WHY IS THERE SO MUCH HATE FOR THE HIGH END GEAR ON AUDIO GEAR?

The way people toss around the word “hate” these days can often be a bit much.  
A convenient way to dismiss a contrary opinion; “you’re just a hater.”  
Not mature, not constructive, and probably a projection.

Audiophiles are punchlines in society.  
The general perception seems to be, “socially inept, affluent, middle-aged white dudes oozing snobbery while listening to Diana Krall, Eva Cassidy, Norah Jones, and Brothers in Arms, Aja and Dark Side of the Moon for the trillionth time.”
I don’t think I’m tellin’ tales outta school with that, as far as general public perception is concerned.

Perhaps people haven’t heard high-end hear because they can’t afford it, have absolutely no reason to even consider pursuing it, and have 0 friends that have such gear.

There are lots of groups that obsess over their one little thing and don’t seem to carry the same stigma of brazen snobbery as audiophiles.

Cliches often become such for a reason.  
“Audiophiles are lame, snobby jerks” is no exception.

The problem with "cliches" is that they are not even true or wrong , they are caricature asking to be slogan and wanting to be repeated ...

i obsess with my low cost audio system because it gave me the eternal joy of music listening ...

My wife with a ears loss and looking at my modified speakers (100 bucks ) think that i am nuts but no snob jerk ...

As you see there is exception all are not snob , some are simply "nuts" , myself i prefer to say of myself acoustically informed but it is too pedantic generally to say such thing , then call me "nuts" ...😁😊

«I will love to hate sometimes  but it is too much work»--Groucho Marx 🤓

Cliches often become such for a reason.
“Audiophiles are lame, snobby jerks” is no exception.

@mahgister im sound obsessed.  Every little detail. Soundstage depth width air realness of instruments decay etc.  not afraid to admit it. 

I am like you sound fanatic if i am honest ...😊

But I am proud about the fact that i based my research on creativity and on the acoustics and mechanical and electrical factors upon which i can work at low cost ...

I am not obsessed by gear... I cannot afford costly pieces of gear...

Anyway i succeeded with my last small speakers modified to create relatively more than just good sound for the price invested ...

But my refence top system is headphone... I used one of the top headphone in the world and the best of AKG ever ( his k701 for example is trash compared to the K340  even the K240 is not at all in the same ball park, the K1000 has no deep bass  ) ...I modify it a bit and optimize it after  6 months of experiments ...This hybrid is so astonishing now than upgrading it is too risky business ... How many headphones can give a perfecy imahing and holographic, and a  soundfield out of the head and a natural realistic timbre with deep clear  bass at any price ? ( easy to verify with big organ music)

Dont look too hard very, very few headphones,  if they exist ...I dont need to buy one at 5,000 bucks ...

I am proud of creativity not of my gear collection ...

then there is different obsession types about sound ... 😁

@mahgister im sound obsessed. Every little detail. Soundstage depth width air realness of instruments decay etc. not afraid to admit it.

@mahgister i been blessed. I have worked my way into my setup in various ways. I’m blessed. But I don’t only look at price. Im picky. Technology used is important. Design elements is important.  The importance of low noise floor with musicality. I found this in INFIGO AND GATO