I don't think I heard the word audiophile until I was 45 or 50, a couple of decades ago. Over time it came to mean to me someone who loved gear more than music, a gear head with money always looking for the next thing. I didn't grow up in a wealthy family but we did have a stereo, one of those crappy furniture consoles. My parents liked music from Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson to Sinatra, Como and Englebert. In my neighborhood I heard Hawaiian music, rock, blues and big band from my friends houses. Because I kept sneaking over to a neighbors to plunk on his ukulele and piano, my parents found some free music lessons for me. That neighbor played blues and slide guitar and introduced me to that music and lent me records as I got older. When I used the stereo so much I "blew it up", probably a few tube's went, my dad got a new Zenith fold up stereo. That sent me down the music junkie path, buying records with my paper route money, buying a cheap guitar then better ones. In HS I worked in a record store and my money went to savings (my dad was an accountant so 20% had to be saved and I had to track what I spent) records and guitars but when I graduated because I did well I was given my first personal stereo from Scott, BIC and Bose. A few years later I was offered a job as a part time sales rep for audio gear in the Navy PX. That opened up the world of audio gear to me. I did that for 3 years and upgraded my gear on rep discounts getting Marantz, SAE and JBL speakers. Then I kept those for 30 years. I never thought about upgrading as it worked. I just bought lots of mysic. I was given a CDP by a friend in NYC when that technology was introduced byt still played records. The only thing I ever really lusted after was a McIntosh amp like my HS girl friends dad's system. In my mind it sounded fantastic. About 20 years ago my amp started acting up and I figured it needed replacement. I bought a Teac amp from Costco and it sucked. On a business trip, I walked past an audio store and decided to go back after my meeting. I was blown away by what I saw and heard. Things had changed from the gear I sold in college, all these new brands but also old tech like tubes. The guy I spoke to wasn't busy so he heard my story and stared explaining what had happened in the intervening 30 years. He was great and never pushed me. In fact, he had an old McIntosh amp that he played for me, a 275 tube amp but would not sell it to me. He instead suggested I read some magazines and listen to more gear suggesting I would likely end up upgrading everything I had. He told me to bring in my own music to listen to. He started me on the path to not only upgrading my whole system but learning all about audio gear, hearing great gear and understanding I could have that without being rich. It was that first taste of the drug to turn me into an audiophile. I have spent $20-25k on new to me gear, some new some used. It has given me hours of enjoyment but I dont see it as an endless quest. I could buy gear costing 5x what I have spent but it is not necessary. I'm,mostly happy. I don't have a perfect room, not even a dedicated one so I can only go so far. Since there are no new stores near me I cant get too tempted. Instead, I get more excited for the music especially hearing new stuff.I still like hearing music in my car or in my yard. So I think I am a failed audiophile or a wanna-be. I still get excited hearing great new gear at some audio salon like Overture in DE or Audio Connexxion in NJ. But I know it will never sound as good in my house and I will be frustrated. I also know that I would rather spend money on good wine, eating out, travel, more music, live concerts and supporting causes important to me. I love music but I am a failure as an audiophile...though not entirely without trying.
