Music lover or audiophile?

I agree with those of you who are leaning toward the idea that being an audiophile is a means to the end of finding the most pleasing sound you can afford, because you ARE a music lover.

However, unlike folks like jond, I rarely listen to music in my car or on the go because the quality does not compare to my home set-up. I guess that means I am a different kind of music lover? Or maybe, people like jond are true music lovers whereas people like me rely on their audiophelia to find a standard of music reproduction necessary in order to enjoy the most pleasing sound experience? So does a true music lover love music regardless of how faithfully it is reproduced? Or does being a music lover implicitly mean you enjoy the pure expression of music - by pure I mean no artifacts, no crowd noise, etc.? Which leads me to another conundrum: can you really be considered a music lover if you prefer the "live music" experience (and a similar reproduction) over the isolated sound of the instruments and the performers' voice(s)?

This is more confusing than I thought it would be!

There is a difference but I suspect that most audiophiles are music lovers to some degree but I'm not so sure that a music lover is always an audiophile.   One is about the accuracy of reproduced music and the other is simply the love of music whether it is reproduced or live.  I don't see a problem with being both or being just one.  

Do you?

An audiophile is a person who is enthusiastic about high-fidelity sound reproduction. ... Audiophile values may be applied at all stages of music reproduction: the initial audio recording, the production process, and the playback, which is usually in a home setting.

A music lover is: One who loves music

I personally enjoy the pursuit of recreating music that I love in my own living space.

Sam 

Having nice gear let’s me enjoy the music more. Hearing more of what the players are doing with their instruments makes me feel closer to the performance and to what their intentions were when making it, and nicer gear maximizes that capability. I don’t enjoy listening to the same jazz piece as much through my phone on a plane as I do listening at home though it’s the same great tune! 

Is this a Kill Bill Volume 2 question?

Budd:
So, which "R" you filled with?

Elle Driver:
What?

Budd:
They say the number one killer of old people is retirement. People got a job to do, they tend to live a little bit longer so they can do it. I've always figured that warriors and their enemies share the same relationship. So, now that you're not gonna have to face your enemy no more on the battlefield, which "R" you filled with? Relief or regret?

Elle Driver:
A little bit of both.

Budd:
[bleep]. I'm sure you do feel a little bit of both. But I know damn well that you feel one more than you feel the other. And the question was, which one is it?

Elle Driver:
[pause] Regret.

Selecting which "R" is which, is left as an exercise to the reader...

I have thought a lot about this over the years when, on a recurring basis, you read an article in a hi-fi magazine that says it is "all about the music." It's not. 

I agree with the poster above who said live music is his passion.  It is undoubtedly mine. And that passion extends to classical and popular music.

I am unashamed to say I think the equipment is interesting and fun too. When I was 16 I lied about my age and got a job as a salesman at Dixie Hifi in Indianapolis. I put myself through college and law school working at various stores on the east coast. Those were incredibly happy times for me.I still buy a new piece of used gear about once a year and it always spurs long listening sessions. I have no friends who are into audio but they are amazed by my system.

I play mostly vinyl of rock and Americana music at home because for me it provides a satisfying experience of listening to studio produced albums. It does not provide the thrill of a live symphony nor sitting in a club listening to an amplified acoustic duo.  Unlike hearing live music though, it allows you to be much more aware of lyrics and the art of production values.  For example, Jason Isbell live in concert is a totally different proposition than on record.  I don't want to have to choose just one because both are equally valid and compelling. 

Unlike fast cars, I get the maximum performance out of my system every time I use it.  What else can you say that about? This is a great hobby.