You know, it’s super easy to be exclusionary. One camp might argue there’s a $$$ associated with the entry point. Another might argue if you aren’t building anything you aren’t an audiophile, you are just a consumer.
Personally I no longer care to distinguish who I interact with along these lines, but if you ask me whose opinions I take seriously they share these traits:
- Not blinded by price tags either way
- Helps others find gear that meets their stated needs
- Encourages useful comparisons between gear
- Understands that we all come at this hobby for different reasons and goals and joy
But if you ask me who the absolute best audiophile is, it's the one who builds a killer sounding system for half the price of everyone else. 😁