Who has the Sickness, the Phile or the Non-phile?


So often I find myself resenting the fact that there are only so many hours to listen to HiFi and I think of those that don't hold this resentment.

I used to think anyone who wasn't obsessive simply lacked exposure, but even though I have introduced many, I have discovered no takers.

At audiophile club meeting it seems to me that the attendees are mostly gear-heads and posers; they say "Ooo & Ahhhh" to anything presented and you can see 1 or 2, maybe 3 in the seats nonchalantly looking over in the direction of the ooo-ers and Ahhh-ers; those few get it. And before anyone is defensive because they know, lashes out that I'm this or that....I don't care. These are obviously my opinions and I'm looking for the opinions of others On The  Question  At  Hand  and not whether or not I am a deluded self important snob.

So, if it is not a lack of exposure, is it a lack of ability?

Surely we are all different, short, tall, smart, obtuse, near sighted, far sighted. Are the ears and or the brains of an audiophile just wired differently than others? Can non audiophiles just not hear what we hear?

Was it childhood exposure that caused this difference in wiring? My father had Altec Voice of the Theater horns and the accompanying gear. Was that it, being exposed to HIFi during brain development? My daughter gets it and boy was she pissed when I sold my VPI TT. I never got along with my father, but was he responsible for my affliction by introducing me to superior sound as an infant?

And, who are the sick ones, the philes or the non-philes?

 

TD

128x128tonydennison

While liking music is nearly universal, the importance of fidelity varies from completely unimportant to passionate. I knew a guy that loved music… worked in a record store so he could listen, be exposed and collect more music. He had a portable phonograph with a speaker in it… red and white case… all plastic. He cherished each tune… for the music. No interest in fidelity what so ever.

 

Then take women. All like music for all practical purposes zero are audiophiles. Some folks are fanatics on flashy cars… I could care less. It goes on and on.

 

I don’t know what the percentage of audiophiles is… but it is far far less than 1% of the population. Trying to convert people is a waste of time. I would put a bit more time into understanding people. It will serve you well in life. They are highly diverse and largely irrational. Enjoy your pursuit of high end audio. For most of us it is a completely solitary pursuit. Most of my fifty year history, outside of dealers and a couple close friends, no one even knew I was one… or ever saw or listened to my system. It’s mine, ALL MINE!

 

@cleeds 

 

+1 Really well put… but too understated… the world is shades of gray on every level on nearly every issue. We live in a completely gray world… only the young, crazy and fanatic think there is any such thing as black or white.

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I’m lucky to have tin ears. My system sounds good to me, but my suv system does too… and my Bluetooth speaker.

I’ll basically eat anything, too. So don’t cry if you burn the pork chops, I think charcoal is good for my complexion. Sometimes I burn her food, we trade off.

Hope everybody’s having relaxing Sunday! Fun thread!

 

I don't know if investing tens of thousands of dollars in videotape playback systems today is a sickness. But we seem to be surrounded with choices that are gaining momentum, and losing momentum:

Losing- CD sales, SACD/DSD, hirez in general

Gaining- LP's, Atmos Music, streaming

Just DO it: