A Beginner's Guide to Audiophile

Understanding such concepts can be useful, especially for those of us without a high end shop nearby to try equipment. Many of us must rely on reviews and recommendations to chart a path forward. Understanding the rationale others use to describe what they’re hearing seems fundamental. 

Is there an Audiophile for dummies book out yet? That would be a fun and educational way to start.

Try this book. It's exactly what you're looking for.

I'm sending you to the conservatory - listen and remember well how real acoustic instruments and the general atmosphere sound (you can write down impressions on paper) ... and then visit the store with headphones - turn it on and compare ...

only your ears will give an answer - what to buy and what not

"Audiophile" is not a term that denotes any particular level of knowledge or any particular level of knowledge about this hobby. There really are no standards for many of the terms that you refer to -i.e warm for example is a term that refers to a quality of audio presentation that is more relaxed and mellow as compared to "in your face", blaring, etc. The real key to being an audiophile is finding audio components that produce the sounds that please you. You will never get official recognition that you have become an "audiophile" -it is something we self appoint ourselves as becoming an "audiophile" and what the various musical qualities you name above actually mean or refer to is somewhat subject to each one in this hobby.

    Find equipment that you like and enjoy, be prepared to repeatedly spend more that you normally would like to spend to improve your system and the sound you enjoy and you have then become and "AUDIOPHILE" - welcome!