Types of Audiophiles


The Purist

A good stereo should be a transparent window into the recording session with no opinion or distortion of it’s own

 

The Dynamics Fanatics

A good stereo is like a thrill ride at a carnival. If I’m not jumping it isn’t worth listening to.

 

Live and Let Live

It’s all good man, put your money where your heart lies.

 

The Bean Counter

Buys gear like he’s stocking a used stereo store. Purchase price and retail value determine what comes and goes out.

 

The Canners

I bought my balanced headphones specifically so you wouldn’t ask me questions while I’m listening to dub step.

 

The Scientist

You can’t prove you have a soul so all your opinions are meaningless.

 

The Blind Follower

Can’t hear a difference between amp A and B so he wants to know if he should spend 5x more on B and will wait to be told which to get.

 

The Brand Loyalist

Falls in love with the idea of a brand or designer and changes his job to accommodate the demands of his audio jewelry

erik_squires

Dynamics have more or less become the word and trait verboten in hi-fi, because coming down to it most hi-fi systems aren’t capable of delivering anywhere near realistic dynamics,

 

My point in highlighting this listener was that while there are systems that can produce great dynamics, there are also those who exaggerate everything. Imagine a HT system where the subwoofer is so high that a human footstep sounds like a T-Rex. Music in real life never makes me jump. If a system is making me jump on every track it’s probably not realistic. Of course some of this is a matter of perspective, literally. As a listener at a jazz club I will probably never hear the sound of the reeds vibrating the same way as a player on stage will. Same for drums and cymbals. If you are used to being on the stage your view of normal is going to be different than a listener.

There are also systems which always make their presence known.  Others that vanish and get out of the way.

Personally I am not a musician, my perspective and system choices are for the back of the hall, closer to the bar. 😁

A Purist when listening to classical , jazz and folk

A Dynamic Fanatic when listen to rock

A DIY Penny Pincher looking at moving up all of time 

Personally I am not a musician, my perspective and system choices are for the back of the hall, closer to the bar. 

I wanted to make that point, how far you prefer to stand from the band determines your audio choices, I prefer up and away

Thanks erik_squires

Just adding my 2 cents to the conversation , chuckle ha ha  .

Oh and I forgot a "g" when listening to rock