Should people with no turntable or reel to reel be considered audiophiles?
Just like those driving a Porsche SUV can join PCA (digital audio fans can join Audiogon) but are certainly not Porschephiles unless they also own a coupe (Panamera owners I guess gets a pass here).
Please respond with a yes or no and we'll tally a vote for the first 100 responses.
an audiophile is defined by a perspective, not owning gear, or format preference.
it’s about wanting their music to sound as good as possible, and having an interest in high performance music reproduction.
some of the most ’audiophile’ people I know, don’t really have much of a system themselves. but their interest in the subject is passionate.
within the audiophile viewpoint, their are serious gear heads, serious room and system tweakers, and serious music collectors. and some that are all three.
some audiophiles mainly collect vintage gear and listening is not huge for them.
Audiophiles are a dying breed. I say we admit members with smartphones and a good pair of headphones, not require they must suffer with 100 year old + technology to prove their worth.
YES, no gear needed, just ears, one will do. Heck I had deaf cousins. They loved to dance...
I met more than one person that their hearing went south. Stone coal deaf..
Still loved "the talk", and could give a lot of good pointers. A lot were old carpenters, mill workers.. smart bunch, most made a lot of their own stuff.
It's an attitude of seeking perfection where it varies from person to person, yet it does exist... CANI Continual and never-ending improvement.
Audiophiles are a dying breed. I say we admit members with smartphones and a good pair of headphones, not require they must suffer with 100 year old + technology to prove their worth.
To be fair, quite a few of us have really good ears and enjoy good sound reproduction.
Whoa, hold on here. Porschephiles drive 911's and Caymans. We tolerate the other stuff only because it gives Porsche the money to survive and make our cars. I wouldn't be caught dead driving a Panamera or one of the SUVs. Those are for people who buy Rolex watches. As for audiophiles, real ones have turntables, hundreds of records and know their way around a soldering iron. A real audiophile makes their own speakers and modifies everything to work better. A real audiophile does not waste money on BS garbage that won't make anything sound better but looks pretty. A real audiophile has more money invested in their music than their system. There are people who love music and don't care what it sounds like. There are people that only care what it sounds like and will listen to garbage music just because it was nicely recorded, but real audiophiles listen to great music and make it sound as good as possible. Real audiophiles won't let anyone touch their system not even their significant other. They just do not understand. Real audiophiles are always looking forward to what they are going to do next. Real audiophiles are never happy with how their system sounds. There is always something that could be better. Real audiophile will use any technology available to make their systems sound better. Finally, real audiophiles love to help others make their systems sound better. We wish everyone can have the best music reproduction possible. Rock and Roll.
Whoa, hold on here. Porschephiles 911's and Caymans. We tolerate the other stuff only because it gives Porsche the money to survive and make our cars. I wouldn't be caught dead driving a Panamera or one of the SUVs. Those are for people who buy Rolex watches.
Back in the day when I owned a 356A Coupe, there were those that wouldn't recognize 911 owners as true Porschephiles. And for the record, Steve McQueen wore a Rolex.
Yes. One is not defined by the things they possess. I presently own neither, yet I have owned many of each in the past. It is akin to saying you cannot be a sports car fan if you don’t own a triumph, Austin Healey or old Jag.
Technology has changed, like me, but ownership does not define passion.
Porschephiles drive 911's and Caymans. We tolerate the other stuff only because it gives Porsche the money to survive and make our cars. I wouldn't be caught dead driving a Panamera or one of the SUVs.
At last a subject worthy of discussion! Porschephiles drive Porsches. Porschephiles do not drive SUVs. Porschephiles understand the difference between an SUV and a Cayenne, Cayenne Turbo S, Macan, etc. and a SUV. An SUV is an appliance. A microwave. A toaster oven. Porschephiles know a Porsche is not a car, nor is it an SUV. A Porsche is a Porsche. True Porschephiles know all this. Know it in their bones.
For street cred millercarbon is the owner of a 1979 911SC, a Porsche Club of America Driving Instructor for Driver Ed, Driver Skills, and Autocross, a PCA Concours winner, Tour Leader, Colby Cup Champion and former PNW Region President. Millercarbon has attended more PCA tech sessions than he can count, and has conducted a few himself. He made top 5 in class in a region that is home to six time SCCA National Autocross Champion Greg Fordahl. When it comes to Porsches millercarbon knows whereof he speaks.
Back in the day when I owned a 356A Coupe, there were those that wouldn't recognize 911 owners as true Porschephiles. And for the record, Steve McQueen wore a Rolex.
Now this is more like it. When the 996 came out I went to talk with local legend Squire Tomasie. What is up with this new 996? Its fast and solid sure, but people are so upset. The headlights. The doors. And Squire said, son this is nothing. When the 911 came out the 356 guys all said it was the end. The 356 door closes like a bank vault. The 911 you have to slam. On and on.
There is of course some relevance to audio. Porsche isn't about the looks or the numbers any more than audio is about the watts or the frequency response. Its about the driving experience. The listening experience.
I'm telling ya, even with two rums in my I can write this. Someone needs to do something. They clearly are not paying me enough.
Yes - but a Loaded question.... Age and financials play a part. Someone young today likely does not have a big vinyl collection. Older generations do and prize them. An audiophile enjoys music and makes it the best sounding experience with the best equipment they desire and can afford. It's not a status symbol, however it is for many. To each his/her own.
Stupid questions for both the audio and Porsche products. When the Cayenne 1st came out, most Porsche owners thought this way, that was 15 or more years ago. No Porsche owner feels that way now. Same goes for analog vs. digital.
It might be said there are different levels of the audiophile hobby. Level 1: digital Level 2: vinyl Level 3 : tape (15 ips) Im a level 2 that can’t afford level 3.
I’m a retired audio production engineer. My hearing went south years ago. I do wear decent hearing aids. That said I enjoy the music. For me that’s what it’s all about. And I still like the knobs and dials aspect of audiophile-com. A simple upgrade in a phono cartridge (2M Blue) got me listening to vinyl again.
and the only reason I bought a 911 was I was so impressed with my Macan S. Porsche sales are driven by the SUVs and many fans of the brand don’t have one yet...
It might be said there are different levels of the audiophile hobby. Level 1: digital Level 2: vinyl Level 3 : tape (15 ips) Im a level 2 that can’t afford level 3.
Yes. I firmly believe audiophile is a label that should only be self applied. Of course, you’re allowed to look down your nose at other people, but don’t expect to be thanked or respected for it. Lure them in with the music as they like it, and you’ll get more opportunities to convert them to whatever esoteric, crazypants, eccentric predilections you’ve a developed over the years.
HI, Badges do not entitle somebody to belong in a certain society. You must know how to drive and enjoy it at the same time. I always take the longer road with my Giulietta just for the fun of it even if burning more fuel. People may have huge collection of cds, cassettes or downloads have given up turntables and r2r for their own reasons and yes have soldering irons are good at mods and understand the difference of a good power chord. They have less components, so what? They still attend at shows, read, listen, play around with what they have and can exchange ideas and experiences. Levelling audiophiles is more logical as knowledge does not come cheap. But that is still a discrimination.
No TT or R2R but I do have a 911. The wife agreed that I could have it when I turned 70 a couple of years ago. She figures at that age at least I would not kill myself. For the record I have worn a Rolex for over 40 years. Nothing fancy, just a stainless Sub.
Yes. Pursuit of improved sound within the capacity of the medium could make us audiophiles. Does a $500 turntable/cart combination sound better than a $1,000 DAC playing SACD's?
@mapman You got the suffer part right. Especially when tape deteriorates with time an vinyl degrades with each play. Not to mention tape heads and styli. Expensive in dollars and convenience.
No, sokogear, it won't matter how much you spend on a turntable, your character will still not be improved. You are still the same person who would consider a post like this even remotely acceptable, and that you even consider asking the question, says a lot about character.
Should people with no turntable or reel to reel be considered audiophiles?
Just
like those driving a Porsche SUV can join PCA (digital audio fans can
join Audiogon) but are certainly not Porschephiles unless they also own a
coupe (Panamera owners I guess gets a pass here).
Please respond with a yes or no and we'll tally a vote for the first 100 responses.
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