Who has the Sickness, the Phile or the Non-phile?


So often I find myself resenting the fact that there are only so many hours to listen to HiFi and I think of those that don't hold this resentment.

I used to think anyone who wasn't obsessive simply lacked exposure, but even though I have introduced many, I have discovered no takers.

At audiophile club meeting it seems to me that the attendees are mostly gear-heads and posers; they say "Ooo & Ahhhh" to anything presented and you can see 1 or 2, maybe 3 in the seats nonchalantly looking over in the direction of the ooo-ers and Ahhh-ers; those few get it. And before anyone is defensive because they know, lashes out that I'm this or that....I don't care. These are obviously my opinions and I'm looking for the opinions of others On The  Question  At  Hand  and not whether or not I am a deluded self important snob.

So, if it is not a lack of exposure, is it a lack of ability?

Surely we are all different, short, tall, smart, obtuse, near sighted, far sighted. Are the ears and or the brains of an audiophile just wired differently than others? Can non audiophiles just not hear what we hear?

Was it childhood exposure that caused this difference in wiring? My father had Altec Voice of the Theater horns and the accompanying gear. Was that it, being exposed to HIFi during brain development? My daughter gets it and boy was she pissed when I sold my VPI TT. I never got along with my father, but was he responsible for my affliction by introducing me to superior sound as an infant?

And, who are the sick ones, the philes or the non-philes?

 

TD

128x128tonydennison
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While liking music is nearly universal, the importance of fidelity varies from completely unimportant to passionate. I knew a guy that loved music… worked in a record store so he could listen, be exposed and collect more music. He had a portable phonograph with a speaker in it… red and white case… all plastic. He cherished each tune… for the music. No interest in fidelity what so ever.

 

Then take women. All like music for all practical purposes zero are audiophiles. Some folks are fanatics on flashy cars… I could care less. It goes on and on.

 

I don’t know what the percentage of audiophiles is… but it is far far less than 1% of the population. Trying to convert people is a waste of time. I would put a bit more time into understanding people. It will serve you well in life. They are highly diverse and largely irrational. Enjoy your pursuit of high end audio. For most of us it is a completely solitary pursuit. Most of my fifty year history, outside of dealers and a couple close friends, no one even knew I was one… or ever saw or listened to my system. It’s mine, ALL MINE!

 

@cleeds 

 

+1 Really well put… but too understated… the world is shades of gray on every level on nearly every issue. We live in a completely gray world… only the young, crazy and fanatic think there is any such thing as black or white.

I don't see it as a difference between audiophiles and non.  I see it as a difference between people who feel music is a very important part of their life and the others who don't really think about it.  The quality of the system is secondary.  Sure it's great to have a killer rig, but in the end, it's more about having music around you.  As I type this, I'm in the kitchen making Sunday dinner for the family.  My trusty Ipod in my Bose Docking Station.  The big rig comes on after dinner, but for now.....  I have music around me.  The Crusaders "Chain Reaction"  

The love of music comes first. Then comes audio. One must be careful, especially if by nature they are anal or compulsive, otherwise ’audio’ takes over and music just becomes a means to explore audio. They no longer really listen to the music, they listen to their system. They are the real losers I think, as compared to those who love music but never get into the audio aspect. Most music lovers that I know  have simple home systems that folks here would laugh at, but they know their music, they just don’t understand or care about ’stereo’ and all its artifacts. They are happy and not neurotic, to be envied I think. :-)

@mahgister 

I never LISTEN TO THE GEAR first and last ...

I listen to acoustic first and last and learned how to listen in the process......

Thats my secret to reach ectasy..

+1, when you get the acoustics first and last, everything that follows is pure joy.

I love music ...

I prefer a good sound than a bad sound with the same music...

I decided to create my own audiophile experience...

I studied and experimented with acoustic after buying a basic good system...

I succeeded ...

I lost my acoustic room... One year ago...

I decided to try to create an headphone system , if different , as satisfying as my speakers/room..

I succeeded...

I never LISTEN TO THE GEAR first and last ...

I listen to acoustic first and last and learned how to listen in the process......

Thats my secret to reach ectasy...

i am a music lover and not really an audiophile anymore because i succeeded ...

Obsession with the gear reflect often ignorance of acoustic and the way to control the soundfield in a room...

 

To answer your question half of audiophiles are neurotic collectors, and half of non audiophiles dont love the music enough to move their ass to  improve the sound quality... life is complex sorry... There is no smplistic answer to your question ... Even my answer is simplistic... 😊

For me it was a financial issue. Most of my life I couldn’t save two nickels. Then somehow I saved enough for the Kef q150 half off sale. That seamed to be the catalyst, I was off and running. Sometimes I am obsessed getting the next black box. Get kidded about it, even had to stop so I could go see the gkids. I will disagree on this is a sickness, cause no disease 🦠 makes one feel so joyous. 

So often I find myself resenting the fact that there are only so many hours to listen to HiFi

That's why they invented whole house audio. I have systems all around the house of various types and brands using the DTS Play-Fi ecosystem, works for me:

DTS Play-Fi™ - Android Apps on Google Play