An Audiophile is Anyone Who Loves Audio Regardless of Monetary Status. Agree?

I think it's easy love music without being an audiophile. Most of the planet does. An audiophile likes the playback of that music in such a way that it fits their version of sonic reality.

There is definitely some wealth shaming and I think this was the basis of the original post. Not such a far stretch to believe, overall, that more expensive equipment will outperform cheaper. Just dont speak on this issue unless you have had experience with both. And please stop guessing the motivation of buyers who spend a "shameful" amount on audio equipment.

As fordboy points about above, distinctions are good things. Being uncomfortable and offended are usually positive experiences provided you have the right to make your case if you disagree. This country is completely losing  the ability to discern between what is a right and what is a privilege. Numerous times on this forum posters have asked others to not use certain words and to avoid certain discussions as these were offensive. Not a kindler world but a world of sameness and intellectual death.

@erik_squires : "Price is a poor predictor of performance."

Erik, I disagree, a little. I think it would be better to say that price can be a poor predictor of performance. In most things I see price and performance as a fairly bell shaped curve across the board. And yes, I do think there is a steep fall-off toward the highest price ranges. (I'm speaking generally here, not just about audio). 

But in light of this discussion even if you are exactly right, the problem is the price range we are discussing. For the average man on the street with more than one priority in his life even at the low end of what most of us here would reasonably good quality he would be stymied. 

I don't know what motivated the OP to share his opinion or ask if we agree. But I do not agree that being an audiophile is solely a matter of how you feel about music or sound quality. To me that's like claiming to be a race car driver because you are enthusiastic about racing and feel like a race car driver.

So again, the answer is no. Not everyone can be an audiophile. Even if they want to be. 

In that analogy, the musicians and producers are the race car team. The rest of us are just observers in the stands.


Otherwise, audiophiles are reduced to consumers of a particular type of product. How miserably impoverishing that POV is to me.


"Sorry you lost your house Frank, but hey, I don’t have to listen to your miserable take on cables since you no longer matter." is not a place I want to be.


As I posted in another thread, in the late 1950's, early 1960's audiophiles were not consumers, they were inventors, innovators, and enthusiasts.  DIY built this hobby.


Lets make this a big tent with room for different points of view and needs, as opposed to an expensive one.

"Otherwise, audiophiles are reduced to consumers of a particular type of product. How miserably impoverishing that POV is to me."

Sad as it may be, but that is the reality for most of the people out there. Unless you actually build your own equipment.