Audiophilism is a hobby

+1 @hilde45

We figured in a previous thread that there less than a million audiophiles in the US and of that group only a small number care enough to post about it on internet sites. Attempting to deny a love of sound on this site is akin to attempting the requirement to breathe oxygen. So why the angst? There are those who feel some guilt about the tired old canard that they enjoy reproduced sound more than the actual musical content, that they may be just as happy listening to sounds of trains, or voice sans music.
I doubt that there are sound without music aficionados. Even if one enjoys the sound of a well reproduced news broadcast, that person is bound to listen to some type of music.

If we enjoy the nuances of the ways that different gear reproduce the music that we love, and are willing to pay to appreciate those nuances, there is nothing wrong with that. People wear $5K watches because they appreciate the craftsmanship involved, when they could just get the time from a much cheaper watch or their cell phone. They drink expensive wine when they can get Kirkland, and expensive autos when a Toyota will perform the same transportation function. Why do audiophiles feel guilty about their hobby.?  Do car, watch and wine lovers spend time trying to justify dedication to their hobbies? I am genuinely wondering

Sometimes, I'm just happy hearing music coming from an Echo in my bedroom. Sometimes, hearing poorly recorded or reproduced music distracts me from the content. Sometimes, I will only listen to well recorded and produced music on my main system. Sometimes, I'm happy listening to MP3 level streams from Pandora. I think it all depends on my general well being and the extent my OCD is kicking in. 

I only enjoy my rig if I love the music being played.  I mostly stream Qobuz and every week I cruise the new selections.  I try new artists I haven't even heard of and new hi-rez selections that I know.  Hit or miss on the unknowns, maybe one in ten that I play all the way through.  I'll stick those in my favorites file.

We say "music" when we mean "recordings." We can buy "sheet music," but it won't play itself. So we acquire recorded performances of that music. Some of these recordings are lousy -- the conductor has an idiosyncratic interpretation that we can't stand; the mix is unlistenable, etc. Some recordings are pleasing. And maybe one is sublime, from performance to pressing. Same "music," different recordings. You want music? Hire a band to play in your capacious listening room. Me, I'll take their magnificent studio recording of that same music.

I haven't read all the comments throughout this thread.  So, if this point (if it is one) has already been alluded to, my apologies!

Although probably applicable, I've always had a bit of difficulty accepting the term or concept of "hobby" for what audiophiles are preoccupied with.  It seems, to me, that the common denominator in this or what is at the core of what all audiophiles do is the visceral love of music.  That's what kicks it all off!  The term or concept of "hobby, I think, probably applies more to those who are constantly or frequently "upgrading", swapping out components and/or tweaking their sound systems in search of that elusive holy grail of the "best" sound fidelity.  For those, however, who achieve levels of satisfaction with their sound systems that they can live with for considerably longer periods of time and, thereby, "upgrade" much less frequently, even when they can afford it, I think are more lovers of music than hobbyists.

Does that make sense?