A Beginner's Guide to Audiophile

I'm sending you to the conservatory - listen and remember well how real acoustic instruments and the general atmosphere sound (you can write down impressions on paper) ... and then visit the store with headphones - turn it on and compare ...

only your ears will give an answer - what to buy and what not

"Audiophile" is not a term that denotes any particular level of knowledge or any particular level of knowledge about this hobby. There really are no standards for many of the terms that you refer to -i.e warm for example is a term that refers to a quality of audio presentation that is more relaxed and mellow as compared to "in your face", blaring, etc. The real key to being an audiophile is finding audio components that produce the sounds that please you. You will never get official recognition that you have become an "audiophile" -it is something we self appoint ourselves as becoming an "audiophile" and what the various musical qualities you name above actually mean or refer to is somewhat subject to each one in this hobby.

    Find equipment that you like and enjoy, be prepared to repeatedly spend more that you normally would like to spend to improve your system and the sound you enjoy and you have then become and "AUDIOPHILE" - welcome!

There area number of definitions of audiophile. My favorite is: someone who’s audio system cost more than their car. I have qualified in that case since the 1970’s… typically 2x or more. It isn’t a term about exact sound quality, it is about commitment to the pursuit… definitely in the fanatic category… in pursuit of the absolute sound. 
 

My partner of over 35 years jokes about there being normal dollars and “audio dollars”. One hundred dollars equals one audio dollars. I will not pay a couple hundred dollars for a new lamp… but $5,000 for new interconnects… no problem… a bargain.

"I will not pay a couple hundred dollars for a new lamp… but $5,000 for new interconnects… no problem… a bargain."    As a long time pursuer of audio perfection I see no problem here. Decisions concerning audio matters are in an altogether different realm - at least when audio improvement is at stake.

@pmiller115 

+1 😁😁👍