[JohnBooty]

Everything you say is true and it's clear that you understand these issues a lot better than Neil Young himself appears to.

That's not sarcasm. Superior components such as a better power supply, pre-amp, and DAC can make a big difference. Something like the Audioquest Dragonfly or some of Schiit's low-end gear can make a difference that can be amazing in some instances.

But in every interview I've ever seen, Neil Young focuses on the high resolution audio files which do not make a difference that human beings can hear. He has also, in general, been saying kooky things about digital audio for decades now, ever since CDs became popular.