I really don't want to sully this fine thread with back and forth, but I'll say this, and then shut up. After 10 minutes of considering posting this, I feel it is necessary, and that perhaps my opinion is shared by others.
AK's motto is "All Audio, No Attitude." Yes?? Yes.
I cannot fathom why you continue to get a free pass for outrageous claims, snarky asides, mile-wide generalizations, and outright rudeness.
What is most tragic about this is the knowledge you have. Just an ounce of humility, or simple manners, and perhaps we could all learn from you.
Years, dude. Years I have held my tongue at your behavior, which is NOT in the spirit of AK. I wonder how many people you've ran off with your posts.
If you can make the implication that most of the nice folk here have some sort of allergy to new gear, or are ignorant, or whatever it is you claimed, then I can make the claim that you hold the distinction as being the single most contentious person on these boards.
Not all who have vintage gear, or mid-fi gear, are afraid to see what the new stuff has for in store for us. Hell, I'm even considering selling those mammoth McIntosh's and trying some of this amazing stuff that the market has. What you said isn't a fact, it's an opinion, and one that, if presented differently, I might even somewhat agree with.
Congrats, Botty. You get to be the first person I place on my ignore list. Hate to do it, but it is better than letting my bp go higher than it already is.
My most sincere apologies for this aside on an otherwise wonderful, entertaining and stimulating thread.