At what price is one considered an Audiophile.

Hi,

I think the term audiophile is a bit misleading as the person who enjoys listening to music will listen to an audio vel sound = performed music, and the gear lover will listen to the audio vel sound = performed and recorded music. Both seems to be very close to each other, aren't they? 

In my view, very often the audiophile tend to fall in love with the gear (equipment) and many do not care about music performance any more. So maybe this should be called: gear lover or audio-tech-phile?

Yes, that's not about all of audiophiles as they're many dedicated music lovers and listeners. Enjoy Your listening... to music as well!

The Politically Correct answer will be cost is irrelevant.  Now, the Real World rephrasing of the question is What is the minimum that can be spent to have a truly quality system?  I have heard some powered speakers for about $2K that were excellent, containing amplification, DAC, and streamer.  Add a phone and you are done.  If I ever get a second home, this is how I will go

Why don't you post your system? I would like to see your Bose Wave radio.

while Audiophile seems to technically have a formal dictionary definition, we clearly are all defining it differently, so this thread going in many directions...but generally fun...

Audiophile means that someone love sound, why?

Because he had learn how to learn hearing better ...

Is it elitist ?

It is as being not deaf is BETTER state in a general way compared to a deaf people...

We can listen very well classical music on a phone, music is not sound, but sound can be music , then any musician, even those who dare not to play the audiophile game know the difference between different violins quality levels, Stradivarius, Guarneri and 500 bucks instruments ...

We live an era with no education at all given ,( because it was deemed not necessary for a slave worker especially a voting one , save if he pay a lot more than he can to afford it , guess why ?) where we brag about staying ignorant , and where we had learn how to despise any "elite" on any form even biological ...

Sorry, elite exist in all aspects of life and for all activities and studies; woman are elite by design and man too, not by choices save for conditioned fools...... The rest is studying and practising...

There is no point in being a non elite baker .... Will you pay for his bread ?

“Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be forbidden to think so as not to offend fools” Fyodor Dostoyevsky