WHY DO SOME AUDIOPHILES THINK YOU ARE BRAGGING WHEN YOU ARE SHARING?

n80:

"What type of experience does one have to have to claim to be an "audiophile?" I would say anyone who posts here. Otherwise, they would be bored to tears.

"...but who has experienced everything?" No one. However, it's a bit sad that someone has the energy and motivation to be uninformed and critical about audio equipment. Questions, on the other hand, are always welcomed.

"And at what point in time do we suspend common sense and healthy skepticism in order to give credibility to some of the ridiculous things some audiophiles advocate...(?)" Hey, I'm a fan of sci-fi novels and movies; suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy such speculation. BUT, I do not give credibility to those concepts not yet fully realized. Sure they may eventually become reality (cell phones, spaceflight, 70 mph speed limits, gravity waves, Higgs boson, single molecule sensitivity in diagnostic assays, 'perfect sound forever' (joke!)).

And Wolf: I think you hit the nail on the head. Shame on me; what was I thinking? I'll ask permission from now on.

"Comparison is the thief of joy."

It can be. Sometimes it confirms our choices and suspicions though.

I've only ever had one hi-fi system and I've only had it a short time. I've only ever even heard one or two others. I'm immersed in it now. And I can't find any faults in it.

But surely there are faults in it. Surely my satisfaction is due at least in part to inexperience.

And when I hear about this and that component or descriptions of how they sound I become curious. Part of me wants to know what I'm missing....more out of curiosity than acquisitiveness....but I know if I did hear a dramatic improvement then acquisitiveness could easily become part of the scenario. And I don't really want that.

I have a cheap sports car. I regularly drive it at over 140mph (race track). I know I do not want to drive a better/faster one. I'd have to have it.

stevecham said:

"However, it's a bit sad that someone has the energy and motivation to be uninformed and critical about audio equipment."

Agreed. But I'm sure in the short time I've been here that I've done it.

I’d support a requirement that the OP type the post while listening to the OPs own system, and encourage responders to listen to their own while framing each response.
I’d like to know what others hear ... the way to do that is write the words in the proper environment.