Apples and oranges

In a perfect world we would be talking about the same thing, music! Yet we persist in talking about audio. I guess that is what internet audiophiles do. Most of my close friends love music and could care less about 'audio' let alone talking about it. For myself, when called upon to comment on my stuff, I usually demur to any discussion about equipment and refocus on music.

So I agree re apples v oranges, except when that term is applied to audio I always smell some aggrandizement coming, usually at someone else's expense. 

Onhwy61, I agree! A listener's degree of knowledge and sophistication are what makes a discussion interesting and an open mind can make them productive. The problem inherent with this hobby is that the interest level amongst audiophiles is so divergent its hard to find two people on the same wave length. Too many false gods, I think.  The sonic value (as well as the financial value) of components being one of them. Sadly I think we have become a 'plug in' community.