectly honest - I keep the originals neatly on the shelf and I listen to digital copies. I have converted all my CDs to FLAC and AAC. Here you can see another advantage of digital formats: a simpler and more effective catalogizing, converting, and storing process. Once you build a quality digital archive, you can easily find what you need when you need it.
If I could choose, I would probably choose vinyl, however. Not only for its sound quality but also a ritual of "quality music listening". Furthermore, the hunt for old records by visiting antique dealers and specialized shops has charms on its own, although this can also be quite costly. For me, this would be a necessity, as I primarily listen to instrumental music released before 2k. Of course, vinyl has a glorious comeback these days, though mostly for various hipster outfits whose music doesn't interest me in the slightest.
I could very much compare traditional listening to music with classic photography involving films, chemicals, dark rooms, etc. There is no doubt that digital photography has several advantages and benefits. But in most cases, you can't beat the charm and appeal of the old-school approach.