An Audiophile is Anyone Who Loves Audio Regardless of Monetary Status. Agree?

Maybe a sports team would make a better analogy.

Yes, there are people who buy a sports team as a vanity project. Hell they may not even care about the sport at all, but they need to be part of that exclusive club.


That doesn't mean that the person who has been following the team for 20 years is any less a fan. In fact, he/she may be a better fan and know more about the game, the team, and the play than any of the owners.


I am going to beat this story to death, but having watched a guy go into a store, listen to a badly set up pair of speakers (mismatched polarity, and juiced crossover settings) and go "How much are they? i like them, i take them." proves to me that you can buy the gear, but only love and experience makes you an audiophile.

@fordboy @jsautter 

Let be clear on a few things.  ‘Music Lover’ is not a synonym of ‘Audiophile’. 

And in its very founding, America is all about ‘less privilege’ and minimizing the prevalence privileged classes (i.e. Kings, Queens, Lords). America has forgotten to be critical of the wealthy, the wealthy have become contemporary aristocracy, just without the blatant silly titles.

America was meant to be a meritocracy. Every generation deserves an even playing field...and if they work hard the will earn their just rewards and be a productive member of society (as long as their success does not disadvantage or infringe upon the rights of other citizens). People seem to forget this. 

I think having a strong sense of perspective and proportion are also important aspects of being an Audiophile and it takes work, and learning.  If you are a ‘spare no expense’ kinda person then there is a good chance you have an under-developed sense of perspective and proportion and may not be educating yourself as much as you could be and are probably making decisions based on someone telling you about the ‘new thing’, or the ‘best thing’. Having to make critical and practical decisions in general is evidence one can operate as a reasonable adult in the world. It is also an essential part of assembling a sound system. 

Just look at some people who do not have to make critical or practical decisions in life—child stars and the children of the very wealthy. They end up as not very healthy or productive citizens right? If you can do anything, afford anything, you do not learn to make good decisions. Period. 

I dont think you can be an Audiophile if you are not making critical and practical decisions about your gear and balancing those pursuits with the rest of your life.

One can acquire good sound at many price points. Thus, changing gear, upgrading, etc.  All the hallmarks of an audiophile, can occur at many different financial levels.

As one moves through life, a successful professional often moves through new tax brackets.  Does that change their appreciation of music/gear, I think not.

It just changes their options.  Same is true for cars, homes, etc.  Level of wealth is a red herring as it is not an indicator of interest in audio, although it influences choices available to you.

"All the hallmarks of an audiophile, can occur at many different financial levels."

And none of those levels are available to many lower middle class earners and virtually no lower class earners.

It is almost painful watching some of you guys mentally trying to make hi-fi a hobby for the masses. There seem to be two tacks: 1) Being an audiophile is just a state of mind or 2) Being an audiophile is affordable and available to everyone.

Neither of these are remotely true.

No matter how much we wish they were.

‘Music Lover’ is not a synonym of ‘Audiophile’.

And in its very founding, America is all about ‘less privilege’ and minimizing the prevalence privileged classes (i.e. Kings, Queens, Lords).America has forgotten to be critical of the wealthy,

It seems that America also forgot that you can be a music lover or audiophile elsewhere.