Music lover or audiophile?


I think you have to decide, are you a music lover or audiophile?  I know the majority will say, both.
 I’m not so sure though. The nature of audiophilia is to get in there and fiddle with the tools, like any other hobbyist.  The difference in our hobby though is that presumably, our ultimate goal is to have the best musical experience we can get. The hobbyist is never really finished. The manipulation of the materials is the fun. The music lover, however, wants to get the most out of that esthetic experience.  
By continually plying materials, the audiophile is on an endless quest for better sound.
 After years of this quest, I’ve decided I can be a music lover or an audiophile.  I’m happy listening to my system now the way it is.  So, I’ve decided to be a music lover once again.
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Music lover is the one who enjoys listening to music even via car radio.
An Audiophile is someone who can hear differences in cables.
Truth be told, I still can’t listen to the music without having the sound enter into the picture.  The point is, I’m not looking to improve it.

Music loverphile

is that a possible response?

music is indeed the thing which centers me and adds to my joy.

However, since stumbling and wandering along the 'make it sound real' highway, and yes, there are some lofty prices associated with acquiring those last degrees of reality, I've gotten a mite spoiled or I've been educated enough to realize one can actually have the illusion of reality in their listening room. eventually.

if done well, keeping synergy as one's compass.

I've also learned when to say when.

so Music Lover 60%

'phile 40%

more or less.
I want to be honest. I would like to think of myself as a music lover first, but there have been times when I get a bit overly involved with the gear. Not an audiophile in the truest sense as I prefer 2 channel sound over multi channel surround or mono. Am I a stereo-phile? No, no relation to the magazine....
Can I oscillate back & forth between an Audiophile and a Music Lover?  I think so.  Maybe it switches weekly, or monthly, or maybe it is based on my checkbook? Dunno.  But I like both!