How rare is an audiophile

Audiophile,  Music Lover, To-may-to, To-ma-to.  If we add up all the manufacturers of high end equipment,  all the retailers, all the magazines,  all the global audio shows, all the speciality accessory business, and think about the number of people it takes to keep that juggernaut moving forward?  I would suggest it's a very big number?

Because of A. I. very soon virtual room acoustic through headphone or real room acoustic with speakers will make obsolete products review in a way the headphone you use in a Smyth realizer matter less than the Smyth realizer itself...

Dr. Choueri BACCH filters dac is already perfect virtual room acoustic ...

This will be made affordable soon to the masses...

A.I. assisted dac will terminated audiophilia, which was centered around electronics engineering and consumerism more than around acoustic and homemade experiments anyway...Most people not retired had no time for that... I begun my audiophile journey REALLY after my retirement... Before that i dreamed about buying ready made costly solutions as most people did..

And A. I. acoustic assisted designing, virtual for headphone or in real time with speakers will make speakers brand almost obsolete as we know them now with audiophile obsession for this brand or this other one, this obsession will became less meaningful ...Because A. I. assisted program will become the source of S. Q. more than specific component as it was before A. I.

Love of Music is here to stay...Love of specific material components will disapear or became a rare collectors mania...

I was an audiophile and in the obligation to be one, because i wanted a TOP sound and music experience under 1000 bucks and i could not afford costly audio high end components ... I succeeded with my peanuts cost controlled acoustic room but i worked very hard non stop for a year EACH DAY to tune 100 resonators and take time for material acoustic treatment ... Who could pay a designed room from a pro acoustician around 100,000 bucks ? After the lost of my house 10 months ago, i was depressed, but i succeeded a second time with headphone this time and a six months listening non stop experiments around the chosen headphone...

Now my audiophile research is terminated, i listen music without being bothered by acoustic evident limitation as in my room and even slightly better with my headphone ...( Because so good they were the Mission Cyrus never go under 50 hertz keeping power, extension and more depth in bass register, a thing my headphone did it easily now, i felt organ bass note with my body and feet )

Young music lovers would not be in the obligation to do homemade acoustic as i was , they will ask an assistant A. I. to do it in no time... Most of the times virtual room and for others speakers real room...But it will be way less costly with headphones and as good as with speakers...

Then Forums will be more about music and not as today about electronics, cables, brand name and sometimes and more rarely about acoustic, because acoustic is hard to figure out by ears etc ... All material component will be heavily assisted, controlled and monitored by A. I. in real time...

It will be the dawn of audiophiles and their extinction and the rise of music lovers numbers...Because it will be more easy to create soundfield with , imaging, soundstage and perfect holography at will and as we wanted them to be...

True audiophiles for me were people who are not mere passive consumers of audio components only... It is people who thought about their room and components and modify them in a way or in another...With no limit of money, people are music lover not audiophile anymore ...

A few % of audiophiles are brand name obsessed people whose hobby was to change parts regularly... I am not an audiophile in this category... i dont want to collect headphones for example, i only bought 10 because i was always disappointed before i  stumble on the right one , i never listened to the 9 others  after that ,only to the last one i learned how to optimize and the only one who can be optimized and upgraded to the top ...

250,000 audiophiles globally sounds like a very low number.  No wonder high end audio equipments are so expensive!!! 😀

I recall that on a YouTube clip from Paul McGowen of PS Audio in the last couple of years, he said something like that there were maybe 250,000 audiophiles globally.

Someone mentioned that audiophiles should spend more time procreating.  True, however, two of my three current best friends are single men in their 60s (hetero) who are audiophiles and listen to music daily and often. as much as time permits (not retired).  I don't have set work hours so I listen nightly from 12 to 2 am, get up at 9 am to begin the day.  Weekends I sneak in several more hours.  Sometimes I edit and master my recordings (about 200+) of local chamber and choral groups.  

@mahler123 Generally, you are correct.  The president and founder (deceased) Dr. Braun (head of thoracic surgery Kaiser, cantor and a fine orchestral violist) of the Jewish Music Commission (new classical and Jewish ethnic oriented music grants and archives) had a 60's Marantz receiver and bookshelf speakers.  Half a dozen cantors I know are thrilled to share music in my home for hours, none of them have audiophile equipment in the least (one was a former vocalist for 100s of Disney cartoons).  Other members of my choirs (probably numbering over 100 over 50 years) are/were not audiophiles either  My sister who is a local opera quality vocalist and members of the Viklarbo Chamber orchestra have nominal audio (cheap) audio gear.  I guess it's only me.  I just happen to know several dozen Los Angeles area audiophiles of which a couple are physicians and are also my best friends.

@fleschler 

  I tend to ask patients when I’ve seen them a few times what their interests are.

That may not be a common thing with PCPs, as we are all so rushed these days

@mahler123  Well, I have 7 living audiophile friends.  I asked 3 of them today if they ever discussed music or audiophilia with their physicians (and myself included that's 4).  None of us discussed music or audiophilia with our physicians except one who wen to an audiologist (for ear wax).  Oh, I remember I did 51 years ago when I was 16 when I had tinnitus (due to severe earwax buildup) that it disturbed my music performance and listening_.  

HiIFI+ last year said this: "The percentage of the population under the age of 42, but old enough to be interested in audio is 43%." Those older are considered more inclined towards audio. The increasing population growth results in, "in financial terms the total market is about 3X what it was." >

https://hifiplus.com/articles/changing-demographics-critical-to-audio-marketing/

EXTREMELY conservative estimates peg the number at 150,00 (based on "hard" data that doesn't take into account all the headphone systems & more.

Younger audio enthusiasts are into headphone rigs.  Who can blame them.  Not everybody's going to have tens of thousands for stereo stuff.  When I went looking into headphones I realized the interest was by younger guys on youtube rather than old guy magazines.  I don't think interest has declined but insane pricing was never sustainable.  

i bet about 1:10000  in the world ,, less in development country and more in modern  country

@sagur80 unfortunately, I do suffer from the audiophile afflictions you mentioned. Being an engineer, i cant help but analyze my system for its weakest link or to think about what my next move should be to improve the sound of the music i love so much.  I love family and music (in that order), but i also love the systems analysis, reading The Absolute Sound, Stereophile, Audiogon discussion form topics, and looking (more like hunting) for the next upgrade. One of my most favorite things to do is to wake up ~4am on the weekend, go upstairs and sit back and listen to music before the rest of my world wakes up. 
It’s all those things that make me wonder (and the reason for my original post) how rare we are as i have zero acquaintances who share this wonderful hobby/obsession. 

@ezstreams In no way attempting to diminish your sincere intent as displayed in your opening post. Possibly, your definition of "audiophile" is not in the strictest form as we have grown accustomed to expect. You appear to be a "music lover" and "lover of family" more than anything else. Nothing wrong there whatsoever.

For now , count yourself lucky in many respects. Not fixating yet over past or future upgrades, cable materials and science mania, acoustic measurement graph reports, , power cord pandemonium , warm side of neutral/plainly neutral/cool side of neutral debates, suggestions of sibilance, system synergy or not etc etc. 

Once you go down this wonderful and weird rabbit hole, there is no going back. 

Assuming someone who pays $100-$150 for an Ultra Disc One Step from Mofi or UHQR from Acoustic Sounds is an audiophile (I know there are some collectors and speculators in those groups), the number is significant enough for them to make the investments. 30,000 copies of Aja are planned at $150 per pop. I think 40K of Thriller were produced on US One Steps.

Audiophile is a self-described/inflicted term. Some don't listen to vinyl. In the US I'd guess, less than a million, more than 500K. 

An associated question might be, how rare is an Audiophile who is also a Videophile? I was intrigued/invested as an Audiophile long before incorporating video in the mix. The custom home that we now live in has both an optimized audio room and a separate home theater room. My wife and I enjoy both rooms and view each as having a different set of priorities. 

We entertain regularly but find that most of our friends would rather see a movie than listen to music. I guess we have one friend of a friend that could be considered an Audiophile. 

I met my wife (of 43 years) on a blind date. First thing we did was listen to my

audio system. She thought it was grand and the rest is history.

@thsaunders 

Fortunate to have traveled extensively... the common thread of the truly impressive individuals with whom lasting friendships have endured, is their including music in their lives, from epicurean tastes to the raw “thwannng” of a R&R ripping guitar score and even a Swiss mountain horn.

These individuals reflected every level of humanity from the Palestinian whose house was demolished by a neighboring nations bull dozer, to the artisan that fixed my plumbing (as in kitchen sink and also the surgeon when my body needed dry dock and repair) to business people and actually heads of state here and overseas.  

That common thread of “need for music” and appreciation for its complexity has become part of my “elevator chat encounters” that provide an initial “size up” of character.

Nicely put. For 5 minutes or so I was somewhere else. I was a little put out to realise that my teenage daughter hardly shares any of my musical tastes or any deep interest in sound quality, and neither does my wife. Or maybe they secretly do, but just won't admit it yet? I can hope.

I don't believe its elitist to judge people by their tastes in music. Most of the time it makes good sense and gives you an immediate bearing on where that person is coming from.

In those cases where someone is unfamiliar with certain piece of music opportunities can arise where you are able to introduce each other with selections they might find sympathetic. Quite often a personal recommendation can be far more helpful than reading what some critic has written in a magazine book.

Of course, there are those with whom the musical gulf is not easily bridgeable and there's very little that can be done to amend that.

Perhaps it's just a question of where you are prepared to draw the line.

Belonging to an informal (usually 3 member) music club I've been introduced to a far wider range of music than I would have been on my own.

I've enjoyed most of it too, even if I did tend to drift off a little whilst some Drum and Bass was being tested out or some Northern Soul.

Quite surprisingly, I'm even gradually drifting towards Prog Rock, a genre I detested some 40 years ago.

[Back then, it was either punk or prog rock, you couldn't like both].

Anyway, what else is there to do, when one of your best friends loves it?

In simple reply – you (“we”) are not alone in a deep appreciation of the music that we choose to include in our daily lives.  And if it fits being labeled an audiophile, eschewing that moniker’s, sometime hubris of ego, so be it.

Among several careers, writing remaining one, our written or spoken word may reflect a depth or shallowness of the space between our ears but it is music that reflects and reveals the fathoms of our soul, providing solace and peace but more often inspiration to create things from art to new businesses.

Whether it be a Mahler piece, the soothing harp of a Hilary Stagg, the “comforting and warming choral scores of a cheery requiem” or the sonorous depths of Russian liturgical voices, music is the nourishment that feeds our soul.

This morning, beginning my “penultimate year of joining the ranks of “octogenarians,” there was much to contemplate and seeing your posting, laptop fired up and like “Nipper,” ensconced in my “listening chair,” fearing the monoliths looming a few yards away itching to topple crushing my ancient being, decided to contemplate just how to answer your question.

As a child in the 1950’s, daily morning awakening involved hearing music wafting from that huge ebony Magnavox console downstairs in my parent’s living room.  If they only knew I listened to music on my crystal radio (WOR New York) “Music After Midnight” well into the “wee hours.”  Yes, I learned to play the tuba in junior high school, throttling its “umpahhhh” into a mellow deep undernote and would talk incessantly (who would have guessed given this screed) about what was listened to the night before to my track and swimming buddies before our practice and competition meets.

Thus, the imprinting of the habit of music from one generation to the next.  Indeed, three sons suffer the same affliction despite their broad differences in careers from Senior military officer to executive engineer to top shelf medical research.  To wit, now my grandchildren are immersed in music as an integral part of their interests as they pursue their own careers.   

Fortunate to have traveled extensively word over for more than sixty five years (first aircraft  flight at twelve on a “tri-tail”, four engine Constellation – wow me that old) the common thread of the truly impressive individuals with whom lasting friendships have endured, is their including music in their lives, from epicurean tastes to the raw “thwannng” of a R&R ripping guitar score and even a Swiss mountain horn (which I have attempted) .

These individuals reflected every level of humanity from the Palestinian whose house was demolished by a neighboring nations bull dozer, to the artisan that fixed my plumbing (as in kitchen sink and also the surgeon when my body needed dry dock and repair) to business people and actually heads of state here and overseas.  That common thread of “need for music” and appreciation for its complexity has become part of my “elevator chat encounters” that provide an initial “size up” of character.

From strategic global analysis, to writing, to business, to creating for art exhibits here and overseas my take now -- it is the music that envelops our being and consciousness that adds to what and who we become. 

The brand name and power rating on the amplifier, much like a signed picture of the soup can on a wall may be intended by some to impress and offer bragging rights to satisfy an ego or need for self-esteem elevation but ultimately relevance will  only be found within, as the music we tune into, sets the mind on a journey of contemplation, introspection and creativity for the days ahead, appreciative and mindful of the days past.

To offer perspective, I am a 1600’s New England Yankee passport holding citizen of my nation, (certainly not “yet” suffering the curse of senility) but also a citizen of the world of music listeners – to judge myself an audiophile would be hubris on my part but acceptable if needed to define the importance of music to me.

Be well!

THS

No matter how rare the species might be there are enough of them to keep the industry in business.

Judging by the number of cars I hear with pretty good to excellent sound and the number of car stereo dealers. . . . plus people in Ebay who collect vintage gear, etc. . . . plus people into hi-res formats. . . . plus home theater. . . . it has shifted to areas other than the 2 speaker home listening experience.

Was it Darwin who said "It's those who adapt to change that survive."? It's not always the fittest.

I could run a rough calculation based on a lot of very loose assumptions such as units active, but that’s a lot of work to come up with questionable ballpark number just to satisfy somebody else’s curiosity itch. Can some number below 1% be judged as either relevant or even interesting? My motivation is miniscule.

More importantly, what is the definition of an "audiophile" in the sense how do we count - who qualifies and who does not?

I remember 'way back when when the Jaguar XKE sports car was introduced. "A man's mink coat" an auto magazine proclaimed. In other words, we all have things that capture our emotions and that make us want to open our wallets. Name your poison.

We're as rare as this:

All the best,
Nonoise

I can contribute one more datapoint on the question of how rare is an audiophile . I live in New Jersey, a state of 9 million or so people. I belong to New Jersey audiopile society which has a membership of 74 people. Even if we assume that only the top 10% of the most avid audiophiles go so far as to join the society, that is still a vanishingly small percentage of the population.

I think she means that there are a lot of us who take ourselves and our obsession with equipment way too seriously. Especially when you consider that it is a largely self-absorbed activity which appeals greatly to introverts with surplus time and money. i’m not trying to throw stones here because I put myself squarely in the above category, but I do think it’s healthy to recognize who you are. I’m sure there are many of us who have done very good and worthwhile things and been benefactors to many other people. Just saying it’s good to laugh at yourself once in a while.

I also think it’s a good antidote to the toxin of uber-expensive equipment, voodoo snake oil products and the situation wherin  grown men can discuss the merits of multi hundred thousand dollar systems with a straight face.

to @ezstreams comment about enjoying the JBL Flip 4 I say, bravo! We have a Tribit storm box wireless Bluetooth speaker on the shelf in our bedroom, which fills the room with beautiful sound when we wake up in the morning, and I enjoy for what it brings in that setting as much as my more expensive and handbuilt systems. 
In my opinion, there are a few too many members on the site who see themselves as gatekeepers, regarding what is authentic “true” audiophile sound. All too often the same people turn nasty and drive away other users, or just set an unpleasant tone. Then they turn around and lament the hobby is dying, well, what do you expect when you act like that?

Whatever that means...

This is a nice discussion, and there are many thoughts that come to mind, but I think the best came from my dear wife, who, by the way, has an excellent ear, and puts up with us, having no less than five different systems in our house, in regard to our extended discussion about what is an audiophile and difficulty defining it, she responded without a moments hesitation, “that’s because it’s not a real thing.“ So there you go.

It’s been noted upthread that there are increasing numbers of manufacturers, that some shows are well attended, and that this must be proof of growth of interest in audiophilia.  I would add to this the attention that the companies with the really big bucks are paying to sound reproduction.  Apple has Spatial Audio, and Amazon has their various home products for pairing with Amazon Music, assorted sound bars, etc.  Now the natural tendency here will be to dismiss most of this (Some of us may be interested in Spatial Audio ) as not worthy of Audiophile/Serious discussion.  However it indicates that there is a market for better sound than bog standard ear buds.  If there are several million people out there investigating better sound, certainly some percentage can be ensnared by the whole enchilada.  
  Clearly the industry needs to move beyond our demographic, the aging white males with retirement portfolios who are willing the buy lots of products so that we can continue to enjoy music that was released half a century ago.  In doing so, our demographic is a negative.  They don’t want to project the image that if you go down this path, you will turn into this bald fat old guy sitting alone in his listening room.

  However the reality is that most of the new generation of listeners they are seeking are sitting alone in their bedrooms, probably multitasking while listening to music in the background.  Good luck flipping that group into people willing to spend 5 figures for a component .

OK, fellow 'philes.....one last time for The Queen.

RIP, Tina...and Thanks....

Always cool...now forever....

I was already an audiophile at the age of 7 but I never knew that or even the meaning of the word until much later in life. Listening to music at such a young age felt like a source of life force to me. A very fun life source

In 5th grade when a friend gave me a cd as a gift, I was over the freaking moon.

@samureyex - hah! That's a good one. I've got a killer audiophile system - 😁

I know four. What does that say about me?

An audiofile is someone who, regardless of budget/means loves tinkering with audio equipment and the environment it resides in to better the listening experience.

Not all stereo lovers necessary even have equipment but no matter if they are following thier passionate interests then that makes them bonafide.

As for numbers with systems who preen and listen. If it were possible to know, then we’d know. Cube Nordost units sold?

fyi- personalized plates on my daily driver -- "LUV HZ"

I got a "two-fer" here. A "tribute" to my first wife, AND a statement of my passion for (just about) anything that makes noise. Must be an audiophile?

Stereophile magazine is purchased by 70,000 people.  I believe that's a good measure of the number of audiophiles.   

@asvjerry: Yeah, I know, I worked with staff that were about 90% female for 37 years. But I figured if they can kick men then I can kick too. Besides, what can they do to me now that I’m retired? I didn’t say that I dislike women, but rather that I prefer the ones from 1940’s-1950’s . . the ones you could enjoy being around. 😉

@bob540 ....I'd state that Carefully in mixed company you don't know well....

Just saying..... 😏  Steer you from the reefs... ;)

@edcyn ....well, to be equitable ’bout it...a chunk of the bell curve of people who enjoy music to the degree of wanting to experience it in a certain way of our own choice with devices that range from better than ’average’ to a degree of *ah* commitment that verges on ’mania’...

Or....enthusiast to truth seeker, a bunch of varied ’philes. *L*

We only squabble occasionally... ;) And generally only a few get heated over whatever it is...the rest resist the keys, and watch the static coalesce.... 😏

We’re good on info, mostly; good-natured for the most part.

I’d rather be here, listening to whatevers’ up on screen 2 with the desk Walsh or with the ’phones...

Beats going to a bar. Hard to predict wtf one runs into there... *L*

Meanwhile...back at the ranch....

Spouse ’n self went to Puscifer this eve...one of the more varied crowds I’d expected, but guessing we were likely the ’elders’ in the mix. *G*

The ’openers’ (fem screecher with a the guy on the keys) did 4 numbers loud and hard to tell apart....’meh* Short interlude before the main event...

Existential Reckoning tour..
poster of...

Ev’s used to my tastes in edm/trance/remixes/and ’other’ and found it interesting and compelling at times...

But after ’bout 1.5 hour of bass and subs of ’Industrial rock alternative rock electronic’ in a 16.5K sq.ft. with *mm* 2300 others...we both agreed to cut at the Intermission (bladder break, at min., but the lines to the 1m/1fem RR’s...) and recoup @ home 10 minutes away.

I pocketed my aids with the opener and went for my ’better’ plugs and Ev went for my ’roadies’ versions, both covered our ears when the audience cheers the ends ’n starts (my personal ’live’ downfalls, ’white noise’ w/shoutings), but still...

I’d download it, as it’s intriguing and has a grin or so within; there’s a remix of same available, which I’ll look into...’losing the crowd’ will enhance it, and let me control the bass, which could verge into below 20hz at times....

Nothing like a ’public massage’, not since Smashing Pumpkins for this meat. *L*

Gotta love my girl....;)

There's got to be a certain number of audiophiles still around. High End audio is still being manufactured and sold.  Music streaming has come into being, and it often delivers one heck of a high quality feed. Finally,  what do you call all us squabbling music-crazed folks on this site?

In my teens and through my 20s, my circle of friends and wider social circle were all crazy about music; it was everything to us. We horded/collected music, always looking for new music to wow us. We all also played in bands and/or were singer songwriters with studio experience, but apart from myself, not one of them ever journeyed down the audiophile rabbit hole, or seemed remotely interested in the pursuit.

I only ever met one guy who was on the audiophile journey, who was a friend of a friend of a friend, who was a complete Naim/Linn head.

Since those heady days of the early1990's through early 2000's, I haven't met any other people interested in the hobby, whether colleagues, later friends, anyone - apart from the guys in my local dealership 😂, but that's a given.

Im in the UK, but I feel we're a rare breed. I did meet one guy who bought a piece of gear from me and collected from my home, but I never met or heard from him again (which is good, as I hope he's enjoying the DAC I sold him 😊)

You know which question would make this thread become even more interesting?

What's the chance of someone being an audiophile vs the chance of someone being a killer 🤣

Too dark?

I’d just like to say that the gals who tolerate us boys and our hobbies are the nicest, most patient, loving and accommodating people in the world. I’ve seen this across mulitple spectrums/hobbies. They are the best of the best.

Here I am, talking to my gear head buddies about the time I broke the clutch cable on my Corvair at the dragstrip (when I was 18), and only had one tool with me -- a pair of Vicegrips -- clamped it down on the cable, make 3 more passes, and drove the car home. The number of times my loving wife has sat patiently thru this story would take all my fingers and toes (in @asvjerry ’s case 19!) to count.

This is in addition to sitting there, nodding her hear during conversations about air gap flux density, room nodes, and the highly energetic 104th demo of Fourplay’s Between the Sheets on my system.

She, and my car buddy's companions, are the best!!

Ah yes...the old days of sexism and misogyny...spoken here by Real Men who seemingly don't know any women and don't have daughters...yeah...those were the days! Put on your bowler hat and go to the club...and, by the way, enjoying music through a great system you or Goodwin's might have designed is a solitary activity almost by definition, and if you need others to pal around with while you polish your (volume) knobs you're gonna be disappointed frequently...get used to people generally not caring about your self indulgent hobby and you'll likely be happier. Join a book club or a biker gang.

@nonoise - 👍

As above, very few in number. The lack of Good hifi shops plus Stereo Shows are a direct result to the Root cause. The Internet does help bridging that Gap.

Happy Listening!

Audiophile: "A music lover/hobbyist who acquires high fidelity equipment in an attempt to replicate music to a high degree of sonic accuracy."

All the best,
Nonoise

Back in high school I knew several. Back in college I knew quite a few.  Now, not to many. There’s only a few good hifi shops left and that definitely makes it harder to meet like people.

Audiophile: "A music lover/hobbyist who acquires high fidelity equipment in an attempt to replicate music to a high degree of sonic accuracy."  .

Hey Dinov (above) youre in Florida Panhandle? Me too! Thats two rare ducks in basically the same back woods as me. The LP store in Destin area has a nice selection of LP's and even was selling some used gear. The 'on-line' businesses have crushed any brick and martyr store (error intended) . One guy I bump into occasionally is a custom cabinet guy but his reiterated audiophile tip ad nauseum is to put cork under, over, and in everything. I gently suggested there are now better sound damping materials which brought a fresh launch into the benefit of cork flooring. Was he an audiophile? We really do need a solid definition...Audiophile: "A music lover/hobbyist who acquires high fidelity equipment in an attempt to replicate music to a high degree of sonic accuracy."  .

Does it count to be an audiophile if one has a home theater system?

@larsman , I thought long and hard before hitting "enter". Half a century ago was around the start of the decline of the middle class. The two roles (being a bread winner and a mother) would have happened regardless of feminism as it now takes two to make what only one needed to do to maintain a semblance of the preceding living standards. Through in the "paying taxes as they do" and we have that same old axe grinding away. 

I stand by what I said and don't begrudge you your point. 

All the best,
Nonoise

My experience is very similar to @dean_palmer. Gen X'er here---my friends and I spent much of the 80s experimenting with new gear, buying vinyl and CDs. There were several high-end stores we frequented and I still have some of my old gear (now vintage) with upgrades along the way. Now, I venture to audio shows with my husband and play music in my music room alone. I have a few friends that like vinyl but they aren't 'into' the whole audiophile experience. To them, high-end is Beats headphones and iPods. 

But I am also a 'rare' audiophile because I'm not into jazz and the usual music one hears at audio shows. If I had to compare my musical tastes, they would be like John Darko's music. Don't get me wrong, I love the classics, but my usual taste in music falls into the electronica spectrum.