What makes / defines an audiophile ?

Someone who wants an emotional response when listening to reproduced music.

When you enjoy CONSTANT thinking, reading, upgrading, listening, tweaking your system way more than SEX. And you all know it but won't admit it.

I mean more money in the music than the electronics. I think that electronics can sometimes be just about money, as in some guy who has enough cash to throw at his system, but the guys who go out and puts in the effort to buy music one cd at a time, and end up spending more on that than the electronics, these guys are really into it. Having more money in my stereo than my car does not make me as proud as if I had more money in my software than my electronics. To me that is the ultimate gauge of how much you are into music, and that is what I think being an audiophile is all about.

Simple! An audiophile is anyone who knows to connect his/her speakers in phase.

My understanding is that "audiophilia" is more about the aquisition of better equipment, which is what most people talk about in these message boards and why 95% of the stuff up for sale/auction is hardware. It is an obsessive-compulsive disorder that can only be cured by: (a) having to sell off parts of your system (including a kidney) because you can't afford to buy food anymore, (b) losing your spouse due to circustances as described in (a), or (c) taking a really cold shower and finally coming to your senses and realize that no hi-fi will ever equal the "real thing" and it's just plain ludicrous to spend another $10k on the next "upgrade" that will squeeze an additional 1-2%out of your system. The difference between a hardcore "audiophile" and a hardcore "music lover" is the audiophile will blow a $10k bonus on a pair of speakers or preamp. The music lover will pick up several hundred CD's or LP's. Both should probably seek help. :)