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Audiophile Vs. Techfile

I'm not an audiophile.

After the time ive spend on this board over the past month or so, i have realized this. I have always considered myself to be one, but i now believe i am a Techfile, not an Audiophile.

You audiophiles amaze me with the amount of effort you put in the smallest of areas and the perfection that is demanded. While sometimes the things you all do i consider very nutty, i can see your passion. Talk about dedication to a hobby! I applaud each and every one of you.

I myself now understand that i am not an audiophile. I dont care about the airborn vibrations, or room treatments, or any of that. I am a techfile. I care about the gear. I love music, dont get me wrong, but my real passion is for well engineered and crafted technology. I love the way it connects and runs in harmony. And this is not just limited to audio gear im also equally fixed on video gear, gadgets, everything that has been "engineered"

Pulling out a brand new piece of gear and smelling the factory and electronics and seeing and feeling the precision craftmanship probably gives me a feeling compared to TWL finally getting his rig set up to perfection and playing his favorite classical pice.

i almost feel like im tresspassing anymore.

Is there anybody else on here like me? Or am i the only one?
slappy
jeffloistarca
1,004 posts
 
I tweak. Everyone does to some degree, many won't admit it and are in denial. Everyone should tweak for that matter. Many years ago Ed Meitner called me an audiophile, implying at the time I should aspire to become a tweak. I'm there Ed.

I only care about gear because of the music, and I love attending concerts. I enjoy being a tweak and good gear cuz it makes the music sounds better. I guess I'm a music lover first and foremost.

I'm a bargain hunter cuz my name doesn't start with "Dr." Value is important to me cuz I want the best sound for my hard-earned buck. I consider that somewhat logical.

I'm a veteran because I've had an active interest in audio systems for close to 30 years. I'm 42, I got involved in this hobby when being a "bargain hunter" really meant a having a VERY limited budget.

Getting a thrill out of sniffing equipment? Someone hasn't taken their meds.....

flex
292 posts
 
"Music lover" has nothing to do with "audiophile". Music lovers include the great majority who attend concerts, may be musicians, listen to 'their' music, and may even be Joe Sixpack listening to mp3's. Music lovers don't necessarily put great value on the reproduction quality of equipment - they are hearing straight through to the music.

Audiophiles can also be music lovers, but audiophiles are first and foremost people who put value on the reproduction quality of equipment. It's a separate gene.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
If audiophilia is a separate gene, I need to learn how to isolate it and turn it off!
danlib1
819 posts
 
Gunbei- You can't turn the audiophile gene off OR prevent passing it to your children.... Case in point: I recently decided to replace my 5 year old daughter's Sony Boombox with a much smaller unit that would look better on her dresser. After trying it out, she informed me that "her music" sounded better on the larger system! To make matters worse, she further announced that the boombox would remain on her dresser, but she would move the new smaller unit to her playroom- that way she could play music while writing and playing with Barbie Dolls.

She's 5 and already has a second system!! Give up and enjoy the hobby. And if you have kids- good luck.
twl
3,251 posts
 
Slappy, I also have a bit of "tech-phile" in me. Nothing wrong with that at all.
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