@Trell: Obviously audio technology has progressed since the heyday of the turntable. My daughter is already well-versed with this modern technology - probably more so that I am - as she has Spotify & Pandora accounts and is a whiz at operating them. She also streams music from other online sources.
I think you're missing the point. It's not about the latest and greatest networking/streaming. It's about learning to use, appreciate, and experience our older technology, as well as the visceral experience of owning and handling the actual media and operating this older equipment - something important, IMO, that is sorely lacking from the latest and greatest technology.
As 3db stated above, like it or not, turntables have been experiencing a resurgence this past several years. Cassettes are also beginning to experiencing a resurgence. The younger generations are discovering this older technology and they want to appreciate the same audio experiences as we did during our younger years. I have read that some musicians today are releasing their music on vinyl as well as cassette tape, which is a strong indicator of the popularity of these older formats. As an example, my soon to be 16 yr old nephew expressed interest in cassettes, specifically, he wanted a Walkman. I am sure it's due to the TV Series "Stranger Things," as one of the main characters used one in the show. I purchased one for him and the belt promptly broke. I ordered another and explained to him that if he was interested in this older audio gear, it would behoove him to be able to effect basic repairs. So he and I replaced the belt and he's now back in business, and he's fired-up, I might add. For Christmas I will give him a proper tape deck. I also gave him a 13" CRT TV and a VHS deck, which really fired him up. He's already purchased about 20 VHS tapes/movies for under a dollar each. He's getting the original Star Wars Trilogy on VHS for his birthday, which he's wanted for a while now.
There's also the experience of going to some of these new record stores and flipping through hundreds of records to find that gem you've been looking for. I've already taken my daughter to several of these stores and she enjoys it. She's already found a few records she wanted, which I purchased for her. I also spent some time with her this past week teaching her how to operate my old Dual 1225, which she took to rather quickly. She thought it was really cool.
There's also the fact that with my old Yamaha CR-240 receiver that I want to give her, she can hook up a turntable and a WiiM, which will allow her to have the best of both worlds - streaming music from her computer or iPad via wi-fi and listening to an old school turntable. What's not to like about that?
Additionally, I wouldn't be surprised at all to learn that reel to reel decks are the next to experience this resurgence. It's cool to be able to properly operate all this equipment and OWN THE PHYSICAL MEDIA.
Hope this sheds some light on the matter.
