An Audiophile is Anyone Who Loves Audio Regardless of Monetary Status. Agree?

@douglas_schroeder 

+ 1

Do we actually believe that people spending more than $4k cannot be audiophiles? Or people spending more than $10k are all fools? Have no knowledge or any understanding of how "Hi-Fi" should sound. Lock those fools away, don't talk to them, don't listen, they are fools anyway. Besides that, we have all heard equipment costing in excess of $100k, and none of it sounded right.... How stupid they are.... (of course, we conveniently preclude the option that all of the above is stupid as well) Actually....we could go even further, establishing rules, let's say up to $ 2k for the complete high-end set up -> absolute audiophile, up to $3k still audiophile, but becomes questionable, the limit is at $4k, above that, ban them from the audiophile community.... 

Luckily, I really don't care too much how other's "judge" me, I spend many hours enjoying music the way I like it, in a room I've build with my own two hands, with equipment in it which I have worked for (I'm certainly not rich, so yeah, I have to save money for the equipment I have). Have enjoyed music for more that half a century now, and hope I get another 20-30 years to continue enjoying it...cheers

Given the above, an experienced audiophile will be able to have a $ 2k set up outperform a $10 k set up, if he can treat the room acoustically, optimize speaker placement, optimize the listening position and so on, when compared to the $10k set up installed by the average music lover.. However, the same individual will usually also be able to have the $10k set up outperform the $ 2k set up after optimizing the variables involved. The same applies when moving up the price range, baring in mind that the law of diminishing returns always applies. 

@n80

;)  ;)    +1

Most music lovers are not audiophiles, but the vast majority of audiophiles love music. Lot's of people attending live performances don't really care too much how it sounds...(if they would, they wouldn't be going...). Lot's of people going to bars/disco's don't really care about the sound....(if they would, they wouldn't be going...) yet if no music was played, nobody would go...
However, an audiophile has acquired a certain knowledge, can indicate when sound doesn't sound good, knows how to tune equipment, knows how to tune the room, all in all it is quite complicated to achieve the maximum possible with certain equipment in a certain environment. Being able to make acoustic corrections to the listening environment, being able to define speaker placement and so on. In fact, given the above, there will be many more music lovers than audiophiles around. It's just that there is no actual acknowledgement on when an individual qualifies as an audiophile. Other grades like engineer or doctor are all easier, as such grades are given after successful completion of the related studies. Lot's of self proclaimed "audiophiles" would benefit if they could have an experienced audiophile auditing their equipment and the listening environment. Adjustments could be made, costing next to nothing, but improving the overall sound significantly. What I'm saying is that the classification "audiophile" has nothing to do with the expense of his/her equipment at home, but has everything to do with the acquired knowledge and experience of that individual. 

@vinny55 

@han_n who says they arent? Show me where it says that?

Not sure what is unclear to you?

@vinny55 

I said indeed that most music lovers are not audiophiles. But then again, to me an audiophile is someone who has extensive knowledge of all related aspects as I mentioned above. But, as there is no clear standard or qualification requirement, no graduation, anybody may call him- or herself an audiophile. ;) To me most music lovers can't really interpret or understand room acoustic analysis, which is a basic requirement to be able to make the needed adjustments. Most music lovers can't really understand why the sound is not what they want. So they will follow the "trial and error" method, buying equipment as their budget allows, hoping that one day they find the solution. (most likely they find frustration).  However, I do realize that for others, probably including yourself, once you like to listen music, you are an audiophile. I'm also fine with that. It still does not relate to any value of the equipment used.