are audiophiles different than non audiophiles ?

How important is high quality audio reproduction, not that important. It's a simple hobby like any other, no better no worse. Audiophiles have to stop looking at others not in the hobby or involved to their level as if the other people are missing out on something because they are not.

I'm sure the other people are involved in other hobbies just as rewarding. There is nothing fascinating or special about hi-fi. If it were truly that great then more people would be involved. They are many who have heard a nice hi-fi system and can walk away with fearing a need to pursue it just like I'm sure Audiophiles do when they encounter other hobbies.

Audiophiles really need to get over themselves. What's important to you at this time is simple not as important to someone else at this time. a few years from now you may give a damn about hi-fi and someone else may. Just because some people don't want to become about sense with listening to they system components doesn't mean they don't enjoy music.

There are a lot of people who like good sound but are not obsessed with it and will never draw the label audiophile.

They are as happy with their sound as anyone. That makes them as good as anyone in a sound quality sense. Maybe they are also smarter as well since they care and seem to have solved their sound quality problems rather than drawing them out forever.

Some people just like to play with gadgets. I suspect many audiophiles fall into this category. That's fine, but playing with gadgets does not necessarily mean better sound quality (just different) nor more satisfaction from listening.

Audiphiles smarter? Maybe than average as a group. IT's a hobby that requires some knowledge to get a handle on, but so do many otehr hobbies.

I have never met a professional musician, who would fall into the audiophile category. That's a peculiar contradiction.

"I have never met a professional musician, who would fall into the audiophile category"

I haven't met one either but there are examples, how about Keith Jarrett? I would tend to agree that most don't since live and recorded are two different things that can't be reconciled by a musician when listening to a "audiophile" or "high end" system. Just a hunch.

Orpheus, plenty of successful musicians buy high end gear - just look at the user list of many audio equipment manufacturer's.