Is it actually getting...WORSE?

Last time I was over there I was disgusted with the nouveau vinyl collectors. Some are complete knobs who go out and buy a VPI Prime Turntable, every MFSL titles they can buy, and if you watch one of them closely enough, every month they're buying a new $3K cartridge. Wish I could find the guy and one like him. I enjoy following someone who has been into vinyl a couple years and is begging to be answered about upgrading his Lyra Delos to a Koetsu for no plausible reason. I recall the dude was running it through a Rogue integrated with a Schiit Mani preamp, and of course he owned all those wood block from Cardas to protect his Cardas cables. My guess is he'll be selling whatever gear he owns within 4 years.

Then there's the nouveau buck who bought a Audio Technica 1200 clone, but he's running a Ortolan Bronze on it with an AVR passed down, and 10 year old Kef floor standers. He makes up for his equipment by studying all the sites Archmego and Audio Science Review, then regurgitates his reading back to Belson to tell everyone they're being scammed by the major rags. He gets pissed and thinks everyone there is an industry insider because most people ignore him due to his Captain Obvious schtick. He's camped out for Record Store Day the last 4 events and still has not opened the vinyl. His collection is huge on Johnny Mathis LPs (Red Eye he points out) and Streisand because it's what they have at Goodwill. If Hoffmeister ever replies to one of his comments he'll stalk him and devise a way to be a Gort, and then he can show his true power.

More like 97% for me. I know what a Technics SL1200 is because I covet one. I have a SL-DD22 now with an Audio-Technica P-mount cartridge (no idea what model) connected to a Pyle PP999 preamp (still have the box it came in) for $15 on eBay fed to a Yamaha RX-V373 A/V receiver I picked up in 2012. Front Left/Right speakers are Advent Indoor/Outdoor I picked up because they sounded good and came with the mounts. The other ones, center L/R rear, are KLH and a Velodyne sub. I do have a Monster surge protector/power conditioner that I picked up on closeout for under $70. And no, I don't have any ungodly expensive interconnects because I'm not an idiot.

Binged a bit on vinyl yesterday and it was fun, but streaming is where it's at for me since I don't have the money that the Huffy forum hardcores seem to have. If I did it would go to paying down my debt. I've found more new and interesting music with Google Play Music in the last five years than the prior five buying physical media. And I don't give a shit what the SHiTEs say, it sounds fine. Listening to Fred Neil on Gene Clark radio on the Play:5 Sonos right now. I hope to have the good sense to quit if and when this stops being fun.