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

I bought my first decent system in the Army in 1969/70.  Sansui integrated amp and tuner, Dual 1229 turntable and Sansui Sp-100 speakers with an Akai reel to reel.

I was so happy with that system after using cheap grind o matic stuff.  All my friends were impressed when I returned and went to college.  

Now I have 3.6 Maggies, MC501 amps with tube Mac C220, etc.  I love my current system, but not ant happier than with my first one.

Marginal coat, marginal gain.   Happiness is not related to money, but rather the joy you receive from your music.

Thinking you are better because of a very small marginal difference in sound is a fool’s errand.

It really is all about the music.

One can acquire good sound at many price points. Thus, changing gear, upgrading, etc.  All the hallmarks of an audiophile, can occur at many different financial levels.

As one moves through life, a successful professional often moves through new tax brackets.  Does that change their appreciation of music/gear, I think not.

It just changes their options.  Same is true for cars, homes, etc.  Level of wealth is a red herring as it is not an indicator of interest in audio, although it influences choices available to you.

While I would agree that decent audio today requires a middle class income, I remember buying decent gear when a Sgt in the Army.  I prioritized my spending towards audio.

One does not need to be wealthy in order to accumulate gear and appreciate decent sound.

Much is how you prioritize your spending as well as income level.

Yes, it is easy to spend substantial funds in order to develop a system that  pleases you.  I would hold out Elizabeth as an audiophile who has a terrific system and is by no means rich by American standards.

I will share some perspective of “rich”.  I have a friend, retired professor at a small school.  He immigrated from Vietnam.  Je told me that viewed himself as rich because he could go into most any restaurant and buy a meal.  I immediately understood as I remember when I could not.

Lets not confuse the insane prices of some gear with being an audiophile.  I was a sports car nut when I drove a $400 Austin Healey Sprite.  I didn’t change many years later when I bought a 6 speed Mercedes sports car.  The same us true of my audio gear.