Are you too old to be an audiophile?

As a general observation, hearing acuity does diminish over the years. In consequence, a twenty year old with "normal" hearing for his age group will hear more of what a good audio system has to offer than an eighty year old with "normal" hearing for his age group. The eighty year old, however, can still hear significant differences in equipment. Senior citizens can still obtain useful guidance from good audio reviews. And they are well advised to try components in their own systems when possible. In brief, they can still be audiophiles at their advanced age.

What does this mean? I am not old and I have my hearing, but I am offened for the older people. I saw a program where a 76 year old guy made it to the top of Everest. What's so special about an audiophile? What's the thinking here, that when you're older, you can't do anything, just waiting around to die? Aren't there young people that have hearing loss? Aren't there musicians that have hearing loss and still play? I consider my self an audiophile, but some of these posts are creepy. An audiophile is probably way at the bottom of the list as a way to identify who I am.

I shall remain an audiophile through deafness and death.

Long live Audiogon,

I'm too old for practically everything...so what!

Good listening,
Larry

Farjamed

These are quotes that continue to bother me about your thread.

"One of the things about audiophiles I've always wondered is how they reconcile their age, and the scientific fact that their hearing isn't what it used to be, with their belief they can can hear all the nuances of high end gear, and even the cables."

"@Jax2 The point is that people read reviews of equipment, they come on to Audiogon and ask people's opinions of gear.. People/Reviewers respond in such detail about how certain speakers, amps, preamps, cables, etc sound to them. How accurate or useful can this information be if their hearing is compromised."

"This actually goes to something much deeper.

Taken from wikipedia "Audiophile":
Criticisms usually focus on claims around so-called "tweaks" and accessories beyond the core source, amplification, and speaker products. Examples of these accessories include speaker cables, component interconnects, stones, cones, CD markers, and power cables or conditioners.[15] Manufacturers of these products often make strong claims of actual improvement in sound but do not offer any measurements or testable claims. This absence of measurable (rather than subjective) improvement, coupled with sometimes high prices, raises questions about the truthfulness of the marketing.[16]
Roger Russell – a former engineer and speaker designer for McIntosh Labs – describes the introduction of expensive speaker wire brands, and critiques their performance in his online essay called Speaker Wire - A History. He writes, "The industry has now reached the point where [wire] resistance and listening quality are not the issues any more, although listening claims may still be made....The strategy in selling these products is, in part, to appeal to those who are looking to impress others with something unique and expensive."[16]
Skeptic James Randi, through his foundation, has offered a prize of $1 million to anyone who can demonstrate that $7,250 audio cables "are any better than ordinary audio cables".[17] In 2008, audio reviewer Michael Fremer attempted to claim the prize, and said that Randi declined the challenge.[18] Randi said that the cable manufacturer Pearl was the one who withdrew.[19]"


"I would like to know if I am taking advice from a buncha deaf old guys with different priorities because of physical limitations."

"DISCLAIMER: This is not meant to be offensive in anyway..."

Huh?