i completely get preferring analog media, so if it’s about the sound characteristics (that ‘warmth’), having physical media, etc fair enough. but if the goal of an audiophile is to get the highest quality reproduction of a recording wouldn’t CDs or FLACs be your best bet?
maybe this only really applies for newer music, perhaps digital releases for music recorded analogue are just digitized vinyl or reel to reel recordings but for music produced in DAWs the highest quality version available for that release would surely be either a CD or a digital FLAC release
Not sure I’m on board with forcing myself to not skip tracks I don’t want to hear. That said, I’ve found a few blues and jazz stations, most of them out of France, that I can listen to for hours. Why the French are broadcasting so much good music I prefer as opposed to Mississippi, or Chicago, I’ve no idea.
I may be the only one, but I have found myself having some tracks grow on me through repeated listening. A track I did not like on an album suddenly becomes my favorite after a while. I’m not saying I skip tracks, but I like to give an album from an artist I like and respect a couple of runs, especially when the artist changes their style or does something unexpected. If I like them, I usually give it a go. Also, if I get into a new music genre, it may take some getting used to. I also find listening to internet radio a good way to force myself to discover new artists or musical styles, rather than just playing my old favorites over and over again. Part of the fun is finding new favorites.