What is an audiophile? Are you an audiophile?

Ninety-nine percent of the time, good audio gear makes the music you like sound better.  In turn, high fidelity is a wonderful facilitator of making your musical experience more enjoyable. Of making the music you like more deeply felt.

in theory, yes, but the owners of an awful lot of high end gear end up dissecting the sonics of the music, rather than enjoying it as an immersive experience

Several posters gave you the REAL MEANING of " Audiophile ". Once you all establish and understand this meaning, you will see, YOU ALL ARE....The End ! Enjoy ! MrD.

You know you are one when you own multiple copies of the same album in hopes that one will be THE pressing....also when you have taken over half of your wife’s living room, and when your house Is stuffed to the gills with cd’s, Lp’s, Cassettes, mini discs, etc...as well as extra equipment not even being used. I’m either an Audiophile or a Horder, or maybe a little of both...I'm most likely more so a music lover, all types, as I generally don't Always care about the quality, ie record surface noise, tape hiss, etc...I can still find a way to just enjoy what I'm playing at the time. 

Who cares is absolutely correct. If you dont spend enough, according to some, you are not an audiophile. If you spend too much you are not an audiophile. I like music and I like the way a better system brings me closer to my music. Call me what you want but if my standards and system goals differ from yours that shouldnt change this definition.

"...the owners of an awful lot of high end gear end up dissecting the sonics of the music, rather than enjoying it as an immersive experience"

Yes. . . and furthermore, they will swear up and down that it's the music they care about, first and foremost!