Are audiophiles people of sound prejudice?

i think not. the fact that so many people buy and sell, indicates an expectation of improvement, not prejudgment.

how can you prejudge, if you haven't heard something ?

No, not exactly. Different genres of music sound best on different systems. Extreme audiophile's systems highlight the music and certain aspects of that music they like best. This is most apparent in choice of cartridge. Someone who likes female jazz vocals will prefer Grado, while someone who likes Rock will consider Grado a "slow" cartridge, and this continues for the rest of the components.

It's the music we like that determines the gear we prefer.

Orpheus that is a brilliant post, I could'nt agree more. I think we all migrate towards enhancing our genres.

Tmsorosk, Just met a dealer of fine audio equipment and he has very set opinions, so just because many of us have been at it for awhile is no guaranty that we will approach it with an open mind. I know I get some flack for thinking people will listen to what I play for a demonstration instead of just reacting to the music as to whether they like it or not.

Orpheus10, agree partially with you, yes in trying to get the most out of this or that record it has caused me to work on my whole system, and once that one was taken care of reasonably well, search for a new record that gave my system problems. The selection of cartridges is indeed a way to advance or hear more of what you like in the music.
So yes it is the music that leads us on, but isn't that based on our prejudices for this or that music genre?

I prefer to think of my behavior as discriminatory rather than prejudiced.