I think it's about the overall experience: tactile, "old fashioned", and functional.
Pressing play on an iPhone is a thoughtless experience. Lifting the needle or grabbing a knob is more engaging.
I think it's meaningful to surround yourself with objects that remind you who you are, and your ability to shape your world. I do not get this sense with Spotify or Apple Music or Youtube. I still use those services but there's a sense of detachment, like listening to an song in a store.
Another aspect might be just being different than his dad. I got my first hi-fi system in the early 80s. Today, my "home stereo" is an old cell phone and a bluetooth audio adapter board that powers a pair of bookshelf speakers.