Music lover or audiophile?

The definition of an audiophile is: "A person who is especially interested in high-fidelity sound reproduction."

Is that a bad thing? I think not. I agree with many of the posters who see no issue with being a music lover and an audiophile; and, they understand that one is an extension of the other. I personally find it painful to listen to an MP3 thru a cheap boombox. 

I think the real issue is with the folks who inhabit the extremes of being a music lover or an audiophile. The extreme music lover becomes an obsessive collector who has to own everything ever released by their favorite artists, including boxed sets, remasters, colored vinyl and bootlegs. I have a couple of friends afflicted with this condition and they have massive credit card debt as a result. On the other hand, the extreme audiophile tends to own a turntable that is worth more than my entire audio system, car or even my house. I guess these folks have lost sight of the "law of diminishing returns." 

Thanks for the post. Here's my criteria. If you prefer live over recordings. If you'll listen to bootlegs to get the knowledge of the band. I've given copies of shows that were great performances or shows that person was at and they wouldn't listen to them because of the sound quality. Listening to a recording for a minute and deciding that it's no good just because of the sound quality. That's when I know where their heart is. Music's the best!

It's about the music first, then the system. The music is foundational, but hearing it better increases the enjoyment.
If I were to go broke tomorrow, I'd find a way to listen to music. The fidelity of my sound system would be missed, but having experienced quality sound, my mind would fill in the gaps.

Im thinking about that will let you know asap.

What in the world could be wrong with either audiophile or music lover? It’s what people want and enjoy, and both seem pretty harmless at worst, and arguably pretty beneficial overall.

That being said, I have too many symptoms to deny being an audiophile, all the while telling people (and myself), honestly, that my audio pursuit is because I love the music. But, as others have observed, one does get to the end of the audiophile system-improving obsession (word chosen after careful deliberation and self-observation), where I am now. It’s been a productive pursuit--my system now makes the music sound beautiful and I love it. I’ve always envied those advanced souls (meant sincerely, not sarcastically) who’d enjoy the music if it was played on a transistor radio, feeling, honestly, that they know something I don’t. But I’m not one of ’em.

Let’s everybody keep enjoying.
Jim Heckman