Welcome Eric, I am first a music lover and believe it's the Message of the music that is most important not the media it is stored on or the equipment it is played on. Above all I seek that emotional connection to what was the inspiration behind the creative process. If it is genuine I can listen to it on a radio station or from Muzak playing in an elevator or in the supermarket and still become inspired.
The first record player I owned was a Barbie and Ken made by Emenee Toys. Right now I have the Rachel on order along with a ZP3 phono preamp and a ZLC line conditioner. I want to return to my Vinyl collection I have amassed over 60 years, I'll be 68 this September.
I am a great lover of live performances, being in the moment at these performances and when everything comes together between the musicians being raptured by these performances.
Higher end audiophile equipment can approach the reproduction of some of these moments but mostly it is a mere reflection of a live performance in a highly controlled environment with all the technical production techniques used to highlight and emphasize the artists capabilities. It is a different thing.
I think music composed and recorded just to demonstrate what high fidelity can do is some of the most boring music I have ever listened to.
My Tastes are eclectic. Sun Ra, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, next to Psychcobilly, No Wave and Punk. I grew up working in the record Business with a richness that spoiled me. I had all genres at my fingertips, Salsa, Afro Cuban, Doo-Wop, R&B, Pop Music, I worked in the South Bronx when Hip Hop was born out of the mix of master toasters and dj's spinning plugged into the Lamp Posts in the projects. I got into artist and repertoire from the associations I built in the retail record business. Just when independent music thrived and became a renaissance for DIY recording and production.
I have a video hobby where I record live music, poetry and performances on the street, in the back rooms and clubs of different independent artists performing their thing all recorded in genuine Lo-Fi Sound and Vision just with an iPhone.
It was a conscientious rejection of polished recording and more cinéma vérité in style approaching something from the beats auteur infant terrible Robert Frank. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, I was influenced by Scott B and Beth B. They were among the most significant proponents of the punk bohemia, no-budget style of underground punk filmmaking.
But I don't make movies I just was inspired to appropriate their style to capture performances by the unrenowned on the fly.
It is a modest Channel, one I do not promote, its just there and I share with the Artists I capture on Facebook.
Bicycle Joe Lo-Fi Sound and Vision
https://www.youtube.com/c/BicycleJoeTomasello/videos