are any of your friends audiophiles?

I have a friend that lives about 700 miles from me. He got me started in this hobby about 35 years ago. I went into it heavy while he stayed content with his Dynaco and JBLs until about 4 years ago. Now he is putting together a nice system. I have another friend about 15 miles from me that use to be into it now he is losing interest. The rest of my friends, some like my system, a few enjoy listening to it, and the rest could care less. When I first got into this hobby it was much more comfortable talking about it. Back then the difference between the good stuff and bad stuff was not as great as it is today but yet people could hear and admit the difference. Today so many people just don't get it. Some of my relatives are the worse. The comments are very hard to listen to.

what's an audiophile ? no one has ever provided a definition, although the word seems to be ubiquitous on many forms.

the stereotype of an audiophile has some derogatory conotations so it is not surprising that so few people would admit to being one.

I'm extremely fortunate to have many, many friends and acquaintances who are into audio as well as music and would consider themselves audiphiles. How committed? Well, I don't know of more than a couple of them (out of 20-25 or so) who AREN'T into tubes! Lots of DIYers who've taught me a lot.

In addition are the "civilians" -- other friends and neighbors who like to listen to my stuff but have few interests in audiophilia per se. Dave

Saygrr, I share your experiences. I have known many who used to even attend shows who either now have home theaters or just don't listen at all. For at least two it is the decline in their hearing that may explain this.

I have gotten accustomed to my kids and relatives comments. It helps to be getting to an age where one eccentricities are tolerated rather than dismissed.

Mrtennis, I am sure that pedophiles, etc. do not help. Perhaps we should call ourselves audio or music lovers or audio enthusiasts.

Wow - this thread has gotten more responses than any I've posted.

So it seems my experience is not unique. Most people simply don't have the ear, wallet or patience for this hobby.

I often tell people (half jokingly) that a good audio system is better suited for regular people than audiophiles like us. A typical person spending a few thousand on a stereo is a fantastic deal. They will probably keep most of the components for 15 years, so amortized over the years, it is a small yearly cost and of course rewards greatly.

For people like many of us, who are always looking for better performance, buying and selling gear (usually loosing money), trying cables and tweeks, etc it is not nearly as good a deal!!!

Another recent experience that opened my eyes to how skewed many of our value system is. Someone who works in my building mentioned to my Girlfriend that a package I had delivered looked like an LP, ans he mentioned he loved vinyl, etc. Hearing this I talked to him about his collection, etc, and he said his table was broken. I replied "then I have a great deal for you" I have a used WTT I am getting ready to sell (since I got a Raven One and Phantom) I told him the table was only around $750. He looked at me like I had 2 heads. It seemed to him $750 was an outrageous sum to pay for a turntable, new or used. I finally saw it from his perspective, and thought he would think there was something seriously wrong with me if he knew the retail cost of my new table (bottom of the line)/arm/cart/cable was close to 14K.

It was a real reality check and eye opener.