Vinyl vs 24 bit downloads?

I'm guessing the answer is "depends on the mastering".

A good friend and denizen of these parts played me and another (ex) denizen Gimme Shelter, on LP, 24bit and 16 bit UPnP streams, using a maxed out LP12 (courtesy Cymbiosis' tender ministrations) and a horridly expensive Linn Klimax streamer.

He preferred the vinyl, I preferred the 24bit, and the other chap preferred the 16bit (go figure). 

The OP is comparing a modern digital recording transferred to vinyl. The SQ is likely to be poor whatever the format. Vinyl shines with traditional analogue recording. 16 or 24 bit download is likely to shine with good modern digital recordings, played through a Hugo of course. 

Oh, you are so 2014.  Hugo was last year.  2015 is Hugo TT.  only you can't play vinyl on it. I wonder if it will create the same buzz given its twice the price but the sound is claimed to be not changed ( maybe they mean the character, it's supposed to tick all the boxes that I whinged about......except i didn't figure on how much more expensive it would be).

Modern vinyl is disappointing in many cases.  I still find my Naim DAC XPS 2 edges out the vinyl.

Sounds like you need to invest in a better TT Briz?

I think it realy depends on the mastering if you should or shouldn't buy the high res download. In addition the black things have a certain attraction in sound over the high res stuff which is sometimes magic when listening to a great combo......

I personally don't find the attraction, balancing off against the comfort... So I am on hard disk.