First, don’t call yourself an audiophile. That’s just a silly title.
All an audiophile is, is someone who is really into the high end audio scene.
The scene is not about pretense and appearances. It is about a high quality listening experience that cannot be achieved with standard consumer grade electronics.
I recommend going to www.audiogon.com.
This is a site where avid listeners can buy and sell this higher grade equipment.
The people who have to have the newest technology as it becomes available, often unload their old equipment here. That way, the average schlub like you and me can buy second hand, high quality equipment that won’t drain your bank account.
The high end audio scene is not something to just dive into headlong. It requires a lot of research and a lot of listening. Read a lot of reviews and go to some high end shops to listen to the equipment before you commit to an online purchase.
And yes vinyl does sound better than digital.