I disagree with the premise that an experience is inherently more intentional because it's more laborious.
When the last Tool album came out, there was an mp3 redemption code within the box of the physical album that I had preordered. I ended up using the mp3s to listen to the album for the first time (primarily because I have a nicer setup for my computer's audio than any CD player I have lying around), but it was still an "intentional" experience: I poured myself a drink, fired up ProjectM alongside the music player to give myself some graphical visualizations to look at while the album played (to keep myself from getting distracted), and routed the audio through a USB-DAC into my ATH-M50's. So that was 90 minutes of focused, uninterrupted listening, and it was done digitally.
Intentional space is a result of, well...intention. The potential of a medium to allow for less-focused listening does not inherently cheapen that medium, much in the same way that the added labor of having to go open up my vinyl player and drop the needle onto a record does not inherently mean that I'm going to pay more attention to it once it starts going than if I had just clicked a button on an app somewhere.
I think you miss me a little here. You can BE intentional with whatever approach you want. Most of my critical listening today is via Apple Music, my phone, an outboard DAC, and some fancy Sennheisers. But when I use that setup, I'm being just as intentional as I would be with vinyl.
However, a physical playback medium demands a certain degree of intentionality that isn't required if you're just Hey-Siri-ing some Tool (which I also do).
Great point. I do think physical product (especially vinyl) adds a three-dimensional, tangible, aspect to intentional listening. Vinyl has the act of placing the record on the turntable, flipping it over, looking through the artwork (which may be involved), etc. It enhances the experience even more than just staring at an MP3 playback would.
When the last Tool album came out, there was an mp3 redemption code within the box of the physical album that I had preordered. I ended up using the mp3s to listen to the album for the first time (primarily because I have a nicer setup for my computer's audio than any CD player I have lying around), but it was still an "intentional" experience: I poured myself a drink, fired up ProjectM alongside the music player to give myself some graphical visualizations to look at while the album played (to keep myself from getting distracted), and routed the audio through a USB-DAC into my ATH-M50's. So that was 90 minutes of focused, uninterrupted listening, and it was done digitally.
Intentional space is a result of, well...intention. The potential of a medium to allow for less-focused listening does not inherently cheapen that medium, much in the same way that the added labor of having to go open up my vinyl player and drop the needle onto a record does not inherently mean that I'm going to pay more attention to it once it starts going than if I had just clicked a button on an app somewhere.