What makes up an

there should be some objective criteria, including construction and parts. there should also be some standards of performance.

otherwise, it becomes a matter of opinion.

for example, i don't consider an oppo dvd player as "high end". however, there may be some disagreement .

without some "hard" confirming evidence, the term could be added to a list of debatable and ambiguous audiophile terms.

this hobby has psychological underpinnings. i can't ascribe motivations to anyone but myself. i am an iconoclast. you may disagree with me, but i believe there are audiophiles who feel insecure if they consider there stereo system not "high-end". there are others who don't care.

what is the purpose of a term if it doesn't have meaning to a number of people.

i asked an innocent question, regarding the attitude towards one's stereo system. as yousaid, it's no big deal, but yet, i am curious.

if the stereo system as a whole is to be assessed as to its merits, assuming that each component satisfies some standards of construction, some objective criteria for performance is necessary.

again, it is easier to specify standards than to specify implementation. it would be wonderful if errors in perception could be eliminated by designing some method which takes the listener out of the equation.

does anyone feel insecure if one's stereo system does not satisfy the requirements for the designation "high end" ?"

status is one thing, enjoying one's stereo system may be another.

it's a good thing that i have a thick skin, so i can absorb all of the brick bats thrown at me and come back.

let me make my position perfectly clear as applies to this and other threads.

i am a an iconoclast because i disagree with what i see as dogmatism disguised as knowledge. there is very little knowledge in audio in the strict definition of the word.
there are a lot of opinions that masquerade as knowledge.

it is my hypothesis that many feel insecure if they don't buy into the conventional wisdom espoused by audio professionals. i don't . thus, i frequently disagree with many of the premises asserted here and in other threads.

i will continue to object when i see hype and opinion masquerading as knowledge and/or dogmatic thinking.

i think the above statements pretty much explain my "behavior" on this and other threads.

hi darkkeys:

there is no guarantee that accurate will be pleasant and there is no guarantee pleasant will be accurate. the recording and the stereo system can contribute to a pleasant sound.

if a stereo system is minimally inaccurate, there will be instances in which it does not sound pleasant, as a consequence of the quality of the recording.