@jerbeast said:
I've been lucky enough through patience and being a thrifty shopper (ok, cheap m*f*), to put together a decent system, and try to improve it as I can.
I think that makes you a true audiophile — because you love sound/music enough to struggle to achieve it. Anyone can throw money at gear and anyone can sell to such people. The "love" root of audiophile is completely missing from those transactions.
@brownsfan said:
"borderline rude treatment in my experience seems to hinge more on being recognized as audiophile cogniscenti than looking like a fountain of cash."
That's exactly right. I have provided plenty of evidence that I am learning the terms of the audio arena and learning to listen; I'm not throwing around terms like a neophyte, but rather trying to make discriminations that will matter. That has probably soured these folks on me.
And agree — the AG forum — especially several key members — has taught me a lot. More important, they have put up with my questions and my need for clarification. The Harley book was one of the best suggestions anyone made, and I bought and read most of it as soon as I could. But this does not endear me to the audio store.
@stereo5 I wonder if you ever bumped into my cousin Hillary who lived in Northampton and was an audiophile. Would have been back in the 1980's. He had big Maggies and a sweet Denon turntable. If so, please P.M. me.
@gator899 That's a great story. It seems obvious that someone merely entering the store — no matter what their ability to spend — has already indicated 1000 times more interest than everyone else. Why that is not seen as a starting point is beyond me.
