what is an audiophile ?

If you can hear a difference when a dime is placed on top of one of your speakers, you're an audiophile.

You're an audiophile if you have a collection of at least 20 'enhanced' recordings with questionable musical value but sound real nice.

All of us on Audiogon, AA, etc and people who read stereophile, TAS, etc.

An audiophile is someone who loves listening to music so much that he/she will commit discretionary resources to maximize his/her listening experience.

This is positive.

Mrtennis,

Check out the definition of Audiophile @ Wikipedia. It is an arduous read but has some interesting ideas.

Myself, I believe an audiophile is someone who is:

1) obsessed with gear (trying to create a synergistic system with whatever means one has)
and
2) obsessed with music (whatever your interpretation of music is)

If gear = 0 and music = 10, then I would be a 6 or 7 since I place more value on the actual music. Yes, I prefer to listen @ home with my system but I would rather be listening somewhere than not!

based upon what i have experienceed , the term has a negative conotation.

I am guessing you are saying it has a negative connotation in the general population? Maybe. But I think that connotation may be caused by the few who buy gear because it is an expensive showpiece and have no concern about the music. (who in my mind are not Audiophiles anyway!)