Probably my most ridiculous vice is vintage hifi. I can tick all the boxes. Vintage, high end manufacturer, and I have all the right tubes. But you nailed why I see myself differently than I see those hipsters in Olympia. I don't think a $1200, fifty year old preamp adds anything to the world. I could go into any low end audio shop and get something that sounds really good for less. I could get an entire setup that sounds really good for less. It's fun for me, but that's it. If anyone is interested, I'm using a McIntosh MX110 tuner/preamp into a pair of McIntosh MC30s. When I say the "right" tubes I mean RCA black plate 6L6GCs and smooth plate Telefunken 12AX7s. I actually think I have a bit of a mix, and there are probably some generic GE tubes in there, too. I don't care quite enough to bother sorting out what I have and what is where. My turntable and speakers aren't vintage and really nothing special. Good but not much more than that.a $12k pourover machine with someone who genuinely thinks it's adding to the world.