are audiophiles different than non audiophiles ?

Audiophile, a state of mind not everyone can appreciate.

There is a basic flaw in the question. It really needs to be two seperate questions. While interest in equipment usually means at least some interest in music, many avid music lovers have zero interest in equipment.

Completely agree with the first paragraph in Elizabeth's first post. And completely disagree with the second paragraph in same.

Of course,if you did not have a personality inclined towards perfectionism you would not be one,

i don't think that perfectionism has anything to do with being an audiophile.

all systems are inaccurate and audiophiles recognize that.

rather, an audiophile will try to create a balance between sound quality and the facility to enjoy the music.

This is a difficult question to answer for all audiophiles but I tend to agree with Foster 9 and Frogman's first paragraph. So far as personality types are concerned, I'll leave that to the shrinks and behavior psychologists. Oh, Detlof, where are you? He could really contribute some interesting comments to that aspect of the equation.

On the one hand it is a quest by some to get a glimmer of what we hear in live music, to others it may have started out as a hobby in electronics and evolved from there, to others it is a fascination with the sound, to others the gear. But to the majority more satisfying music in our homes. I'm not convinced that all audiophiles are music lovers and that non-audiophiles necessarily like music less. I guess at the end of the day it must be "something you are wired for" as stated above other wise there wouldn't be audiophiles that really don't listen to music and music lovers that don't care to be audiophiles.