At what price is one considered an Audiophile.

oh Lord…. i mean dear, didn’t we drive the Bentley yesterday ? 

sppose dem grammer polizze be. round shortly, or leastwayz midnight

Levels of electronic design perfection had a cost corresponding to each level ...

Levels of acoustic controls had a cost too in money and in studies and experiments ...

Optimal acoustic satisfaction threshold exist at a very high cost in price and in time and acoustics  understanding ...

Minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold experience exist also.... At a lower price but with  the same time cost in  consuming studies and experiments in acoustic ... If not by yourself homemade, it cost 100,000 bucks to give the job to a pro by the way ....Few costly panels is not acoustic control of a room ...

For myself, and most music loving friends...we have all heard expensive systems we did not like, and inexpensive systems we liked very much...certainly synergy and room acoustics are long recognized factors...but unfortunately, all the best systems we have heard have been expensive...though I thoroughly enjoy my much less expensive secondary systems, and could be very happy if that's all I had...exploring better equipment or room acoustic should never get in the way of enjoying what you have...

Exactly... Thanks...

For myself, and most music loving friends...we have all heard expensive systems we did not like, and inexpensive systems we liked very much...certainly synergy and room acoustics are long recognized factors...but unfortunately, all the best systems we have heard have been expensive...though I thoroughly enjoy my much less expensive secondary systems, and could be very happy if that's all I had...exploring better equipment or room acoustic should never get in the way of enjoying what you have...

There is no $ amount as a price of admission.

For me it is about the rush I get when I hear something new or different in a record that sounds better. At times it may be from a minor change that has big impact or a relatively bigger change that may only has a small impact.

If you appreciate reproduced sound quality, seek to have it in your house and realize you can always get something better and can live with that you are a sane audiophile. If you are on the never ending hamster wheel of upgrades, my condolences. At this point, I am happy with my system's sound and realize the limitations of my room acoustics and only change equipment when something breaks or wears out. 

I do seek out better sounding records of my favorite recordings however....luckily that is a fairly reasonable number.